21 Top Tips For AUTUMN/ FALL Self-Care to Boost Your Health and Happiness
Autumn is a time of change, mystery, preservation, comfort, stillness, and releasing. Autumn is a yummy time of the year to eat soothing and nourishing soups, pies and stews, to wrap up warm and enjoy the bright, crisp sunshine. Autumn is a beautiful time for introversion, self-reflection, awareness and mindfulness.
The official start date for autumn/ fall this year (2021) is 22nd September.
Below are 21 of my top tips, ideas and practices for self-care to boost your health and happiness this season.
Remember, the Wellbeing Explorers self-care definition is:
Mindfully taking time and care of yourself in a way that ensures you are healthy, happy and able to fully engage with the world as your highest-self. Self-care entails self-reflection, self-compassion and self-awareness in order to understand, prioritise and have knowledge around your needs.
Boost Your Health and Happiness with Autumnal Self-Care:
Cut your to do list (even if it's just for the day or week)
Write a gratitude journal
Schedule time for daydreaming
Practice the Wellbeing Explorers check ins
Practice mindfulness in your activities e.g. when brushing your teeth, washing the dishes, eating
Schedule entire blocks of time to do nothing or to read
Set intentions and goals for your autumn/ winter exercise routine and put things in place for your success (e.g. buy that exercise mat, weights etc.)
Go for a barefoot walk and feel the leaves crunch and crinkle under your toes. It might be chilly out, but embrace the chill!
Savour a tea with warming spices like orange, cranberry, a squeeze of lemon and hot water with, cinnamon, cloves, star anise and a drop of honey.
Set boundaries to not get carried away with the busy nature of this season. Communicate these clearly, calmly, compassionately, simply and timely.
Take every opportunity to enjoy the warmth of the autumnal sunshine.
Declutter your life and space. We start to move inward during autumn. Make space for this introversion and spending more time at home.
Practice your wake up ritual;
Smile (20 seconds)
Set intentions for the emotional states of being you want to cultivate today (30 seconds)
Sit up and take three deep, long intentional breaths (40 seconds)
Stand up and do "Tits and Teeth" (30 seconds)
(see below for instructions and links)
Practice and spread kindness. Do something special for someone else. Kindness boosts yours and others happiness.
Create your RELAX and RELEASE music playlist. Have music to soothe your soul, savour the cosiness of the autumn and descend into deep relaxation.
Treat yourself to some body work e.g., a massage
Practice body scans to release and relax. Start from the feet up and consciously release tension in each body part. Work up your body and get to know your problem tension areas (e.g. shoulders, jaw and forehead are common areas to hold tension).
Create an alarm every hour to move. Even if it is just for 2 minutes. Gently stretch out your body. Do some neck rolls, stretch your arms to the ceiling, hugs your knees.
Wrap up warm, grab a warm cuppa and star gaze.
Go for walks in a forest, or somewhere that feels alive yet quiet. Invite a friend along to have intimate and deep conversations.
Limit your time on social media and purge accounts that trigger your insecurities. Follow people who bring you joy and remind you to prioritise health and wellbeing.
Remember to ask yourself the Wellbeing Explorers Self-care intention/ mantra:
What is the best way to support my wellbeing to ensure I am engaged, connected, strong in myself and health and be able to serve others?
Self-reflection questions:
· How can I use this season to invite awareness, mindfulness and stillness into my life?
· How can I EMBRACE THE COMFORT of autumn to deeply and restoratively rest and relax?
· What can I do to PRIORITISE MY SELF-CARE this season?
· How can I INVITE MORE RELEASING for this season of rest and preservation?
· How can I deeply CONNECT to myself, others and the environment?
Let me know what self-care practices you are committed to implementing the next few months.
If you want to explore how your self-care practice can support you to Self-Mastery and an Adventurous Way of Being to get out of overwhelm, stress, unhappiness, constant business and misery, get in touch for your FREE 30 minute Positive Psychology Coaching call. CLICK HERE to connect.
