Along with pumpkin spice and apple everything, fall brings the start of many seasonal transitions. First, it’s back to school time, then the change in weather, and finally we shift into our fall and winter holiday seasons.
As the weather starts to cool, you may notice a slight shift physically. Perhaps you’re a tad congested. Maybe your digestion is off. Or maybe you keep finding yourself super tired at the end of the day. Our inner landscape is undergoing a transition in alignment with the change in season from summer into fall.
If you are like me and find it difficult to navigate change, here are a few tips and tools I have found helpful to cope with the transitions that life may bring your way:
- Prioritize Sleep and Rest: Transitions are not easy on the body or the mind. Sleep seems to be the first thing to be sacrificed. Getting enough sleep is key to feeling your best. Making sleep a priority is more natural when it becomes a habit. When we get quality sleep, our body goes into repair mode, and we can problem-solve challenges in our mind more effectively. When sleep is interrupted or pushed off, this vital phase of repair doesn’t happen efficiently and our immune system is weakened, making us more susceptible to viruses and colds and easily irritated or annoyed. Try to get 7-8 hours of sleep per night, preferably hitting the pillow no later than 11 pm.
- Eat Healthy Foods: Nourishing our body with a proper diet is crucial to being our best selves. Prepping meals and snacks will help reduce chaos around mealtimes and provide healthy options when running short on time or ideas. Staying hydrated can also help keep up energy levels. Sitting down to eat and enjoy a meal can help bring us into a state of mindfulness and ease.
- Stick to a Routine: One of the fastest ways to slide into overwhelm is to lose track of a daily routine. Our daily routines anchor us and allow us to feel more relaxed. Our brains like to know what is coming next. Reflect on your routine at the start of a new season or time of change and explore what needs to be adjusted. Consider beginning each day with reflection and meditation. A new day is an opportunity for a fresh start and to prioritize what is best for you.
- Plan for the Unexpected: As hard as we try to stick to a routine and plan our days, interruptions do happen, and changes do need to be made. It is helpful to leave a little space in our schedules (and our minds) for the unexpected. The best way to do this is to leave some breathing room in your routine. When you pack every minute of your day full, there is no room for things to pop up. Try looking at your daily to-do list each morning and pick three items as your top priorities. If you have these completed, you may not feel so disrupted when the unexpected happens and your attention has to shift.
- Practice Mindfulness and Meditation Daily: Whether through meditation or simply taking time to notice your thoughts and feelings throughout your day, try to consciously pause, breathe, and value your true essence. You are a vibrant being on a soul journey. Grounding yourself can help you tune in to what is important and give you space to listen to your inner wisdom helping guide you forward.
- Ask for Help: Many of us could benefit from increased support during transitions. Asking for help is not always easy but it can make all the difference, whether it is from a friend, a life coach or therapist, or a mentor.
- Learn to Say No: My last tip is mastering the art of saying no. We are trained to believe that saying no to commitments is negative and brings with it a sense of guilt. Our egos tell us that if we say no to an opportunity, it will be gone forever. Learning to say no when you’re feeling overwhelmed or not able to commit fully can help you feel lighter, more relaxed, and more present to yourself and your family. Making time for daily reflection allows us to tune in to that inner wisdom and guidance and respond with an excited (and not obligatory) YES!
It is important to give ourselves time to transition. We may need more space to understand what is needed for the next step and discern what it is we really want. Whatever it is that you need, offer the gift of self-compassion and loving-kindness to yourself. Take time to listen to the subtle, intuitive messages from your everyday life guiding you along the way.
The secret to navigating transitions with resilience and grace is self-care.