🎶 It’s tiiiiiiiiiiiiiime! 🎶
Hello joyful humans,
If you have been looking out the window at the snowbanks and gray skies wondering whether winter will ever loosen its grip, I have good news.
The sun is staying out a little longer each evening.
The weather forecast is hinting at a few glorious fifty degree days.
And if you listen closely, you might hear a familiar tune playing softly in the background.
🎶 It’s tiiiiiiiiiiiiiime! 🎶
Time to bring back one of my favorite habits to prescribe.
Welcome back to Instructions for the Care of Joyful Humans!
This week’s instruction centers on something beautifully simple and surprisingly powerful for both physical and mental health. Gentle, regular sunshine exposure paired with movement.
Specifically, the after dinner walk.
If you have been my patient for any length of time, you have almost certainly heard me talk about this. Over the years, I have recommended after dinner walks for blood sugar regulation, mood support, sleep quality, cardiovascular health, and stress reduction. And honestly, sometimes just because they make life feel better.
As the sun sets later, an evening walk gives you a dose of natural light that helps regulate circadian rhythms while also offering a clear transition between the busy part of the day and the quieter evening hours. It does not need to be fast. It does not need to be long. Ten to twenty minutes is more than enough to count.
The goal is not fitness perfection. The goal is presence.
A few gentle reminders for doing this safely and joyfully:
Wear layers. Early spring likes to pretend it is warmer than it really is.
Protect your skin. Even cooler days can deliver meaningful sun exposure.
Bring a friend, a partner, a dog, or just your thoughts. All are welcome.
This is not about burning calories or closing rings. This is about letting sunlight hit your eyes, fresh air hit your lungs, and movement remind your body that winter does not get the final word.
If you find yourself thinking, I will start when it gets nicer, I gently encourage you to start now. The early days back are often the most rewarding. There is something deeply hopeful about walking while snow melts and daylight returns.
As always, I am so glad you are here. Thank you for being part of a community that believes health is not just something we measure, but something we live, step by step, often after dinner.
With warmth and gratitude,
Dr. Kristy Mount
Deserving of Joy Direct Primary Care
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