DO you feel it? Something is in the air, maybe it’s the changing of the seasons, maybe it’s Mercury in Retrograde, maybe it’s the full moon or the lunar eclipse, and whether you even believe in such Woohoo things…something is in the air, something is shifting. This something needs a touch of quiet, peace and contemplation. So during this time, we just need a bit of gentle patience during this transitional phase of the year. This is one from the archives, but I wanted to share it again, because I felt it is just a relevant today as it was when I wrote it last year!
Be easy my friends!
Bye, Bye summer, Hello Fall!
I love summertime because of the (mostly) easy breeziness schedule. And really, I dig Fall too, with the excitement of school starting up again, the snaps of chilly weather and the holidays of the horizon. But with fall also comes a busier and sometimes hectic schedule of evening practices, meetings, and other obligations. So with the hustle and bustle, it’s easy to get left behind and we get spread too thin.
So here are 5 ways to stay energized and mindful during this seasonal transition
1. Start your Day Out Right.
We start each morning with a bit of a blank slate.We have the ability to create our intended day, the best way to do this is to be if we are mindful and intentional with our mornings. So it’s really important to ease into your day with some quiet time, where we can create our mood and intention for the day. I love to start my mornings with some simple stretches to shake off the rust and get my blood flowing, then I spend 5-10minutes in quiet meditation. This does amazing things for clearing my head starting my day in the spirit I desire. But even if meditation isn’t your bag (yet), spending any quiet time creating your energy for the day is wonderful. This could be simply saying positive personal mantras or affirmations, focusing on the words and feelings you want to dominate your day, or some slow/deep or energetic breathing. But whatever you do, don’t start your morning reading emails or social media posts, give your creativity and inner wisdom a chance to be the dominant speaker in your day.
2. Recommit to Your Health
Ok, I get it, it’s hard to be committed to your optimal health and exercise plans while on vacation or holiday. But that doesn’t mean it’s not important to you to reap the benefits of a wholesome diet and plenty of exercise plan. So the time is now to push the reset button and hop back on the wagon. Because treating your body to Exercise and a healthy diet are so important to help you remain strong and healthy, moving into these busy days of fall!
3. Take it Slow
Sometimes when we are moving from the easy breezy Summer into the fuller Fall, we go from zero to 60, right away. And this is a recipe for frazzlement (my word) and burnout. So be mindful and choosy about your commitments and ease back into your fully committed fast-paced lifestyle slowly.
4. Don’t Forget to Breath
Breathing is one of simplest and most purifying things you can do for yourself. It is especially helpful when you are feeling frustrated, overwhelmed or anxious as life starts to rev up. When you feel yourself getting a little too tightly wound, simply stop, close your eyes and take some slow deep breaths. This is also helpful because it also gives our brains a break from the outside noise while we focus on our breath.
Try this: Breath in for a 5 count and then gently breath out for a 5 count, do this five to ten times until you feel warm, calmer and more focused.
5. Have Fun!!
Sometimes forget how important having fun is! Do you ever wonder why kids have the capacity to feel so much elation and joy? Well, one reason is that they have fun and get lost in their play on a regular basis. I myself, I LOVE fun, but sometimes I forget about my own fun in the midst of all that “stuff” I need to do. Many of us get so busy doing the stuff we have to do, we forget about making time to do the things that we want to do. We start living our life on auto-pilot. But this is not the way to live our fullest lives, most purposeful lives, and it’s a recipe to both physical and emotional burnout. So, give yourself permission to skip the dishes to read another chapter or three of your book. It’s ok, for you to say no to your kid’s plans because you already had plans with your friends.
Whatever you fun is, find it, do it and on the regular!
This really is a really beautiful time of year, just be easy my friends.
Love yourself, honor your time and find your joy!
XO,
P.s. For me these ideas of mercury in retrograde and the lunar eclipse effecting our mood are new and interesting, and I am definitely intrigued, because I am very open to new ideas…just because something hasn’t been in my realm of consciousness before , it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t exist. I would love to hear from you! Do you believe in the stuff? or Is this totally in left field for you (the idea definitely got an eye-roll from my husband this morning 😉 )?
