Kim Shorts: Adding new habits to your fall list

It’s the start of November. Winter is on its way. It’s more than time to be prepared … for the grey and cold weather, and the rain and the snow.

Late fall is the time of year to double-check that you’re ready for winter. Whether that means cleaning up the yard, cleaning out the garage, or wiping down the windows, there’s lots to do to get ready for that wallop of winter that can hit us when we least expect.

Hopefully, you’ve remembered those old habits of the fall … the snow tires are on, snow shovels are within reach and perhaps the summer clothes are packed away, swapped out for something a might warmer. A ‘to-do’ list can certainly help.

I’m embarrassed to say that I let my windows stay pretty dirty all summer. Cleaning them this fall meant a lot of elbow grease and patience. Darn if I still don’t see streaks in them since they were so bad. Boy, it is sure brighter inside the house.

Doing a major cleaning inside or outside the home also means you get a pretty good work-out with lots of great stretching. Rocking to music can help pass the time during these cleaning spells.

Also, if you’re able, helping to clean up outside around the neighbourhood is a plus. It takes everyone to care about our community and to help out no matter how small the effort. It’s called the butterfly effect. Simply picking up discarded pop cans, that didn’t make it into the garbage, can make a difference.

Environmental activist Jane Goodall recently reminded us how we each can make a positive impact on the planet. In her final interview, Sept. 23, 2025, for the “Wall Street Journal's” ‘Journal Podcast,’ and published on-line by the “Wall Street Journal,” Sept. 26, 2025, Goodall said all people can make a difference when they think of their own community. She said, “Ask what you can do to make it better … We make an impact on the planet and we can choose what sort of impact we make.”

With winter on its way, this is also a great time to develop new habits. I’ve always tried to be environmentally supportive and am learning to be more aware and educated about what is going on around me, locally.

For example, I’m learning a lot from the Kincardine Environmental Action Network (KEAN). KEAN helps organize and promote community clean-ups, has recently launched the Repair Café and continues to share its learnings with us on recycling our waste.

The group encourages us to recycle all of our plastics and to reduce plastic consumption, wherever possible. I have decided to take up the challenge to “choose to refuse single-use plastic!” This new habit of not buying drinks in plastic bottles is working.

Developing new habits can also be fun and good for the brain. Learning something new and out of your comfort zone, is really good for your mind.

A great example of a new habit to work on in the winter time, is to learn to play a musical instrument. I’ve always wanted to learn how to play the piano. I don’t expect to be great at it but it’s an itch I have to scratch. I recently started lessons and couldn’t get the big grin off my face during my first lesson.

Apparently, playing an instrument improves memory, attention, focus, and concentration. Studies have shown it can enhance verbal memory and cognitive function, especially in older adults. 

While I was practising “Mary Had A Little Lamb,” I found the music from the keyboard calming.

I also discovered that the finger exercise is great for the arthritis in my hands, and it is challenging for me to learn to use both hands on that keyboard. It requires co-ordinated use of motor skills, especially with hands, which also makes the motor area of the brain more active. It definitely feels like my brain is waking up to something brand new.

As well, research shows playing a musical instrument benefits emotional and mental health. It can increase the ability to understand and recognize emotions in others, and increase empathy. 

Well I have to say I’m having a lot of empathy for my music teacher, especially when I hit the wrong keys!