I have always loved 'back to school' time; shopping for stationary, the beautiful colours and comfy jumpers, but now, not so much.
For me, that transition from chilled summer nights and warmth to rainy mornings and in-between weather, it almost fills me with anxiety before August is even over. It's like I crave summer, especially when here in the UK we don't have the best weather in summer anyway. Don't get me wrong, coming back into a routine has its benefits, and this is why I wanted to share some tips on how to create a calmer transition and have a healthy well-being going into autumn.
Where to start
Lets start by setting our intentions for this autumn season. Prioritise some time before the 1st September to journal. We can ask ourselves these questions:
What would I like to achieve these next 3 months?
What do I need to put into place to start achieving them?
What do I feel I need to do more of these next 3 months?
What one thing can I let go of that is no longer serving/helping me?
What am I grateful for at the end of summer?
Reframe
According to the Cambridge dictionary the word reframe means 'to change the way something is expressed or considered.
Now I'm not saying that if we think only think positive things about the change of season it will all go to plan and be fine, I'm just saying that if we can go into autumn with a change of view and consider more positives than negatives, this is definitely a good place to start. If you are anything like me, dreading the school mornings, worry about the million and one bugs that go round when they go back to school and feel down when you think about the dark cold mornings again, start to see September as a chance to reset and refocus. We can see September as a mini new year.
Creating a morning routine
Think about what your morning routine looks like. Think about what you would like to change about your routine (if anything) to make help you feel calmer and help it run smoother. If you are a parent, when I talk about morning routine I'm not just talking about packed lunches and school uniforms, I'm talking about a routine that includes something to promote a positive wellness for you eg: movement, journaling, meditation, a moment of calm. What do you do/can you do for you each morning (without getting up ridiculously early to fit it all in)?
If you feel each day is daunting with so much to get done, try writing a 'to do' list each morning, but do not, and i repeat DO NOT, use this as a way to berate yourself if you don't get your list done each day, try to acknowledge it and accept that we are not perfect, then move your task to the next day.
Get as much as possible done the evening before as you can. For example lay out clothes and school uniforms the night before so there is no panic in the morning. Check what your day looks like the night before, so you can be as prepared as possible.
Sleep and morning light
Getting 7-8 hours sleep a night can make a huge difference to every aspect of our life. Not getting enough sleep can effect our mood, our concentration, our patience, our memory; just to name a few. So you can see that prioritising sleep improves our day, which in turn improves our week, which can improve our month etc etc (you can see where I'm going with this).
There is a lot of evidence and research that shows getting morning light (ideally within 10 minutes of waking up) has huge benefits to our physical and mental well-being. It can balance hormone levels of serotonin, melatonin and cortisol. Morning light helps our circadian rhythm and actually helps us to sleep better.
Hygge
Hygge is a word in Danish and Norwegian that describes 'a cozy, contented mood evoked by comfort and conviviality'. Transform your home, your office, your workspace into autumnal, comfortable places. Use seasonal colours, textures, rugs and lighting. Think cushions, knit blankets, wooden decorations and warm lighting and candles.
Get outside and stay hydrated
One (or two) final tips to make your transition into autumn easier.
Although the weather is getting colder, and probably wetter, don't let this stop you from getting outside. I harp on about this on my social media as I feel it is so important to get out in nature every day, a 60 second break, your morning cuppa or a walk on your lunch break. Pack a waterproof jacket and wellies in your car, walk to pick up kids from school rather than drive or take your phone call meeting while you walk round the park.
And lastly, drink water. It's easy to forget to stay hydrated when it's not as warm as summer, I know I definitely do! Maybe this is your excuse to go buy a fab new water bottle and take it with you wherever you go.
Remember - keep your wellness goals easy and be kind to yourself.
Lets go into autumn together, with a positive mindset, healthy well-being in mind and a promise to be kind to ourselves.
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