The first official day of fall is Sept. 23. But even if it takes a while for the weather to catch up with the calendar, now’s a good time to start preparing for the cooler temperatures and other changes that follow the autumn equinox. And that’s especially true for your health.

As we march into the holiday season, now would be a terrible time to suffer ill health. So it’s well worth all our time to start safeguarding our health even more as the thermostat starts to drop. Here are six tips to stay healthy this fall.

Get your flu shot

The flu shot is something of an annual tradition. Because flu viruses are constantly changing and adapting, flu vaccines are always being updated to provide the most protection against the most common strains. That’s why the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends getting your flu shot every year.

Fortunately, most insurance plans cover the cost of the influenza vaccine. If, however, your insurance doesn’t cover it or you don’t have any insurance at all, the Adult Influenza Vaccine Initiative — an initiative by the CDC and the Utah Department of Health — ensures you still get access.

Get your COVID booster

While the pandemic is behind us, COVID-19 has not, unfortunately, entirely disappeared. Variants of the coronavirus continue to appear, so, much like the flu, it has become necessary to get a yearly booster to fight off those strains that are most common.

This season’s COVID booster is expected to be made available sometime mid-September. Check Utah.gov for free community vaccination sites.

When you’re sick, wear a mask in public

Masks are no longer as common as they used to be, but we’ve learned more about when they should be used and when they aren’t necessary. In general, it’s always best to stay home when you are sick. If, however, you absolutely must leave your home while battling a case of the sniffles, wearing a mask is a responsible measure you can take to protect others you meet in passing and prevent the spread of disease.

Care for your skin

The cooler temperatures make for a refreshing change from the heat we’ve lived with over the summer. However, the change brings some risks — especially for your skin. Though you might be tempted to escape the brisk air with a scalding shower, doing so can lead to dry, flaky skin.

The solution? Besides turning down the heat a notch and cutting back on shower time, get yourself a good lotion and start applying it to your face and hands. You can’t go wrong with some good lip balm, either.

Stay hydrated

As the temperature cools, so too may your thirst begin to slack off. But even without the sun’s rays beating down on you and reminding you to get your fluids, you need to stay hydrated during the fall. Remember that thirst isn’t the only indicator of dehydration — you may also deal with the following symptoms:

• Dark-colored urine.
• Dry or chapped skin or lips.
• Constipation.
• Feeling faint or tired.
• Low blood pressure.
• Decreased appetite.

Fight dehydration this fall by drinking plenty of water, limiting your intake of caffeinated drinks, using sports drinks when exercising and eating fruits and vegetables — which brings us to our next tip.

Eat in-season produce

Buying produce when it’s in season can be just as good for your body as it is for your wallet. Not only is produce cheaper when it is in season, but it is also more rich in nutrients than produce harvested before its time. With that in mind, here are some of the fruits and vegetables that will be in season in the fall:

• Apples.
• Cranberries.
• Figs.
• Grapes.
• Guava.
• Key limes.
• Kumquats.
• Arugula.
• Beets.
• Broccoli.
• Brussels sprouts.
• Cabbage.
• Pumpkin.
• Squash.
• Sweet potatoes.

Stay active

As the weather cools, the outdoors becomes all the more inviting for some healthy exercise. Utah’s many beautiful hiking trails become all the more welcoming without the oppressive heat, and the changing colors of the mountains make for gorgeous scenery as you make your way.

Fall will also see plenty of marathons, half-marathons and other runs, from the Antelope Island Marathon on Oct. 15 to the many Turkey Trots on and around Thanksgiving. Runs come in all lengths and intensities, perfect for people of all fitness levels to find their match and work up just the right amount of sweat.

Running and hiking not your thing? Don’t forget about the many activities you can’t get any other time of year. Only in the fall can you explore one of the state’s several corn mazes, visit a pumpkin patch or get one last birds-eye view of Sundance before the snow covers everything up in winter.

With fall nearly upon us, resolve now to make this a season of health. Get your vaccination and booster, mask up when necessary, care for your skin, stay hydrated, eat well and stay active to make the most of your autumn experience.

Sam Wright is a project manager at Stage Marketing, a full-service content marketing agency based in Pleasant Grove.

Newsletter