Embracing the change of seasons – Autumn has arrived.
As the nights draw in, can we really have reached September already? The children are back to school and most of us are finding our way back to some kind of routine, whether it’s working, studying or setting out on new ventures. Autumn has arrived and we’re excited to see where the rest of the year takes us.
Autumn is a time of change, not just in the environment but also within ourselves. Our bodies follow a similar pattern to the outside world, with a change in temperature and as daylight decreases, we can feel tired, sluggish and even slightly more anxious. This is all down to our body’s circadian rhythm adapting to the decrease in sunlight as the nights draw in, which affects our sleeping patterns and mood. As we enter the new season, these cooler, darker months can leave us feeling like the high energy of summer has disappeared and the introversion, slower nature of autumn can leave you feeling a little unbalanced.
Adding in your selfcare this Autumn
As we transition into Autumn, it’s a good time to focus on implementing self-care. It’s important to remember that self-care, it’s selfish – it’s essential. There are holistic therapies like reflexology, massage and aromatherapy that are simple ways to help your body and mind adapt to the seasonal changes. Incorporating these practices into your routine, can support you in staying balanced and energised throughout the cooler months.
These small rituals can make a big difference as you settle into the rhythm of the season. They’re a great way to take a little time for yourself and can provide many health and wellness benefits as well.
What is reflexology and how can it help?
Reflexology is a therapeutic practice that involves applying pressure to specific points on the feet, hands and ears. These reflex points relate to different organs and body systems, allowing reflexology to promote overall health and wellbeing.
Reflexology can provide a number of benefits for body and mind including:
- Supporting emotional balance: Reflexology can help ease feelings of anxiety or low mood that is often more present during the darker, cooler months.
- Enhancing your immune system: As we head into cold and flu season, reflexology can help support your immune system by stimulating the lymphatic system, helping the body’s detoxification processes.
- Improve circulation: Cooler temperatures can slow down blood circulation, especially in our hands and feet. Reflexology can improve blood flow and make you feel warmer and more energised.
DIY Reflexology Ritual
The best thing about reflexology, is you can do the practice in the comfort of your own home, and still reap the benefits. Why not incorporate massaging your feet for a few minutes each evening, it’s as simple as that. Try focusing on the reflex points below:
- For the head – tips of the toes
- For the lungs – ball of the foot
- For the digestive system – centre of the arch of the foot
Use a little moisturising cream or oil and add in a couple of drops of essential oils such as ginger, rosemary or eucalyptus for added therapeutic benefits.
What is massage and how can it help?
Massage is another brilliant way to care for yourself during the autumn months. It can help to relieve physical tension and support emotional wellbeing.
Massage can provide a heap of health benefits such as:
- Relieving muscle tension: during the cooler months, our muscles can feel tighter, so regular massage can help to loosen them, making it easier to stay active.
- Improving sleep: A change in daylight hours tends to lead to a change in sleep patterns. This is where massage can help you relax, feel rested and get a better night’s sleep.
- Lifting your mood: physical touch can be very powerful, especially when it comes to promoting a sense of wellbeing. The touch involved in massage helps to reduce stress and support emotional balancing.
Simple Self-Massage Tips
Massage can be enjoyed in the comfort of your own home. Warm some oil in your hands – grapeseed oil or almond oil work well – and gently massage your shoulders, neck and lower back. These are the areas that tend to hold the most tension, especially during cooler weather. Doing this before bed can help you to relax and wind down for the night. Even better, add 3-4 drops of Lavender essential oil to your base oil and you’ll drift off to a restful sleep in no time at all.
What is aromatherapy and how can it help?
Aromatherapy is a holistic healing treatment that uses natural plant extracts – also known as essential oils – to promote health and wellbeing. By inhaling or applying these oils to your skin, aromatherapy works to enhance both physical and emotional health.
Here’s some aromatherapy essential oils that can support you through the autumn months.
Essential Oils for Autumn
- Bergamot: known for its uplifting properties, bergamot can help to reduce stress and anxiety, and although not a traditional essential oil for Autumn, these properties make it an excellent all year round oil to use. It’s also a great oil to use if you’re feeling down as the darker nights draw in.
- Rosemary: Sometimes changes in routine can leave us struggling to focus and concentrate. Rosemary is a brilliant oil to help with mental clarity and focus. It helps to sharpen your mind and very importantly your memory.
- Frankincense: adding 1-2 drops of frankincense into your facial cream or oil at night, can help to rejuvenate dry, mature skin, giving it nourishment. This oil also has grounding properties that can help you feel calmer as you adjust to the seasonal shift.
- Cinnamon: this warm, spicy scent can create a cosy atmosphere, helping you to feel more comfortable as the weather cools down.
My favourite essential oils are from Neal’s Yard Remedies.
There are many ways you can incorporate aromatherapy at home.
Try adding a few drops of essential oils to a diffuser to scent your living space. You can also make a simple room spray by mixing essential oils with water in a spray bottle. Or add a few drops of your favourite oil to bath water and enjoy a long, relaxing soak.
Soothe and rejuvenate with a warming bath.
Baths are not only physically relaxing but also offer a moment of peace and solitude, helping to release any tension or stress accumulated through the day, so as the evenings draw in and the temperature gets cooler, there’s nothing more comforting than sinking into a lovely warm bath.
Why not create your own at-home spa experience? Dim the lights, light some candles and play soothing music. Add a few drops of a calming essential oil like lavender or frankincense to your bath water for an added sense of tranquillity.
Taking it one step further, add some extra therapeutic benefits, by including Epsom salts to your bath water. They’re rich in magnesium, which helps ease muscle tension and promotes a restful night’s sleep.
So however, you’re starting the new season, ensure to include a moment of time for yourself, and your self-care.
Remember never use essential oils undiluted on the skin and always follow the manufacturer’s guidelines on how to use them and the appropriate amount of oil to use.