Mountain View News Saturday, October 17, 2026 
99THE GOOD LIFE Mountain View News Saturday, October 17, 2026 
99THE GOOD LIFE 
COOL IT 

UNLOCK YOUR LIFE 

When the temperature starts to drop, most people head 
indoors. The gym gets crowded, and the couch starts 
to look more and more inviting. But believe it or not, 
cooler weather might actually be the best time to take 
your workout outside. 

Exercising in crisp fall air does more than wake you up 

— it can boost your metabolism, clear your mind, and 
help you burn a few extra calories without even trying. 
Your body loves cool weather. 
When it’s chilly, your body has to work a little harder 
to keep your core temperature stable. That means it’s 
burning extra energy just to stay warm, even before you 
start moving. Your heart pumps a bit faster, your muscles 

Michele Silence, M.A. is a 37-year certified fitness tighten slightly, and your internal “furnace” kicks on. 
professional who offers semi-private/virtual fit-

This process helps increase calorie burn naturally. You

ness classes. Contact Michele at michele@kid-fit. 
com. Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness don’t need to be shivering to get the benefit, either. 

Visit her Facebook page at: michelesfitness. 

Moderate cool weather — between 45 and 60 degrees — 
is often ideal for outdoor activity. 

If you’ve ever gone for a brisk walk on a cool morning and felt more energized than usual, 
that’s your metabolism doing its job. The bonus? Cooler air helps you stay comfortable longer, 
which means you may walk, jog, or move more without feeling tired or overheated. Cold-
weather workouts feel easier, but your body is actually working harder. Even walking at the 
same pace can burn slightly more calories in cool air compared to a warm day. That doesn’t 
mean you need to push yourself harder, it just means nature is giving you a gentle edge. 

You’ll also sweat less, which helps you stay hydrated and comfortable. Many people find they 
can stay active longer without that sticky, overheated feeling that summer workouts bring. 

There’s something refreshing about breathing in cool, clean air. It seems to wake up your 
brain and sharpen your focus — and there’s real science behind that feeling. Cool air increases 
oxygen flow, and that extra oxygen helps your brain function more efficiently. You may notice 
better concentration, quicker thinking, and a calmer mood after even a short outdoor workout. 

Exposure to natural light also plays a big role. During fall and winter, many people struggle 
with lower energy or mild “winter blues” due to shorter days. Getting outside for just 20 
minutes of daylight exercise can improve mood, help balance hormones, and help you sleepbetter at night. 

While there are lots of benefits to exercising in the cold, a few smart steps can help keep you 
safe and comfortable, especially if you’re older or recovering from an injury, 

1. Warm Up Before You Step OutsideCold muscles are tight muscles. Spend 5 to 10 minutes doing gentle movement indoorsbefore heading out. Arm movements, leg swings, or light marching in place can all helppush blood to cold muscles and prepare you for your exercise routine. A proper warm-
up reduces the risk of strains or joint pain. 
2. Dress in LayersWear moisture-wicking fabric closest to your skin, then a light layer for warmth, and 
finish with something wind-resistant if needed. Layers trap heat but also let you removeclothing as your body warms up. Avoid cotton, which holds sweat and can make youcold once you stop moving. 
3. Protect Hands, Feet, and Ears 
Your body naturally sends more blood to your core to stay warm, so your fingers, toes,
and ears can get cold fast. Lightweight gloves, warm socks, and a headband or hat makea big difference. 
4. Watch Your StepCool mornings can mean wet grass, slick leaves, or even light frost. Choose shoes withgood traction and walk on clear paths. If balance is a concern, consider using walkingpoles for extra stability. 
5. Check the Air QualityCool weather often means clearer air, but sometimes pollutants get trapped close tothe ground on still days. If you have asthma or lung issues, check your local air qualityindex before heading out. 
Cool-weather workouts can be a great option for people recovering from joint replacements, 
surgery, or chronic pain issues. The cooler temperature can reduce inflammation and swelling, 


WE HAVE WHAT IT TAKES: 

The Power of One Good Action 

bulb, refuse to pass along gossip, we change 
care about our 

As people who 

everything. 
community, our 
planet, and the 

One Small Move That Matters 

people we love, we 

Here’s something beautifully simple you can do

sometimes strug


this week. Choose one:

gle to remember 
how powerful 

Replace one light bulb with an LED. Asingle

we really are. We 

18-watt LED used in place of a 75-watt bulb

might say to ourselves: “But I’m only one per-

will prevent half a ton of CO2 from entering

son. What can I do? How can I help? I wouldn’t 

the atmosphere over its lifetime.

know where to start.” 

