Autumn and Winter Wellbeing 🍂❄
As the temperature drops, and the evenings draw in and grow darker, it’s understandable that the Autumn and Winter months might be anticipated by some, and dreaded by others.
Either way, it’s good for us to think about how we can take care of ourselves during these seasons, so we can do our best to stay well, and feel able to pursue what is important to us.
Connect
Connection is vital for our wellbeing, but what this looks like for each of us may be very different.
For some people, lots of social contact might feel best; whilst others may prefer more time spent alone or with their animal companions. 🐾
It’s important to prioritise opportunities for connection in whatever form works for us, and it can be especially supportive to seek out connection in the darker and colder months when it’s possible we may experience drops in energy and mood, or an increased sense of isolation.
It can be useful to think of connection as an act of mutual understanding and recognition with others, and because of this, it is a need that can be particularly important to our mental health and wellbeing.
If we’re looking for ways to make space for connection, it’s brilliant to draw upon existing communities or cherished people around us, but if (or when) we’re seeking new opportunities to be social and connect (whether in person or online), it’s helpful to place our interests and values at the centre of what we’re looking out for, so we can find like minded folks that we already share something with.
It’s good to remember that the best feelings of connection can arise when we’re able to feel at ease and be ourselves.
Rest, renew, and reset.
As the weather becomes harsher, we may find ourselves spending more time indoors and perhaps looking inwards a little more.
Autumn and Winter can be a natural time to slow down, or to find moments to pause and reflect on where we are and how things are feeling. It’s a time to nourish our bodies with heartier food, and to give ourselves what we need when it comes to supporting general health - whether it’s a good moisturiser or taking time to reduce stress and relax with our favourite activities.
The colder months can be an opportune time to re-focus on the ways in which we nourish our minds, and it can be exciting to learn something new or to return to something that is important to us.
It can also be supportive to reflect on what we really need in our lives to feel safe and well, and to prioritise those things regularly as a form of ongoing self-care.
Be present and take notice.
Just as the longer and darker nights allow us to see more stars, the Autumn and Winter months can allow us space to tune into the glimmers of hope and joy that can sustain us going forward.
This may take the form of moments of connection, or of taking better care of ourselves, but it may also lie in our ability to look outwards and attend to what is going on around us.
Getting outside can be a vital part of staying in the moment, as it allows us opportunities to connect to the world around us and observe the subtle and more dramatic changes of the seasons.
Seeking out green spaces can be especially supportive as it allows us to use our senses to experience the sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and touch of nature, which can boost our mood, keep us active, and make the most of the sunlight.
