Let the wonderful habits of summer inspire your autumn
“People often pinpoint summer as the peak of their year, and when it comes to an end, it can be nice to reflect on what, in particular, has contributed to your well-being and find ways to prioritise these habits even when everyday life returns.”
Many find the transition between summer and autumn far from straightforward, and for some it can be a challenging experience. Long, bright days and balmy evenings are quickly replaced by cooler weather and darker nights. During the holidays, the usual day-to-day stresses feel at a distance, but before you know it, everyday life is in full swing again, with the start of school, meetings, and full agendas feeling like an uphill battle. This can contribute to feelings of stress and inadequacy as these everyday demands increase. Frequently, this can lead to many of the good habits adopted over summer quickly becoming lost along the way; and for quite a few, this can have a negative impact on their mood. By keeping some aspects of summer, and above all, focusing on the parts of a holiday lifestyle that contribute to strengthening our well-being, the transition to autumn can be far less strenuous. Three simple suggestions:
1.Focus on outdoor activities
Many people think that the opportunity to spend more time outdoors is one of the great highlights of summer. With the demands of a daily routine, colder days and even shorter evenings, outdoor activities can be pushed to the back of your mind and the transition becomes noticeable. Although I personally quite like autumn, not least the crisp air and beautiful shades of nature, life quickly catches up with you, and the time to plan outdoor activities is easily forgotten. Research has shown that various outdoor activities help to lower stress levels and have a positive effect on our mindset, thus making us more resistant to stress and counteracting symptoms of depression. By spending time in daylight, especially in the morning, we help to boost the so-called circadian rhythm, our biological rhythm that controls wakefulness and sleep. It increases the chances of a good night’s sleep. Another benefit of being outdoors is that we continue to get a little vitamin D, which strengthens the immune system and is formed by our skin when it’s exposed to sunlight. Try to plan ahead and find activities you enjoy, such as a walk in the woods, mushroom picking, or a bike ride. And keep in mind that a short time is better than none, so a short stroll in the park, a brisk march to work, or a 10-minute meander at lunch, for example, can all make a big difference. And often by being outdoors, you receive all the health benefits of physical activity in return. Not least, physical activity is important for giving us more energy, making us happier, and improving our sleep cycle.
2.Let the summer’s fresh food inspire you in the autumn
Summer often sparks a desire to eat healthier. Most people find it an easier experience to eat delicious fresh food in summer because of all the beautiful berries, fruits and vegetables on offer. When autumn creeps in and the range of food changes, it can suddenly feel less appealing. It’s a good idea to draw inspiration from the season and choose more colourful fruits and vegetables, such as apples, pears, plums, and different types of cabbage, beets, and carrots. Berries that aren’t in season can feel less appealing; in this case, frozen berries can be a good alternative. And personally, I think autumn, with all the season’s root vegetables in different colours, provides the perfect opportunity for hot vegetable stews. It’s genuine ‘comfort food’ that helps to create a cosy atmosphere around the dinner table. Or why not a plate of mouth-watering oven-roasted vegetables, which require very little effort at all?
“I love the sea. It provides a wonderful feeling of freedom, so I try to stick to regular walks along the beautiful coastline.”
3.Summer reflections can contribute to a more harmonious way of life
For many, summer is a time for contemplation and reflection. When everyday stress decreases and the hamster wheel has finally stopped turning, we get the opportunity to look back and evaluate what worked well and what needs improvement. It gives us the opportunity to make positive changes. A lot of the time it’s clear what gives you positive energy and well-being, and what deprives you of it. This doesn’t always mean that it’s easy to change your lifestyle, and especially not if there are other people involved that’ll be affected by your doing so. But there’s always something that can be done differently. It doesn’t have to be much or particularly big, but it can still make a positive contribution. For me, a couple of things that often contribute to irritation have become very obvious. What becomes clear when we take the time to pause is that some, not all, of what disrupts our harmony can be changed relatively easily. In my experience, for example, it’s very important to minimise morning stress as much as possible, as it sets the tone for the rest of the day, not least for your children. By having the morning planned the night before, which sometimes only takes a few minutes, my family and I significantly increase the chances that everything will go smoothly, even when time is in short supply. It means a better start to the day for everyone!
