Autumn is the season of transition and reflection. Warm summer days give its place to falland nature seems rich in colourful tones, encouraging us to reflect upon the changes within our lives and witnessing the beauty of surrendering to them. It is time to allow ourselves to fully receive the abundance that nature provides and embrace the seasonal change with gratitude and positivity.
For many of us, the shift from summer to Autumn represents a fresh start. During this time, the air element is predominant with cooler weather alongside the autumn’s winds of change. This is the ideal time for introspection and detoxification.
It is nature showing us through the unavoidable seasonal changes, that the power to find balance during the process is within. This acts as an opportunity to accept our emotions concluding to our ability to manage challenges and changes effectively.
The Autumn Equinox offers a chance to transform and learn from Mother Earth to attune to the energy of fall. It helps us to be more aware of our feelings and emotions while also allowing us to prepare to address life-changing events, challenges, or any situation that may disrupt our emotional balance.
AUTUMN WELLNESS TIPS by F Zeen
Try incorporating some of the following wellness tips into your daily autumn routine.
- Slow down & let go:
This season is the ideal time to slow down and let go of what’s no longer serving us and what’s holding us back. The seasonal shift reminds us of the natural act of letting go, just as trees shed their leaves. As we take inventory of our life, we should pay attention to our emotions, to what’s making us feel good or what’s weighing us down.
- Name it to tame it: Identify your emotions
Our emotional wellbeing is based on our ability to name and understand our emotions. The psychologist Dan Siegel introduced us to a simple practice called “name it to tame it.” This science-backed technique involves noticing and labeling emotions which help us to address what is happening in our lives and has the effect of identifying or even preventing several negative situations. Naming our emotional states with this technique, allows us to start to recognise life patterns. So, ask yourself “how are you feeling”, “how are you really feeling right now”?
And embrace the answer.
- Improve your sleep:
In anticipation of the shorter days ahead, we should start adopting certain sleep patterns. A consistent sleep schedule promotes healthy sleep habits. Consistency is also associated with healthier body composition and maintains the timing of the body’s internal clock. Getting quality rest requires waking up and going to bed at the same time every day, while making Vitamin D our morning top priority.
- Boost your immune system by choosing nutrient-dense meals
Take advantage of Autumn’s produce, eating what’s in season not only provides our body with more nutrients but also helps us take care of the environment. With the food as medicine approach, we encourage you to incorporate root vegetables and fruits like apples, cranberries, pears and kumquats as well as warming spices (cinnamon, ginger, cumin etc.) to nourish yourself. Seasonal produce has a high nutritional value and if it is from a local farmer, it can contribute to reducing your carbon footprint as well as supporting your local community.
DO NOT FORGET TO:
- Allow your body and mind time to adjust to its new environment.
- Enjoy a cup of herbal tea with autumn spices that will leave you feeling balanced but also energised.
- Ask yourself “How am I feeling?”.
“Autumn mornings: sunshine and crisp air, birds and calmness,
year’s end and day’s beginnings”
– Terri Guillemets
