Autumn Wellbeing for busy people

A change is coming. Here's how to embrace it

Hello,

I hope you’re having a great day and settling nicely into September.

Now, I’ll admit I’m one of the first to embrace the change of season from Summer to Autumn. As an introvert and a daydreamer I am built for this nostalgic, inward-looking time of year. Woodsmoke, pumpkin spice, long golden walks in the woods… I’m practically skipping out of the door at the thought of it.

But I realise this is not how everyone feels about this time of year. I’ve written before about my belief that we all have either a Summer soul or an Autumn soul.

For those with a Summer soul the change from the light, bright energy of Summer to a darker, indoor season can be abrupt and tricky to navigate. If this is you I am fully empathetic.

Which is why I’ve put together a few short steps to help ease the transition a little and to help boost your wellbeing this Autumn. All the ideas below are quick, affordable and can be squeezed into a busy life. There is cake, there is warming tea and there are blankets.

If it doesn’t feel quite Autumnal enough for you to read this yet though, no problem. Enjoy the last of the late-Summer weather instead and save this post until you’re ready. Everyone has their own marker of when Autumn begins and you’ll know yours when you see it.

Photo by Georgia de Lotz on Unsplash

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5 ways to boost your health and happiness in Autumn

1. Solar charge yourself

The days have been slowly shortening ever since the Summer Solstice in June, but it hasn’t been that noticeable up until now. From now onwards the change will really start to make itself felt, with significantly shorter days and longer nights. Which means the more you can step outside during the hours of daylight the better.

Think of yourself as solar powered (you actually are) and ‘charge yourself up’ outdoors whenever you get a minute or two. Going outside for a few minutes first thing is best if you can manage it, to get a little boost of morning sunlight on your skin and help your body clock to adjust.

2. Eat something Autumnal and delicious

I could talk at great length about how much I love Autumn baking season. Cinnamon, ginger, apple, blackberry, pumpkin. I mean… does it get any better than that?! To ease yourself into an Autumnal frame of mind, bake or buy yourself something delicious that says Autumn to you; something that you can only get at this particular time of year. Preferably cake, but it could also be savoury if that’s what tickles your fancy. Take it outdoors to eat if possible. Don’t share it. It’s just for you.

3. Make a cup of warming herbal tea

Nature always provides us with what we need when we need it, and you’ll notice we are now entering rosehip season. Rosehips are thought to have high levels of antioxidants and vitamin C, which are very useful at this time of year when the Autumn colds start to roll in. Nature always knows.

A quick walk along a hedgerow will show you just how abundant they are right now but I don’t recommend harvesting them yourself. I am an extremely anxious forager and don’t want you to pick the wrong thing by mistake. No one gets poisoned on my watch! I do not want this situation happening. But you can buy dried rosehips, or rosehip tea pretty easily online. Other herbal teas that are good at this time of year are ginger, cinnamon or anything warm and spiced.

4. Get cosy

Welcome the start of cosy season at home - even if you don’t feel like it. Get cosy blankets out, pile up some new books and light a candle. If you already love Autumn this will be second nature, but if you’re resisting the change of seasons, this could help you to trick your brain and body into slowly winding down.

Because although these seem like small things they will all combine to help you to drop your shoulders a bit, embrace a change of pace and begin to rest. Which is exactly what this season, and the next, are for. Lean into it.

5. Celebrate the Equinox

Circle the 22nd September on your calendar and do something nice on that day to mark and celebrate the Autumn Equinox. There are no rules for this; we actually have no idea how our ancestors celebrated this date, so the traditions are there for you to create yourself. Eat something nice, light a candle, go for a walk, read an Autumnal book. Think of it as an opportunity to look up from the everyday noise and bustle for a moment and tap into something a bit quieter and wilder.

If you’d like a little guidance I’ll be sending out a special package of Autumn Equinox emails to all paid subscribers the week starting the 17th September. In these you will get a mix of spiced-apple recipes, Autumn folklore, cosy seasonal book recommendations and an Equinox rebalancing ritual to read at your own pace. Sign up now and those will land gently into your inbox in a couple of weeks time. More details here.

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Ok, that’s all for now, I hope you have a wonderful week.

I’ll see some of you (virtually) for our Autumn Equinox Retreat on the 17th, and I’ll see the rest of you next month for our October edition of the Monthly Notebook. We’ll be diving into some ancient Samhain / Halloween traditions and some delicious pumpkin spice recipes, because spooky season is nearly upon us!

If you haven’t already Subscribed then just click below to make sure that post arrives safely in your inbox.

Until then, stay safe and please don’t eat any random berries you find on the street!

Vicky xx

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