Flowing into Fall

The days are fading, the air becoming more crisp, the pumpkins on display at Trader Joe’s…ready or not the season of Fall is upon us!

Fall is a personal favorite of mine: holidays, birthday, a season to appreciate, cozy weather and sweet treats, the color orange everywhere! The season harmonizes with my inner desire to go within, to create space, to allow a bit more rest and a softening of the light. But as with every season change, I do spend a bit extra time preparing and welcoming the changes ahead, allowing my physical body as well as my expectations to be a reflection of the season.

Here are a few of my favorite tips for welcoming the darker days and going with the flow:

• Darkness.

  So like it or not, the days are now on their way to becoming shorter and shorter. Already I am looking at my alarm clock like a broken device since it is obviously still nighttime (hello!) when the ring sounds.

  And as we have embraced electricity to the max as a society, sometimes we fight the darkness rather than allow it to soothe us naturally. It is now time to allow our bodies the rest we need. Of course we don’t exactly hibernate like a bear during the winter, but we do naturally need more rest.

  • Try turning off lights as the evening wears down. For example, once you are finished with dinner, turn off all but 1 lamp in the room you are occupying, and allow the rest of the house to be in the dark.

  • Set a bedtime reminder on your phone, so you are aware of the wind down time. I have an hour before I am (hoping) to be in bed. During this hour, I spend time unwinding. Try a warm bath, or soothing tea. Read a book vs. watching a device that is full of blue light. Journal events of the day, or make a list of tomorrow’s activities so you can rest easy.

• Journal

  Speaking of journal…as we spent time during our Equinox event last week I mentioned that journaling is one of my favorite self care routines. Some days I am focused on my own personal health, like “Why am I waking at 4am??” and some days I am inspired to make a change or improve an area of my life. For seasonal changes, I like to look back as well as forward and feel appreciation for my present life.

  • Looking back at the last Equinox (March 22) what experiences are highlighted? What intentions have manifested? What have I moved on from? What has accumulated, that I can now let go?

  • Set intentions. How do I WANT to feel about the season ahead? What changes can I make to support my new intentions?

• Nourish.

  The season of Fall is really about reaping the bounty of the year’s abundance, and this is certainly recognizable in our foods and seasonal availabilities. Spend some time noticing the new vegetables and items available at the store or farmer’s market. It’s hard not to see all the pumpkins, squash, and sweet treats!

  • Research a few new recipes or try a seasonal twist to a favorite. I love to add sweet potatoes, and dark greens like kale this time of year. Or even make one last batch of your favorite summer delights like heirloom tomatoes and corn.

  • Try setting your dinnertime a little earlier too! As we need more rest and the evening is dimming earlier, eating within several hours of your bedtime will help you sleep and even prepare for sleep. Maybe its only 30 min. but that extra time, will allow you to fill in the darkness by cooking a nourishing meal, and also allow you to soothe your way to sleep by not having too much to digest. For me, a window of at least 3 hours between my dinner and my sleep is ideal.

• Clean Out.

  Just like we are naturally inspired to Spring Clean, the season of Fall also encourages us to tidy up. Like in your journaling process, look at your world around you, from your kitchen, car, office, schedule etc. and notice where you have accumulated too much? Set aside some weekend or free time to tidy up.

  • Cabinet Refresh - especially if you are a holiday baker, cleaning out old spices, flour, and things that have been sitting collecting ick is a must before you start desiring to bake cookies. Take everything out, set it on your counter and clean up. Not only will you make your shopping list shorter, really, 3 jars of cinnamon? But you will feel more inspired and less overwhelmed when its time to make a homemade treat.

• Sweater Weather.

  And of course cleaning out that sweater drawer or refreshing your cool weather attire is always a grand idea too. Getting outside is a must at this time of year. Sure we need more rest, but we also need to get out and walk, run, bike, hike, play and get the sunshine that is available. Having the appropriate attire will keep your excuses to a minimum. Getting fresh air keeps your lungs well flushed and allows us to maintain our healthy routines.

  • Plan to be outside for at least 30 min daily

  • Have your favorite sweatshirts, rain jackets, boots etc. washed and ready by the door. Don’t forget a cozy hat for those brisk days.

  • Spend time appreciating nature, the subtle changes, the scent of the earth, and the changes in light.

And most of all, appreciate the changes from our environment, from ourselves, and for all the gifts that make each and every day special.