Overcoming the effects of seasonal change
I don’t think I am alone in saying I struggled moving out of Summer and into Autumn. The transition in weather, shortening of the days, return of great uncertainty amidst the global pandemic are all difficult to deal with. I certainly felt quite flat and a little lonely over the end of Sept struggling to understand how I would get through winter, in a new place, with less time outdoors, whilst navigating my constantly changing body in pregnancy.
With time to reflect and opening up about those feelings to Stu, I slowly began to realise those feelings were totally normal. In fact, he too felt same, that the shortening/darker days meant he struggled to get up and be motivated in the morning. Along with the fact that we we’re in a new place, trying to find our feet as individuals and as business too.
So how do you manage the inevitable?
Well what if we were to look at the changing seasons in a different way, rather than the negative of things we lose, how about looking at what we gain, can change or can adapt to.
As natures surroundings change – get outdoors
This time round, lockdown has enabled us as much access to exercise outdoors as we need. So make the most of it. Just like in the summer getting time outside in the sunlight is vital for our health. Nature can do wonders both physically and mentally and now is the perfect time to explore just what it can do for you. It can be as simple as getting out for a walk every lunch time if you’re working at home, meeting a friend in the park or going for a swim/run/paddle/cycle.. What’s most important is stepping away from the computer, out of the house and dedicating some much needed time in yourself
As the temperature drops – invest in yourself
The biggest restrictions we have through the Autumn and Winter months is the reduced length of daylight and cooler temperatures. So it’s easy to feel as though we can’t do as much as we do in the summer. However, what if we just invested a little bit in ourselves and bought some kit to help us through these month.
Paddle boarding as an example is a prime summer sport, and for all our time living in London that’s exactly what it was. However since moving to the coast we quickly came to realise how easily it can be done all year round with the right kit and preparation. Investing in neoprene, surf boots, gloves and a good hat have helped me to get out on the water during a time we may not have considered it previously.
Likewise cycling, walking, running, swimming can all be done through the winter months if you just invest a little bit in getting the extra bit of kit. So rather than hanging up your boots (so to speak) on an exercise you may just do in the summer, seek advice from those in the know on how to take that through the winter.
As the days shorten – learn to love the sunrise
Getting up early can be one of the hardest things to do if you’re struggling personally in any way. I know this because for a numbers years after Stus injury getting out of bed became a huge challenge for me. If you add in shorter days, darker mornings and poorer weather it can easily make this part of the day seem impossible. This is where rising with the sunrise can be extremely valuable and why cold water swimming early doors has had such a huge impact on me. Waking with the sun helps to regulate your internal body clock and active the hormones necessary to wake the body up naturally for the day. This in turn helps the body to function more efficiently throughout the day and sleep better at night. So if your wanting to find a way to make a change to your morning routine then think about what could work for you best:
✨ Waking up and getting out to exercise is an obvious choice. Being exposed to natural light and the outdoors provides a multitude of benefits alongside the value of being there when the sun comes up
✨ Lumier clocks use low level light to raise you from your sleep, enabling a more natural wake up process and placing less stress on the body. This is especially good for when you need to rise when its still dark outside
✨ Finally if you don’t fancy hitting the outdoors but want to make a change, aim to get up to work out in the comfort of your own home. Finding a reason to get up and out of bed in the first place is key
If you’re struggling for motivation – join a community
One of the biggest things we have learnt since moving to Devon, is the power of community. Having come from a big city I don’t think we truly appreciated how valuable being part of a local community could be. It provides a sense of belonging, support, and a place to empower each other. It’s this sense of inclusion which is especially important at a time like this. What’s more, finding a community of like minded people that share an interest can be (and has been for us) an amazing place to find motivation at a time of year that can be tough.
I feel incredibly grateful to have found the community of swimming girls I now swim with multiple times a week. They have not only given me a reason to get up in the mornings, but opened me up to a network of talented and driven women all here to support each other whatever our needs. It’s all thanks to the amazing Jo who has inspired me (and all of us) to support local and each other. Whilst Stu has been involved with the amazing Bude Surf Veterans, who have maintained and run a strong support network for local veterans. This surf community provides a much need mental and physical release via the water and has been somewhere that we have both been welcomed to with open arms.
So whatever your passion may be, and wherever you are, don’t be afraid to reach out to others in your community. Whether it’s a sports group, community group, online or in person there will be people out there you can network and connect with.
If your lacking in energy – fuel for the season
There is a lot of evidence to support mental health starting within the gut. Think about the last time stress/anxiety/emotions gave you an upset stomach. Then flip that on its head and look at a time when your guts bacteria has been wiped out by antibiotics, alcohol, highly processed foods and how that has in turn affected your mental health. The connection between mind and gut plays a huge part in both physical and mental wellbeing and therefore what we put into it can be a simple place to start to support the two.
If you’re finding the transitioning into Autumn/winter a challenge, and you are spending a lot more time at home during lockdown. Now may be a great time to take a look at what you eat and think about the possible effects these may be having on your health.
We encourage a balanced diet with all our clients and do not condone cutting anything out. But if you notice your diet is high in processed foods, refined sugar and alcohol just have think about how these make you feel, and if any of these could possibly be having a detrimental effect on your mental health/energy levels/day to day life. Now for some of us this may have no effect at all and yet for others it will
If you think that it could be affecting you then considering making a few changes. Start small like cooking more meals from scratch, increase in fruit and veg or adding in more probiotic rich foods like yoghurt into your meals. You could also consider eating more seasonally grown produce. That way they are locally produced, support local business, reduce the chemicals and process required for long transportation and is ultimately better for the environment
If you don’t really know what you need – try and have some you time
As cliché as it may sound, giving yourself time to sit and breathe is hugely beneficial for your mind and mental health. We all lead very busy lives and time to ourselves tends to be put at the back of the list. However, if you can give yourself even 5-10 mins every few days just to sit and be you will feel the benefits. The best way to do this is through mindfulness or meditation and there are lots of tools/apps out there that can help.
If your needing a bit of inspiration to get moving, head over to our newly launched online members page ‘The Movement Room’. Here you have access to videos that will help you to move, breath, strengthen and stretch the body and all from the comfort of home. What’s even better is we are offering a 14-day free trial so you can give it a go and see what you think.