I am originally from New England, and this time of year the temps are cooling and the leaves are changing. Fall is a time of year that we associate with change.
Environments change, so can we.
Change-- most people cringe when they hear that word.
But we know that old saying "nothing changes until something changes".
Change doesn't have to be hard, unless you make it that way.
Change can be very uncomfortable, and we are not hardwired for that.
Even though your life might not be great, it is familiar, so we stay stuck.
Here are a few tips to make your change easier to manage:
Get quiet. Start by blocking off some time to "just be". It can be just a few minutes to start with, then grow it once the habit has stuck. Try going out in nature, meditate, journal, take deep breaths. What you actually do doesn't matter, it's the time you set aside alone that makes the difference.
Let something go. This is a good time of year to re-evaluate what things you should hold onto and which you should let go of. We all have habits that we are fully aware do not serve us, now is the time to shed those. One question I ask my clients that are going through change is, "what don't you want to bring with you into this new month from last month?" Give it a try.
Find what brings you joy and add that in. It could be as simple as a cup of coffee, or an old sweatshirt. The key here is being honest about what brings you joy and adding more of that to your life. I have discovered that it is pretty hard for some to articulate what brings them joy. Start there if that is you. If it's tough, give yourself grace and time, you will figure it out.
Commit to your sleep. Sleep is a major component of our overall health and wellness. Incorporating a great sleep hygiene routine as the days become shorter and the nights get longer could be the needle mover for you this season. Don't take this simple step lightly, I promise you it makes a world of difference.
Stay focused on your hydration. Lately, I have heard many incidents of people having problems, that boiled down to the fact that they were dehydrated. If you don't feel thirsty, that is not the right indicator. Half your body weight in ounces of water is the standard. And don't pound it all late afternoon and evening, or it will interfere with #4.
Hope this proves to be helpful in this fall season of change.
