3 Ways to Support your mind & body this fall
Originally Written in Fall of 2021
Fall in New England is upon us and I am 100% IN this year. I used to always think of myself as a summer girl. If you know me, you know I LOVE the water (see proof below). I literally have to touch or get into every body of water I come across whether that be a pond, lake, puddle or stream. It is cleansing and powerfully healing for me. Maybe this is also why a clawfoot bathtub is actual #lifegoals for me but I digress. So naturally, I also love summer because water and summer are synonymous for me. I spent my summers as a kid frolicking in the Peconic Bay or the backyard pool. I love the sunshine, summer tans, bonfires and grilling. I love the freedom and the longer days of summer-- the abundance of time and energy that one feels. So one would deduce that I am a summer girl through and through.
But, what I have realized over the past 1.5 (or so) years of slowing down thanks to the global P word is that I ALSO love fall. And winter. And spring. I LOVE the freshness and the newness of the changing seasons. I love how summer slowly shifts to autumn first with crisp night air then to cool mornings and finally into the coolness of October as the leaves begin to fall. I love how as darkness starts to descend on the earth, winter comes in with the first snowfall. A gift from Mama earth, a gift to show you that there is beauty even in the darkness, even in turning inward. There is beauty in the ever changing nature of the seasons, the world around us and the world around us. And personally, I am in love with that beauty.
I think I also started falling in love with the seasons thanks to the B Street Garden. The excitement of seed starting in March, the last frost, the abundance of lettuce nad raspberries in late June and early July, being inundated with tomatoes in August and the Squash that harvest in the fall and hold us through until next year. Gardening has given me a greater respect for the natural ebbs and flows of the earth. The earth cannot always be in bloom, there cannot always be an abundance of growth and of harvest. There needs to be time for dying, for death so then one can lead to a rebirth.
The same can be said for ourselves: our social lives, our businesses/professions and our emotions. We are not meant to always be blooming or always be growing. Sometimes we are meant to turn inward, to hibernate and to be still. But that is a whole other blog post that I will write soon.
So, I’ve officially decided I am not a one seasons type of girl. I am in love with the change of seasons. I am in love with the way the natural world knows when to shift and change and constantly evolve.
So with that, I am diving HEAD FIRST into fall. Basic white girl coming in strong here. I am here for he leaf peeping, the pumpkin spice, the sweater weather and all the witchiness of the season. I am here to fully embrace the autumn and all that it brings. But the change of seasons can sometimes be tough on our physical bodies. So I have been making a point to nuuture and nourish my physical body in this transition.
Here are my top 3 ways to support your Mind and Body during the Changing Seasons:
SYNC YOURSELF WITH THE RISING AND SETTING SUN:
Our Bodies run on a circadian rhythm which is responsive to bright light. Most of us live with artificial lights, computers and phones that disturb our circadian rhythms. This can cause us to be tired at odd times, not get good sleep and overall feel crappy. Syncing yourself with the rising sun and winding down after sun sets can support overall health and a health circadian rhythm. Getting outdoors and sunshine on your face and skin in the morning upon waking will shift the time for sleep earlier, so you will tend to get sleepy and fall asleep earlier in the evening and will wake up earlier in the morning. Keeping lights on bright, using computers or phones after sunset especially 2 hours before bedtime will shift the time for sleep later, so you will tend to get sleepy and fall asleep later in the evening and will wake up later in the morning. As the lengths of the day change, your sleep schedule might be off anyway. Use sunlight to your advantage and feel more fueled and ready for your day but getting early bright morning sun within an hour of waking up and slowly start to dim the lights 2 hours before bed (and try to put away the computer and phone-- I know it’s hard! I struggle here too!)
EAT SEASONALLY:
The easist and probably most fun way to sync with the changing season is to shift your diet to what is in season. yES, that means for fall I am giving you full permission to embrace all things pumpkin spice (if that is your jam). I’ll be honest, I love to hate how much I love pumpkin spice but damn, does it taste good when you’re wrapped in a cozy flannel, sipping on a pumpkin spiced latte watching the leaves fall. This also means beginning to cook with more warming spices and herbs like cinnamon, nutmeg, rosemary and clove. As well as1 eating other seasonal foods like butternut squash pumpkin, apples, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage or carrots.
Here are some of my favorite recipes for Fall:
Apple Crisp Family Recipe (don’t have it written up yet!)
EMBRACE THE ENERGY OF THE SEASON:
Many of us know how each season has its own traditions, holidays and even weather patterns. But each season also has its own energy as well. IN summer there is a shift to more socializing, more time putting energy outward and a bit more chaotic yet fun energy. In winter, many people tend to shift inward-- slowing down, spending more time at home, conserving their mental and physical energy. In spring, people wake up, emerge back out, clean out their mental and physical spaces and start planning new things. In fall, people tend to crave structure, schedule and planning. Call it that virgo energy in the air or the back to school spirit but you’re more likely to want to get organized, get shit done, work on some self improvement and create lists on lists on lists-- anyone with me? Each season has specific energy that is special to it but human nature is to fight against these natural energies-- -what if instead you embraced them? What if you worked WITH the energy of the seasons instead of embracing it. I can almost guarantee that you would have a bit more physical and mental energy to spare and enjoy the fruits of your labor.
I am super stoked to fully embrace all things fall. I am feeling super aligned with this energy and trying to harness it to the best of my ability so that I am fully ready for the deep rest that winter calls.
HOW ARE YOU GOING TO EMBRACE THE CHANGE OF SEASONS THIS FALL?
Drop a comment below and let me know— I would love to hear your favorite way
