Did you know the more connected we are with nature (like that of nature therapy), the healthier we may be? 

Considering the great outdoors can do everything from nourish our bodies to boost our mood, it may be time to develop a deeper relationship with it in order to gain as many benefits as we can.

One way to do this is by seasonal living, in which aspects of our lives such as diet, movement, sleep, and activities are adapted to the specific time of year. Taking cues from light, the weather, plants, and animals, we can learn to live respectfully and in sync with the cycles of Mother Earth.

Doing this can take conscious effort yet creating a purposeful transition from season to season can be an easy and enjoyable approach.

First: Listen to your body

When temperatures change and the outside world begins to look different, we may experience signs pointing to what the body intrinsically needs.

Such seasonal transition cues can be:

• food cravings (such as fresh, crunchy greens in spring and warm root vegetables in fall)
• energy shifts (outward energy in spring/summer and inward energy in fall/winter)
• change of hobbies/interests based on weather and daylight
• the need for more or less sleep
• an overall sense of wanting change (like wanting to simplify or yearning to read more)

In addition, simply not feeling well in certain seasons (like having low energy, mood issues, and an overall sense of un-wellness) can be due to the lack of nourishment required for the specific season. 

Listen closely to what your body desires and adapt diet, sleep, and routine to nurture its needs.

Next: Choose how you’ll tangibly transition

More than switching out your wardrobe or ordering a certain flavour of coffee, a distinct transition from season to season can bring closure to one way of living and open the door for another.

Ideas for this transition are:

• a diet reset or fasting to provide the digestive system rest and recovery
• taking a break from social media, news, and other online outlets to make space for reflection on the past season and goal setting for the new one
• mindful transitional movement such as yoga, stretching and walking
• focus on liquid intake for proper hydration

Transition periods can be what you choose, from one to three days to a week or longer. 

Then: Live seasonally

Once a transition takes place, revel in the joy of the new season.

What you eat, how you move, when you sleep, and where you go can all be influenced by nature for optimal health.

For conscious seasonal living, try:

• cooking based on outdoor temperatures (cooling foods in spring and summer and warming foods in fall and winter) with a focus on in-season produce
• movement inspired by temperatures, daylight, and natural surroundings (such as running in spring, kayaking in summer, hiking in fall, and snowshoeing in winter)
• adjusting sleep patterns (more in winter for rest and recovery and less in summer for movement and harvest)
• dwelling in environments that fit the season (eating outdoors in summer or working from a cosy coffee shop in fall)

Even though we can access much of what we desire all year long and can choose to live the exact same way day to day, seasonal change can provide us with a variety of different nutrients, movements, and ways of living to enhance life.

Think about how you can gently evolve your daily routine to honour the season today.

References:
https://www.seasonsofchange.com/seasons-of-change
 

In addition to the beautiful change of nature’s colours, the crisp feel of an autumn morning, and the cosiness of the early evening twilight, for many, falling in love with fall includes enjoying the rich, nutrient-dense foods that fill our plates.

And for good reason. Even though today’s world offers the ease and accessibility of consuming any type of food any time of year (think berries in winter or asparagus in fall), the earth was not designed to have the same availability all year long.

For thousands of years, our ancestors lived seasonally, knowing it was a necessity to survive.  The functionality of what was consumed during each time of year was essential to life – much different than our modern world, in which we don’t have to live as carefully.

However, fall is a time of year that inspires reconnection with the earth and the harvest it has to offer. With intention and mindfulness, you can enjoy the transition and learn to live seasonally.

Resetting

During autumn, nature begins to slow. Daylight lessens, temperatures drop, and leaves fall, making way for reflection and awareness. This makes it an encouraging time to reset, particularly when it comes to diet.

Cleansing the body of built-up toxins and old cells, providing the digestive system with a rest, and creating fresh seasonal eating goals are all distinct ways to regroup with the new season.

For example, such options are:

• Intermittent fasting – restricted eating within an 8-hour period
• Consecutive fasting – fasting for an extended period of time
• Elimination diet – eliminating food sensitivity triggers such as sugar, dairy, and/or gluten
• Modified diet – consuming only designated foods such as organic and/or non-processed fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy fats, and lean proteins
• Proper hydration – providing the body proper fluid for cooler months

A reset can be as simple or intense as you’d like, lasting one to three days, a week, or even longer (oversight from a health care practitioner is advised for substantial diet changes such as fasting) – just remember to be prepared before you start.

Organize your reset with:

• a detailed plan of what you will eat and when
• a pantry of stocked items needed
• appropriate cooking instruments
• encouragement from your family, friends, a nutritional counsellor, a health care provider, or an online support group

Nourish

Once the work has been done to start anew, it’s essential to move forward with proper nourishment and fall boasts a plethora of ways to do that.

First, transition from cooling summer foods to warm fall foods. Swap the raw and uncooked for:

• roasted vegetables
• baked fruit
• cooked lean proteins
• homemade broths
• warm soups and stews
• hot teas and coffees

Second, look to nature’s bounty (available at many local farmers’ markets or grocery stores with seasonal produce) for what foods to cook such as:

• root vegetables (sweet potatoes, carrots, turnips, rutabaga, and beets)
• squash (butternut, acorn, red kuri, spaghetti, and delicata)
• pumpkin
• kale
• arugula
• apples
• pears
• pomegranates
• cranberries
• figs
• Brussel sprouts
• cauliflower

Lastly, take time to cook favourite fall recipes and try new ones. Slowly chew and savour your meals, and if preferred, share dishes made with love and nutrients with others.

Pumpkin-flavoured anything can be fun when the mercury dips but the season has much more to offer than what we add to our coffees (although that’s an enjoyable part of it, too). 

Consider how you will reset your system and then nourish it properly for a fruitful and healthy autumn.   

References:
https://shawellnessclinic.com/en/shamagazine/the-seasonal-foods-you-should-be-eating-this-autumn/
https://platefulnutrition.co/5-tips-for-transitioning-into-fall/