Use up something in your fridge before buy


Here’s what I want you to know: We have what 

ing more. Plan one meal around what’s already

it takes. Not just for climate change. For every-

there. Those wilting vegetables? They’re beg-

thing. And when we respond to the desires of 

ging to become soup.

our hearts to do good, the world transforms 
before our eyes. 

Help someone without being asked. Hold a 
door. Carry groceries. Send an encouraging

When We Paused, the World Breathed 

text. Notice someone who seems invisible and 
Remember the spring of 2020? When the glob-

see them. 
al pandemic forced us to stop, to pause, to stayhome? Something remarkable happened. 

Stop one negative habit. Don’t forward that inflammatory 
post. Don’t join the complaint ses-
Air pollution dropped dramatically, particulate 

sion. Don’t add fuel to someone else’s fire. 
matter decreased by 43% in cities around the 
world. In Europe’s most populated cities, nitro-

Pick one. Just one. Then watch what happens. 
gen dioxide concentrations fell by 45-54%. The 
sky turned blue again. Rivers ran clearer. And 

What Would Happen If… 

the animals, oh, the animals. 

Imagine this: What would happen if everyone 
in the world did the very thing, that very good

Peacocks strutted through towns. Road mor


thing, that lit them up, that made them come

tality rates for wildlife dropped by 50%. Nature 

alive?

pressed the reset button, simply because we 
stopped. 

I want to suggest to you that we would change 
the world.

We saw, in real time, how quickly the world responds 
when we change our behavior. It wasn’t 

We, the good readers of the Mountain Views

about grand plans or billion dollar programs. 

News, good people of Earth, all 8.2 billion of

It was about millions of people, simultaneously, 

us, have the power to create the world we want

doing something different. Or rather, not do-

to see. Not someday. Not when conditions are

ing, what they usually did. 

perfect. Now. Today. With what we have. 

It's Not Always What We Do, Sometimes It’s 

The pandemic showed us: When we pause, na-

What We Stop Doing 

ture flourishes. When we change, the world re-
This is crucial to understand: Goodness multi


sponds. When we care, it matters. 
plies not just through our actions, but through 
what we choose *not* to do. 

Who Can Stop You? 

What can I do? The better question is: Who can

When we don’t waste food, we’re doing more 

stop you?

than saving money. Food waste generates 8-10% 
of global greenhouse gas emissions, almost five 

Don’t believe the lie that you are small and in-

times the total emissions from the aviation sec-

significant. Don’t believe that your one choice,

tor. The world wastes one billion meals every 

your one kindness, your one decision to do

day while 783 million people go hungry. Every 

good or stop doing harm doesn’t matter.

time you use that leftover chicken, finish that 
banana, or freeze those vegetables before they 

It does.

spoil, you’re part of solving this. 
You matter. Your choices multiply. Your good-
When we don’t share rumors or spread nega


ness spreads. 
tivity, we’re choosing to turn down the volume 
on darkness. Think about it: Negativity doesn’t 

We have what it takes, not just for climate 
need our help. It will spread just fine without 

change, but for everything. Daily kindness. Re-
us. But kindness? Hope? Encouragement? 

fusing to waste. Choosing encouragement over 
Those need champions. Those need you. 

criticism. These aren’t small things. These are 
the things that, when multiplied by billions,

The Math Still Works for Everything Good 

transform our world. 
You are one of 8.2 billion people. If all 8.2 bil


Let’s go. 
lion of us say “I’m just one person,” then collectively, 
we surrender our power. But if all 8.2 

Lori A. Harris helps her clients get award-winning 

results. You can learn more about her at Loriaharris.

billion of us act, if we help a neighbor, smile at 

com.

a stranger, save our leftovers, switch one light 


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