Autumn Self Care – some inspiration from Patti
Autumn Self Care – some inspiration from Patti
As the nights are drawing in and the leaves are beginning to change we enter a new season and a new way of thinking about looking after ourselves.
In summer it can feel easy to be outside, and the sunshine almost makes it super simple to get those vitamin and serotonin boosts, so as we change in autumn it’s a great opportunity to shift our thinking around what can help us to look after ourselves in the coming months.
Patti Turfrey, our Organisational Psychologist, decided to share her top tips on autumn self-care! Here’s what she had to say…
Whilst I am a huge autumn fan, and it’s definitely my favourite season, the shift to the colder months and shorter nights can sometimes have a distinct effect on how we feel. Its important at any time of year to look after ourselves but this shift can sometimes feel a little trickier at this time of year. I wanted to share some of my most favourite things that the autumn brings to try and help us to think about what little acts of self-care might bring you some joy at this time, I hope you enjoy!
Reading that book – I often have a pile of books that get a bit dusty over summer. I’m usually out and about and making the most of the longer days. Autumn can be the ideal time to use those darker nights to get lost in fiction or learn about some amazing people or events in the nonfiction. Getting all cosy and engrossed in a story by a warm fireplace can help us to reduce our cortisol, feel less stress and help our imagination and creativity!
Getting out the cosy socks and blankets – When the weather starts to get a little colder, there is nothing more comforting than wrapping up in those chunky socks and making yourself into a cocoon of warm furry blankets.
Spiced tea or cider – Getting in from a day of being outside, feeling cold to your bones, then picking up a warm drink can feel like you’ve just started to warm your body from your toes to your head until you feel totally soothed inside! Helping to thaw out those fingers around a warm mug can be total bliss!
Cosy nights with pets – I swear my cat didn’t make me write this! 😊 Being inside a bit more on those darker evenings can mean more time with our furry friends. There is a huge amount of research behind the fact that stroking or cuddling with pets can help to reduce stress, reduce blood pressure and levels of cholesterol! And they often make us smile and bring a lot of joy into our lives. That was enough for me to put it on my list!
Using seasonal produce – as we move into a new season this is a great excuse to use produce that we may not normally use. I love exploring new recipes and it gives me a lot of satisfaction learning and trying something new. From a scientific perspective, we can also increase our levels of dopamine (the feel-good hormone!) by completing a task, so maybe cooking a meal can be that task! We could also help increase Oxytocin (our bonding with others hormone!) if we cook for someone else! Why not try something new? In autumn broccoli, aubergine, carrots, butternut squash and pumpkin come into season! You could also use that pumpkin for some fun carving!
Connect with nature – Whilst the days may be shorter, we still get some sun in autumn and nature can show us just how beautiful change is! There is nothing I love more than going for a walk in some big cosy jumpers, collecting leaves of all different colours, playing with conkers, seeing the animals collecting for hibernation and hearing the sounds of nature!
Light the good candle – we always keep them for best, but now is best! Find your favourite smell and bask in the beautiful aromas a good candle can bring! My favourite smells in autumn are cedar, sandalwood and Tobacco & oak for autumn! (Sounds horrible but give a try- trust me!)
Writing a letter to reflect on how you feel – it’s often this time of year I feel most reflective! I often think about what I have achieved and what I still want to achieve in the year. Its also a good time to start thinking about what I want for the next year. This year I’m really having a focus on being kind to myself and my letter this year is focusing on all the kind things I’ve done and what I don’t want to think about anymore and can let go of- like the trees are doing with their leaves!
I hope this has been helpful and gets you thinking about your autumn self care ideas! 😊
Patti xxx
