Are You Seasonally In Sync?

What is seasonal living?

Living seasonally means living in pace with the changing seasons throughout the year.

The benefits of seasonal syncing

Seasonal living promotes a deeper connection with nature’s rhythms. Whilst living in sync, the lifestyle champions seasonal eating, considered consumption and seasonal activities. In addition to living more intentionally, there are a whole host of other benefits from reducing your environmental impact to protecting local culinary heritage and having a deeper connection to Nature.

Seasonality supports us by slowing down to the pace and patterns of the natural world, In a modern age where everything is too accessible, we have lost appreciation for the temporary gifts nature offers us and also gives us something present to appreciate in that moment.

This lifestyle approach allows us to find an increased sense of mindfulness and gratitude. In our fast paced world, we can often find ourselves distanced from the reassuring cycles that are taking place around us and feeling disconnected to the present moment, always looking to the next thing or reminiscing on the past. Even if we miss it, the sun rises and sets everyday, and the moon moves through its phases. Reconnecting with these patterns reminds us that we also go through phases of different energy, too. When we come to realise that things cannot be constant, we give thankfulness for the coming and going and the space in between.

Seasonal Living, HIGHLIGHTS

• Mindful connection. Seasonal living encourages a deeper connection with the pace and patterns of nature. When we begin to bring awareness to how our natural surroundings change throughout the year, we appreiacte these changes as they come and go. Connecting us can help us feel more grounded. In addition, noticing, savouring and looking forward to the seasonal changes brings calm, contentment and gratitude which can benefit our mental wellbeing.
• Reduces our environmental impact. We know our food choices have a large impact on the environment, how we source our food and how much waste we produce. Eating in season, locally grown produce helps reduce food miles and carbon emissions from refrigerated transport. By shopping seasonally and locally we help to support local growers. Even better you can begin to grow your own food and produce, creating minimal environmental impact. This allows a deeper connection with nature and reminds us of our impact on the natural world. This encourages us to adopt more considered consumption and minimise waste.
• Nutritional benefits. Ripe and freshly picked seasonal fruits and vegetables tend to have higher nutrient content than produce which has been through a lengthy supply chain. When produce is picked at peak ripeness, key nutrients like potassium and magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamins C and A can be found at higher concentrations.
• Cherishes heritage and culture. Slow food is about savouring, celebrating and protecting culinary heritage and traditions. By living seasonal, status for hyper locally produced food, drink and agricultural products which helps maintain quality and authenticity, protecting the product from imitation, and local businesses

Ways to reconnect with seasonality

• Slow down and noticing your surroundings. Take a longer more rural commute, notice what colour the leaves on the trees are and see what’s in bloom.
• Taking time to be in nature, daily. Maybe you can fit in a midday walk during your lunch brake, or allow extra time in the morning to get outside. This daily time in nature is not to be missed, studies have shown exposure to nature not only makes you feel better emotionally, it contributes to your physical wellbeing, reducing blood pressure, heart rate, muscle tension, and the production of stress hormones.
• Watching what is growing, take a detour around a local farmers field or stop pass a national garden. Different plants thrive in different times of the year, its always fascinating to see spring bulbs appear from frosty ground, or fields of sweetcorn about to be harvested.
• Taking up gardening, gardening is a beautiful expression of having a direct communication to the soil. It has a calming grounding effect on our minds and also encourages diversity and healthy exposure to beneficial bacteria which supports our microbiome.
• Shop at the farmers market or local farms. The most direct route for our food is from field to fork. By shopping at farmers markets or farm shops, you are only buying local seasonal produce and avoid any imported produce that doesn’t support our planet.
• Leaning into the full experience of a season. For many winter is a time that most resist and dread however many people that enjoy winter are those who lean into the full experience of the season. Winter is the time for the internal opposed to the external. Take this opportunity to practice hygge, this is a word in Danish and Norwegian that describes a mood of coziness and “comfortable conviviality” with feelings of wellness and contentment.
• FeeL more grounded and present. When we lean into the season we are currently in, we are not reviewing the past or trying to focus on the future, instead we are living for the moment and experiencing the present fully. This sensation allows us to feel more grounded and grateful for the current that is presenting. To do this get your feet in the ground or put your hands on a tree and notice the instant stability this can provide.
• Adopt a healthier relationship with work and rest. With a seasonal way of ebbing and flowing as nature adopts, we can bring this into our own rhythms. We are not designed to be constantly going nor constantly resting it is a balance between the two that creates a regulated and well rested state. Just as nature takes its breaks, we must do the same.

Top things to do across the four seasons

SPRING. Spring is the season of birth and beginning, of energy and growth, of new ideas and inspiration. The light returns, the temperatures rise, and the awakening of nature. My top things to do in spring are:

• Refreshing the home, Open your windows and let the light and fresh air in.
• Spring clean and decluttering spaces.
• Creative projects. Spring is the season of trying new things. Is there some creative skill you’d like to learn? Knitting, crocheting, wreath making, flower arranging, botanical dyeing, flower pressing, candle making, pottery and colouring are lovely activities for this time of the year.

SUMMER. Summer is the most lively and busy part of the year, for many we speed up and become more social however summer self care is not to be overlooked in this full season. My top things to do in summer are:

• Gardening. A great outdoor activity for slow living this summer is to garden. Gardening is one of the most therapeutic outdoor activities you can partake in that can help to soothe and quiet the mind.
• Exercising Outdoors. Make the most of warmer weather and take your workout alfresco, boosting vitamin d levels and breathing fresh air as well as receiving all the benefits physical activity offers us.
• Hosting Friends. Summer is the most social of the seasons, it loves company and connection. take advantage of longer lighter days and enjoy time with friends and family. Host a seasonal spread and a evening in the garden, these summer evenings are always very memorable.

AUTUMN. Autumn is the most fall festive of the seasons, this magical transitional period offers us the time to celebrate the harvest and honour the holiday of halloween. Autumn colours are in full view and the cooler air is approaching. My top things to do in autumn are:

• Make the Most of Autumnal Seasonal Eating. Late summer and October sees an abundance of colourful produce being picked and stored ready for seasonal recipes. Think apples, marrows, blackberries, sloes, squashes, pumpkins and wild mushrooms.
• Visit an Arboretum. Crunching through leaves and admiring the colours of the falling canopy are some of the best moments of autumn. Plus, where there is damp, dense woodland, there are also usually mushrooms to spot.
• Spend Evenings by Candlelight. It’s helpful to switch to softer, warmer lights an hour or two before bed, signalling to your body that it’s time to wind down. Candles give off a much warmer light and can help encourage calm. 

WINTER.  Like the natural world around us, winter offers us an opportunity to slow down a bit and retreat indoors to take some time to recuperate. My top things to do in winter are:

• Go stargazing. Taking time to sit back and be in awe of the sky above, make an occasion of it by wrapping up warm and heading out into the winter night. You can check local star forecasts to spot current activity.
• Lighting the fire. Fire is a warming cosy element that instantly creates a nourishing mood in a cold winter night. It adds an atmosphere to any space and can be a great winter addition to a home or garden.
• Adding more warmer foods. Batch cook soups and stews to practice you culinary skills and incorporate hot drinks in the cold months, these are yet another comfort to enjoy and really lean into. Try drinking tea and coffee in the morning, soups and stews for meals and hot chocolate in the evening.

Syncing with the seasons is the most natural way to live, let’s get back to our roots and open our minds to the natural intelligence that nature shares with us.