Fall is here, ladies! You know the saying: spring forward, fall back. (For those unfamiliar with the phrase, it’s just an easy way to remember Daylight Saving Time: clocks go forward in March so we get more evenings with sunshine, then back an hour in November…hello, early sunsets and cozy nights in.)

Full disclosure: I would love to say spring is my favorite season, but my allergies always betray me. So fall wins, hands down. Between the vibrant foliage, the blissfully cooler temps (because summer in Atlanta is an extreme sport), the fashion (trench coats and boots will ALWAYS do it for me), and the holidays (read: family time, downtime, or if you’re me, boarding a plane), fall feels like a little seasonal reset before the year bows out.

But (and there’s always a but), fall also comes with its own set of curveballs. Shorter days, darker mornings, and less sunlight can zap your motivation faster than you can say “pumpkin spice latte.” Seasonal blues are real, and suddenly that 6:30 AM workout you crushed in July feels impossible when it’s pitch-black outside. Add in rainy days, chilly evenings, and the lure of Netflix and chilling, and it’s no wonder our fitness routines start to wobble or dwindle.

So how do you keep your body moving and your mood lifted when the weather tries to play games? Here are my go-to tricks for staying “on” when the temps cool down and the sun clocks out for the day a little too early:

1. Move before your brain wakes up. Morning workouts are your best friend: Sneak it in before emails, annoying colleagues, kids, and the setting sun team up against you.
2. Set (and celebrate!) your adherence. Pick a realistic number of workouts per week and reward yourself for sticking with it. Small wins count!
3. Eat like you love yourself. Nourishing, fresh food + consistent movement = Match made in heaven. Don’t let one ghost the other. You know the drill, EAT GOOD, FEEL GOOD.
4. Pivot with the season. Shorten workouts (if you need to) or move them indoors; a quick HIIT in your living room still counts!
5. Find your fall crew. Accountability is magic. Join a fitness challenge, grab a workout buddy, or sign up for a charity run / walk.
6. Remember you’re not alone. Everyone struggles when the days get shorter. Misery may love company, but so does motivation.
7. Dress for success. The right gear makes braving chilly mornings so much easier.
8. Soak up that sun. Take advantage of any daylight you can, and yes, ask your doc about vitamin D if you need the boost.

Here’s the thing: you might be thinking, it’s only fall, I’ve got this. And maybe you do. But don’t forget, fall is just the warm-up act for winter, and winter can be (is?)  brutal. Your environment really does affect how active you are, so plan ahead and don’t underestimate those cozy temptations.

So here’s to us: staying strong, moving often, and strutting into winter with the same energy we had when we first pulled on our favorite fall boots.