Shifting Seasons: Embracing the Energy of Fall with Mindfulness
Going to bed last night I peeked at the weather app and saw that temperatures are dropping! Though I absolutely lovely summertime and the warm sunshine, I have been ready for the cooler temperatures and cozy fall season for a couple of weeks now. Leaves are starting to change colors, sweaters are coming out, and I’m all about the warming foods and drinks, and the fun festivities that come with this season. With the change of seasons we are presented with the perfect opportunity to reflect, realign, and step into new routines. This year I sat down with a warm chai tea latte, and set my intentions and tones for fall to fully embrace all that this time of year offers.
The Energy of Fall
With cooler temperatures, shorter days, and changing leaves, this season always feels cozy! There’s something about a warm drink, a cozy blanket, and a soft sweater to curl up on the couch with a good book that always feels soul tending to me. Not only does this season bring out the cozy feels but it also prompts me to slow down and really settle into routines that support my health and wellness. As leaves begin falling a good practice to start with is to let go and prepare for winter with rest and opportunities for renewal. Wrapping up the busy season of summer always feels like the perfect opportunity to lean into grounding practices as we settle into the new season and embrace the shift into a slower, more mindful season.
Aligning Your Routine With The Season
As summer comes to an end I find this to be the perfect time to journal and catch up with yourself on the last three months of fun. Starting here is the perfect way to reflect on the season, write down your highlights, any lessons learned, changes in your life, or even just little moments or memories that come to mind when you think about all that this summer held. I love to look back on years past and reminisce through all the memories - p.s. Sometimes it’s hard to remember when you sit down to journal, my hack for this is too look through my photos on my phone! Helps keep things straight!
Next, start to look at your self-care practices to identify ways that you can shift into a cozier and slower version of them. This time of year, I start to gravitate towards warming foods, hot teas, and other warming practices that support your body as it adjusts to the cooler weather. Then diving a little deeper, switching over to a thicker moisturizer, amping up hydration practices with warm teas and electrolytes, and prioritizing dry brushing and exfoliation to promote circulation and cell turnover. If you haven’t tried it yet my UHHUHHUNNYBEE Polishing Sugar Scrub is perfect for this season and is a great compliment to the dry brushing for full body rejuvenation.
Seasonal Nourishment For Mind And Body
Eating in season brings ease to meal planning but also helps you ensure that you’re getting a variety of vegetables and fruits throughout the year and is a great way to embrace eating locally sourced foods. For fall, focus on produce like pumpkin, squash, apples, and root vegetables. Some of my favorite recipes for these ingredients are soups, and warming roasts.
Another important part of shifting into the fall season for me is the feel of the home. Transitioning home from summer to fall always feels so exciting and is one of my favorite times of year for home decor! My environment has always played a major impact on my mental health and how I function on a daily basis so when fall creeps in I can’t help but get excited to start to embrace this season by switching over elements in my home to create an intentional living space that reflects the season. My favorite ways to do this is by lighting a candle, (I know, not the most non-toxic option - but I love the ambiance it brings!), diffusing warming blends like Thieves or Orange + Cassia, cozying up on the couch with warm fuzzy blankets, and turning on the lamps and some jazz music to fully embrace a cozy, calming atmosphere.
Welcoming Change with an Open Mind
Fall shows us the beauty and importance of shedding layers of ourselves, just like the trees drop leaves. Let yourself release pent up emotions and say goodbye to mental clutter. With your journaling practice I encourage you to identify and work through the release of old bad habits, beliefs, or any stress that you might be holding on to that are no longer serving you. Get your body moving to fully shake these thoughts and feelings! Taking walks this time of year is a great way to get outside, embrace the fall colors, and shed the thoughts and feelings that you’re letting go of this season. With the release of the old start to embrace the new, while on your walk, set seasonal goals that help you focus on bringing balance into your life with self-care and mindfulness practices. In preparation for Thanksgiving you can also start a gratitude journal and start to collect the little things in life that you’re grateful for.
Embrace the Season with Gratitude and Ease
Fall is the perfect season for renewal, reflection, and stepping into a more mindful existence. Look around and embrace the beauty of this season, with the cooling temperatures, changing leaves, and cozy home vibes. Take sometime this season to slow down and reflect on your year thus far and make intentional goals for this season and the rest of the year ahead. Fall time is such a sweet season and brings with it so much opportunity to find gratitude for what you have and release the things that are no longer serving you, just like the trees shedding their leaves. I hope that this season shows you the beauty of slowing down and the impact it can make in every area of your life. Share your own fall rituals in the comments below or join our community for more seasonal inspiration.
