Self-Care During Different Seasons
I’m writing this blog from my private therapy practice in Durham. It’s currently Autumn in the UK. This is a season that, for me, brings with it a combination of sadness and awe. The days are rapidly becoming shorter, and the temperature is dropping. Yet, the tree’s leaves have turned a beautiful mixture of red, yellow, and orange. I find it a stunning time of year, but I’m all too aware that winter will soon be here.
In the cooler seasons, my energy dips, and I look for more comfort. This is a contrast to summertime when I feel driven and energised. Noticing this, I began to reflect on how our self-care needs may change to match the season.
Do you find your energy, mood, and motivation levels vary throughout the year?
This article offers you the opportunity to reflect on how you can support your well-being in different seasons.
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Activities Spanning All Seasons
Some activities can span all seasons. For example, in my spare time, I enjoy running, walking, and being creative.
Mid-spring to mid-autumn, I have more energy and motivation to stay active, so more time is devoted to outdoor pursuits. The rest of the year, I step down a gear and concentrate more on creative interests. I continue with both activities, but the different seasons mean my focus shifts.
Do you have an interest that you want to engage in all year round?
- If so, how do the seasons impact this?
- Is it an impact you are happy with?
- If not, what can you put in place to reduce this?
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Activities Unique to The Seasons
Are there self-care activities that you are only drawn to during specific seasons?
In winter, I crave warmth and comfort. The first frosts usually have me digging in the cupboard to retrieve my big, fluffy blanket.
You might want to go through each of the seasons and journal or reflect on:
- What do you find challenging about it?
- How does it impact your emotions?
- How do your energy levels change?
- What do you need during each season to bring yourself comfort or fun?
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Appreciating What Each Season Has to Offer
Each season brings with it a unique set of benefits and challenges. It is easy to get bogged down with what we don’t like about each season. Yet practising gratitude can help to boost our mood and help us feel more at ease when the seasons change to the ones we find more difficult.
Winter is ranked bottom of my seasonal preferences list. I enjoy the outdoors, and I find winter weather can be bleak, the trees and ground look bare, and I have less energy. I still make an effort to get outdoors and remain active, but less so than at other times of the year. However, this means I have more time for creative activities like writing, creating digital art, and relaxing in front of the fire with a warm drink. Finding things I appreciate about winter makes the season feel easier.
Research on the practice of gratitude suggests that it can be a useful tool for improving well-being.
How to Practice Gratitude
Practising gratitude doesn’t need to be a time-consuming task. It can be as simple as:
- Have somewhere to record your gratitude thoughts:
- Use a small notebook and place it somewhere that will remind you to write in it.
- Some apps have gratitude diaries and can send notifications to remind you.
- At the end of the day, write down three things you feel grateful for. These can be small things, such as you made your favourite drink, you laughed with a friend, or you enjoyed a few moments of calm.
- During the changes of seasons, you might want to see if you can find anything season-specific to add to your gratitude list. For example, hearing the spring birds singing, seeing the first frost, or feeling the cool breeze on a hot summer’s day.
You can download the 'Seasonal Self-care workbook' that contains a worksheet for recording daily gratitude.
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Other Types of Self-Care
Self-care can take different forms:
- Relaxing.
- Practical.
- Health-related.
- Other.
- Examples of relaxing well-being activities:
- Being creative.
- Socialising.
- Meditation.
- Yoga.
- Connecting with nature.
- Examples of practical tasks:
- Paperwork.
- Decluttering,
- Ticking off necessary tasks we’ve been avoiding.
- Examples of health-related self-care:
- Health check.
- Routine dental check.
- Making appointments for any health issues.
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Seeking therapy for mental health difficulties.
- Healthy eating.
- Exercise.
- Examples of other self-care:
- Journaling.
- Being assertive.
- Saying no and not overcommitting yourself.
- Accessing therapy for personal development.
I cover more about self-care in the article I wrote for The Mighty called ‘What self-care really involves’
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Free Workbook
I have created a downloadable workbook. It gives you space to explore your specific self-care needs and challenges for each particular season. It also includes a worksheet for starting a daily gratitude practice.
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Final Words
Many of us experience a fluctuation in our mood and energy between seasons. By being more in tune with the seasons and the impact they may have on us, we can tailor our self-care needs.
If you find yourself struggling through any of the seasons, I encourage you to reach out for help. This may be from a trusted friend or family member, or a professional.
