5 Ways to boost your Wellbeing in Autumn

As the leaves change colour and the air gets colder and the nights get darker, so does our mood.

Finding it harder to get up in the mornings?

Feeling sluggish and like you have no energy?

Finding it difficult to motivate yourself?

Feeling down, irritable or low in mood?

Comfort eating?

Feeling more tired than usual?

Does any of this sound familiar? Don’t worry- you’re not alone!

Here are 5 ways to boost your Wellbeing in Autumn:

1.- Spending five minutes every day in your garden or outdoor space - one thing we are getting short of during this season is daylight. Making sure you get your dose of Vitamin D is important to boost your wellbeing and spending five minutes in the garden whilst your having your morning cup of tea or coffee is an easy way of doing just that.

2.- Mindful walking - going for a walk is another way of getting daylight into your system. Combining this with mindfulness is a good way to reduce stress and anxiety. Notice the beautiful colours of the leaves changing or the sound of the leaves crunching beneath your feet. Look for conkers or pine cones or simply breathe and enjoy the scenery around you. Going for walks can be a gentle and easy way to stay active - why not go for a walk in your lunch break?

3.- Get cosy - as the weather deteriorates, you might want to get cosy. Curling up with fluffy blankets and your favourite hot drink, watching a film or listening to your favourite songs is a good way of taking care of yourself. Putting up fairly lights and lighting a scented candle can enhance that feeling of cosiness which in turn can boost your wellbeing.

4.- Connect - one thing that’s easy to do when you’re feeling low in mood and energy is to stop connecting with others which can have a negative impact on your wellbeing. Try to keep in touch with friends or loved ones and if you feel able to, try to meet in person. You might like to go for mindful walks together or have a movie night or go for a seasonal coffee. Connecting with others makes us feel less isolated which in turn boosts our wellbeing. If you don’t have family or friends, you might like to see what’s on in your local area or do an activity you enjoy where you might meet like minded people.

5.- Listen to your body - often we ignore the signals our body sends us, however listening to your body is really important because your body will tell you what you need. A lot of wisdom resides in our bodies that we all too readily ignore. Listening to your body and meeting your own needs will boost your wellbeing. You can use meditation, mindfulness or breathing exercises to regularly check in with your body and with what you might need. Self care is especially important during this time of year.

As the seasons change and Autumn envelopes us in colour, cooler weather and darker nights, please remember that it is okay to slow down. Nature is preparing for Winter and so are we, even though in our world today we rush, hurry and push ourselves no matter what season we find ourselves in.

Give yourself permission to slow down if you are able,

to take time,

to take a breath,

to be.