05/10/2026
These three don’t really accept “I can’t be bothered today” as an excuse.
One of the things that helps me enormously through autumn and winter is having dogs.
Possibly a strange statement. Let me explain.
Whatever the weather is doing, however dark and miserable it looks outside, and however tempting it is to stay tucked up indoors (to a certain level), they need walking.
And so do I.
Getting outside every day gives me several things I know help me through the darker months:
🌞 Daylight - even on a grey day, getting outside exposes us to much more natural light than staying indoors.
🐕 Movement - it doesn’t have to be a workout. A walk, gets my body moving, gets me out of my head and usually leaves me feeling better than when I started.
⌚ Routine - the dogs need walking regardless of how I’m feeling. That gives my day an anchor, particularly when my energy naturally wants to dip during winter.
🌳 And being outside in nature, even an ordinary dog walk gives me a chance to notice the season changing rather than simply shutting myself away from it.
I’m starting to think about these things now, rather than waiting until the depths of winter when everything feels harder.
Because supporting ourselves through autumn and winter doesn’t necessarily mean adding lots more things to our lives. Sometimes it's about concentrating on a few keys habits. And sometimes it’s about recognising the little things we already do that help keep us well.
What gets you outside when you’d really rather stay indoors?