"Being Grateful allows more Inspiration and wisdom into your Soul & more Abundance into your life." ~ Nancy
Do you tend to notice late Summer turning into Autumn? You know, that subtle change in the air. There is so much to love about Fall - The cool, crisp early morning (and evening) temperatures are such a welcome after the sweltering Summer heat! And then there are things to crave, such as pumpkin spice beverages and recipes. Fall brings us things to embrace, like wearing cozy, warm sweaters and boots. Maybe you can sense the energy change in the air (outdoors) as well as a change in mood (inside/within). Depending on how in tune you are with your body/mind, you may or may not notice the subtle changes that are going on within, during this seasonal transition. Outside, the leaves are falling, the air is getting cooler, and days are shorter. Life outdoors begins to decline and we find ourselves turning inward, reconnecting with the body/mind/soul and all we've experienced this year. Harvest season has arrived.
Physical: The body needs Nurturing. Have you ever noticed that you tend to sleep more during Fall and even into Winter? The body often craves more sleep during the fall months. In a study from Harvard Medical School, results showed that most people sleep more in October - roughly 2.7 hours more per day than any other month of the year. The study also found that it is the quality and deepness of your sleep that can suffer and that some people report feeling groggier during the day. This is because of the shorter days (and depending on where you live, often rainier days) so your eyes are not exposed to as much bright sunlight as they were in Summertime. The technical term for sleeping too much is "hypersomnia". Most of us are very familiar with insomnia. Hypersomnia is the opposite of insomnia. Basically, when ultraviolet light hits your retinas, a chemical reaction takes place in your brain that firms up your circadian sleep rhythms. This helps to be certain your sleep will be more soundly at night and you will feel energized during the day. Personally, I LOVE sleep! Quality sleep, deep restful sleep. I believe sleep is the BEST medicine when feeling ill, mentally blocked, or on the verge of "burnt out" or from vigorous exercising and needing recovery. I always have been a strong advocate for giving your body what it needs. If you feel you need sleep, sleep. If you feel you need an afternoon shut-eye for 20 min, knowing that this reprieve will help you awake feeling more refreshed and able to focus even better, go for it! That being said, it is best to have your vitamin D levels checked by your physician. See, the sun doesn't just set or reset your sleep cycle, when the sun hits your skin, it also helps to fortify your Vitamin D levels. And in the Fall season (and even more so in Winter) the lack of sunlight could mean that your Vitamin D is getting depleted. And this can leave you feeling fatigued, research has shown this to be the case in a study in the New England Journal of Medicine.
Tip: Research shows it is always best to maintain a consistent sleep regimen and stick to a sleep schedule of the same bedtime and wake-up time, even on weekends. Practice a relaxing bedtime ritual. Exercising daily helps. Evaluate your bedroom and be sure it is as dark as possible as well as a quiet and comfortable temperature (between 60 and 67 degrees Fahrenheit). And lastly, be sure to sleep on a comfortable, supportive mattress and pillows.
Mental: The Mind needs reflection time for Gratitude. Make some time to reflect on all you've created this year - your personal accomplishments and triumphs. Be sure to celebrate your achievements. Did you recently complete a course of study? Finish a major project? Write a book? Finally, de-clutter your garage or closets. Maybe you landed a new job or got married. Whatever the accomplishment, big or small, bless it, honor it, and celebrate the achievement. And for those days that may not have gone as planned, this time of season demands that we look inward, and find those little, simple things we feel deeply grateful for - Even when we might be going through a tough time or having a challenging day. Perhaps you've had a recent loss or major disappointment. Sometimes something may leave your world to clear the path and help you to open your eyes and discover (or rediscover) your intentions or purpose for this lifetime. Your grief, your loss, and your disappointment could be that you are meant to assist others who need to process their loss or disappointment so they can truly live a life filled with love, wellness, and fulfillment. Reflect and find more reasons to be grateful, appreciative, and give thanks for the simple things, especially during trying situations - You might just be surprised to find that it really is the little, simplest things that bring true contentment, inner peace, and more love within.
Tip: Each morning or at the end of each day, list 3 to 5 things you are grateful for. On some days, it might be those amazing accomplishments or some miracle happened. Many days might consist of those little, simple things. Starting the day with gratitude is something I like to practice on a daily basis. I find it gets my day started by embracing a day with gratefulness. And there are evenings, as I am drifting off to sleep and recall the day and how grateful I am for something that happened that day. This can be done for what works best for you. Give each one a try. Maybe you will find you begin to practice both on a daily basis.
Spirit: The Soul needs Introspection. I have always felt that the Fall Season, whispers something very deep. There is something internal and very personal happening that seems to take place during the Fall season. A necessary transition of sorts. This is a good time to contemplate what might need to change or "die off" within you in order to embrace newness and new life that will grow into next year's harvests. During the Fall season, we are organizing, reflecting, and preparing ourselves to be reborn with the new year ahead of us. This is a great time to turn inward and we can discover and explore ourselves and our dreams. Autumn can be a very ideal time for manifesting. Letting go of what no longer serves you. Perhaps you've experienced some life lessons. Accept any disappointments or failures as life lessons. Release judgment about them realize how much you've learned and continue to grow through life emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Look back, learn, and move on. We can let go of outdated ideas, attitudes, and beliefs that no longer serve us. We can use this time to process all that has happened to us - positive and negative experiences. Choose to keep what is most meaningful and let the rest fall away, like leaves falling from a tree. It is important to understand that all feelings we have are aspects of ourselves and we should honor those feelings. Emotions such as joy, sadness, wistful, or wishful all make up the parts that create a human being. Feel whatever you are experiencing, this can strengthen and empower you into accepting and understanding life lessons and experiences. Embrace and allow the Fall season to pull you inward, reflect, process, and prepare for another round of rebirth.
Tip: September/October has always been a month that has felt to me like a time to set some new intentions. The norm is, that January, the first month of each year, is to have resolutions. This has some benefits but for myself, something about September as we move into the Fall season, I've felt a shift within of letting go of what's not working and creating new intentions. Maybe this has something to do with when school starts each year - a new grade or course of study, a fresh start. So, take a look back to January, those resolutions you either thought about or actually moved forward with, and now, in September, what is taking place? What's working? What's not? Reflect, refine, and reset some new intentions by letting go of what's not working and creating room for new manifestations.
~Warmest blessings for a special Fall Season filled with gratitude!
Coach Nancy
Learn how my Self-Discovery Coaching Program can provide you with the support, guidance, and encouragement for personal growth in all areas of your life.
Thinking about creating healthy habits? Contact me for success! lifeempowermentcoachnancy@gmail.com