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Did you know that the more connected we are to nature (such as with ecotherapy), the healthier we are?
The great outdoors is particularly beneficial for nourishing our bodies and improving our mood. It's time to develop a deeper relationship with nature to reap the maximum benefits possible.
One way to achieve this is to adopt a Seasonal lifestyle : This involves adapting certain aspects of our lives, such as diet, exercise, sleep, and activities, to a specific time of year. By taking inspiration from light, weather, plants, and animals, we can learn to live in harmony with and respect for Mother Nature's cycles.
It takes effort, but consciously welcoming each change of season can be simple and enjoyable.
Step One: Listen to Your Body
When temperatures and landscapes change, there are certain signs that tell us what our bodies naturally need.
These seasonal change signs can be:
- food cravings (for example, a craving for fresh, crisp fruits and vegetables in spring, or warm root vegetables in fall);
- energy changes (energy turned outwards in spring/summer, inwards in autumn/winter);
- a change in hobbies/interests depending on the weather and daylight;
- a need to sleep more or less; and
- an overall desire for change (such as wanting to sort through one's things or wanting to read more).
Furthermore, the fact of Not feeling your best during certain seasons (such as being less energetic or suffering from mood swings and a general feeling of malaise) may be due to a routine that is not appropriate for the season.
Listen to your body carefully and adapt your diet, sleep, and habits to meet its needs.
Step Two: Choose the specific way you will make your transition
Fall isn't just a time for a wardrobe update and the aroma of coffee. A dramatic transition from one season to the next can mark the end of one lifestyle and the beginning of another.
Here are some ideas for making this transition a success:
- reset your diet or fast to allow the digestive system to rest and recover;
- stop checking social media, news and other online media to take time to reflect on the past season and set goals for the new one;
- opt for mindful transition activities, such as yoga, stretching and walking;
- monitor your fluid intake to stay properly hydrated.
You choose the length of these transition periods. They can last one to three days, a week, or more.
Step Three: Live by the Season
Once the transition is complete, enjoy the joys of the new season.
Adapt your diet, physical activity, sleep, and the places you spend time in accordance with nature to benefit from optimal health.
Consciously adopt a seasonal lifestyle by trying:
- to cook according to outside temperatures (cold foods in spring and summer, hot foods in autumn and winter) favoring seasonal products;
- to exercise taking into account temperatures, daylight and the natural environment (running in spring, kayaking in summer, hiking in fall and snowshoeing in winter, for example);
- to adjust your sleep cycle (sleep more in winter to rest and recover, and less in summer to exercise); and
- to evolve in a setting adapted to the season (eating outside in summer or working in a cozy cafe in autumn).
Sure, we can access much of what we crave year-round and choose to live exactly the same way day after day. But each season offers us the opportunity to take advantage of different nutrients, physical activities, and lifestyles to make our lives more beautiful.
Think about how you can gently change your daily routine to celebrate each season.
References:
https://www.seasonsofchange.com/seasons-of-change