Autumnal Acts of Self Care
Laura C Aiken
Coaching people-first leaders to thrive under pressure, grow resilient teams and build better workplaces. Proven neuroscience-based culture change for global firms. Resilience🔸Wellbeing🔸Inclusion🔸Workshops🔸Retreats
Seasonal Self Care 🍂🧣🥧🎃🧡
OK So. I am *not* about to get all pumpkin spice latte on you over here (in fact, my favourite season is Spring). But! I do think we can take some inspiration from the changing seasons to refresh our habits of self-care.
Autumn is one of the best seasons to slow down. We used to be much more seasonal beings, ramping up in the summer and slowing down in the winter, and I’ve enjoyed tuning into that the last few years and living a little more intentionally come October.
But in 2022 we’re getting a lot of doom and gloom messaging, and frankly it can seem a little self-indulgent to curl up, get cosy, and practice some self care.
Well I say f*ck that. It’s especially important to be self-indulgent right now. You need you and the world needs you.
So here’s four simple ways to practice self-care this season:
1. Simplify your focus
At the time of writing there are 79 days left in the year. Now that can sound a little scary and be setting off the alarm bells in your head right now… but it can also be a motivator. You have precious time left in 2022, what do you want to fill it with? And what can wait until next year?
To help here, think about the five most important things in your life right now - family, relationships, work, fun, your halloween costume, whatever. How content are you with how you’re spending your time and energy in these areas?
Use that information to set a MAXIMUM OF THREE 👌small goals for the end of the year. When you’re looking back in December, what will make you feel you’ve spent your time well?
2. Limit your news
Of course it is important to stay informed in this climate, but the constant news cycle of doom and gloom is incredibly damaging for us.
Science time 🤓. The Reticular Activating System (RAS) is a network of neurons in your brainstem that filters the masses of information we receive at any one time into information we can process. Our words, thoughts, and experiences program that filter.
So if you’re spending three hours a day hearing about the miserable state of the world, your RAS will let in more and more information that confirms it, and we become consumed by the information we’re consuming.
Instead, set a limit to your news consumption and when you’re done, speak a more productive mantra to reset yourself like: “I know there are tough things happening, but I am focused on… smashing my goals/my beautiful family/the positive things in my life.”
3. Drink more water
As seasons change our bodies go through a natural clearing and detoxification process (have you noticed a lot of people getting colds recently?). The best thing you can do to help is drink water.
Water makes up 60% of our bodies and plays important roles in our cells metabolic processes. It helps with body temperature regulation, joint lubrication, shock absorbtion in the spinal cord and of course, flushing out waste from the body 🌊.
A practice from retreat in Rishikesh: take large gulps and swirl your water in your mouth. Saliva is alkaline in nature so this is good for your teeth and gum health, but also a much cheaper way of drinking more alkaline water. Gwyneth Paltrow would be so proud.
4. Sleep More
With the shorter days and longer nights, it’s a great time to get more shuteye 😴.
Set yourself a bed-time alarm to unwind a little earlier. Be disciplined about stepping out of the doom-scrolling. Refresh your morning ritual so you get a little more time in the mornings. If there’s someone in bed with you, get them on board as an accountability partner!
As for me, I had an absolutely massive August and September and am just back from a very deep retreat in Rishikesh. I’m looking forward to simplifying my goals, decluttering the house, cosying up with John the cat and binge-watching great British Autumn TV.
Exclusive: ThriveLab Monthly Mastermind
Want to hear more about self love habits and rituals to break out of stress, boost your mood and create a life that loves you back?
Join me for a cosy ThriveLab mastermind online on Oct 27, 2022 18:00 London time, where we’re talking Tiny Habits!