"Everything in the forest has its season. Where one thing falls, another grows. Maybe not what was there before, but something new and wonderful all the same."
I think this message from Bambi’s mother (in Bambi II) is a perfect reminder to us to embrace the changing seasons.
I think we can get stuck in a sense of mourning when the weather turns cooler. It can be as much about what we haven’t yet done or achieved in the year as it is about the end of the warmer weather. We might worry about the winter and how we might feel, especially if you experience Seasonal Adjustment Disorder (SAD).
After a few years of working and exercising outside I realise that the winter isn’t as bad or a long as I used to think. And that even on the worst of days, there’s usually silver lining (even if it’s the pleasure of a hot cup of tea and dry socks after a wet training session).
Getting outside regularly can really help you feel better both physically and mentally. You can actually see the seasons change by what is happening in nature, if you get outside every day. It’s always good to remember that the further away from summer we are, the closer we are to Spring. It may also help you sleep at night as you’ve reminded your body of the distinction between night and day and of course it can encourage you to move just a little more. I think as we get older we start to crave this connection to nature more, that the busy-ness of everyday life requires some balance and that the calm of nature can really restore us. Outdoor exercise is just great for our physical and mental health.
Winter also carries it’s own pleasures. Crisp mornings, cosy boots and jumpers, porridge in the morning and soup for lunch. Apple crumble, casseroles, warming spices…..
….oh, are you still there? I got lost in a food reverie.
So I’m here to remind you to EMBRACE the season. If you can get outside in daylight daily you will help your body adjust to the changing seasons, you will sleep better and feel better and hopefully offset some of the feelings of SAD.
I will be running a challenge across my social media in October to encourage you to get outside every day and share your images. Do come and join in on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter!