There is something about the changing of the seasons that invites us to pause.
To notice.
To ask ourselves: What do I need now?
As we move into Autumn, I’ve been thinking a lot about intention. About how I spend my time, where I place my energy, and what I give my attention to.
Life has felt particularly full lately. As a small business owner, there always seems to be a hundred little things that need doing. And since buying my first home, I’ve discovered that there is an equally long list of DIY jobs waiting to be tackled!
It would be very easy to fill every spare moment.
Working, planning, teaching, fixing, organising… and then moving straight on to the next thing.
I know how easily I can fall into that rhythm of always feeling like I should be doing something.
So, this Autumn, I’m trying something a little different.
Choosing a more intentional Autumn
Rather than simply trying to fit more into my days, I want to be more conscious of how I spend them.
Sometimes that might mean a slow Monday morning out on the Shannon in the September sunshine with my siblings.
Sometimes it might mean putting everything else aside to paint, make something or create simply because it brings me joy.
And sometimes it might mean resting without feeling like I need to justify it.
For me, being intentional isn’t necessarily about doing less. It is about choosing more consciously what deserves my time and energy.
This feels particularly important when it comes to self-care. It can be easy to think of self-care as something extra that we need to add to an already busy schedule. But perhaps self-care can also be about becoming more aware of how we are already spending our time and noticing what genuinely supports our wellbeing.
What Ayurveda can teach us about Autumn
One of the things I love about Ayurveda and seasonal living is the reminder that we are not separate from the natural world around us.
As the seasons change, we too are invited to change our rhythms, our routines and the way we move through our days.
Autumn naturally encourages us to slow down a little.
To turn inward.
To simplify.
To notice what is nourishing us and what is depleting us.
From an Ayurvedic perspective, adapting our routines with the seasons can be a gentle way of supporting our physical and emotional wellbeing. Rather than trying to maintain the same pace all year round, we can listen to what the season is asking of us.
For me, that means creating a little more space for slowing down, grounding myself and being present.
Making space for what matters
I’m trying to remember that looking after ourselves isn’t something we have to squeeze into the spaces left over after everything else is done.
It is part of the practice.
Whether that means taking a slow morning, spending time with people we love, making something with our hands, getting outside, practising yoga or simply allowing ourselves to rest, these moments matter too.
Mindfulness doesn’t always have to look like sitting quietly on a meditation cushion.
Sometimes it can be as simple as being fully present for a morning on the river.
Cooking a meal without rushing.
Taking a walk and actually noticing what is around you.
Or giving yourself permission to stop.
These small moments of presence can become an important part of our overall wellbeing.
My Autumn intention
So this Autumn, my intention is simple:
Less rushing and more presence.
Less doing for the sake of doing.
More intention behind where I place my energy.
I don’t expect to get it right every day. There will still be busy days, unfinished jobs, long to-do lists and moments when I find myself rushing from one thing to the next.
But perhaps the practice isn’t about doing everything perfectly.
Perhaps it is simply about noticing.
Noticing when we are doing too much.
Noticing when we need to pause.
Noticing what gives us energy and what quietly takes it away.
And then making a conscious choice about what comes next.
Perhaps the changing season is an invitation for you to pause too.
To ask yourself:
What do I need now?
And then, perhaps, to make a little more space for it.
Because looking after ourselves isn’t something we need to earn once everything else is finished.
It is part of the practice.
Want to learn more about Ayurveda and personalized healing practices? Contact me today to book a consultation and learn how Ayurveda can support you to a happier, healthier life! Or why not join one of our Seasonal Wellness Retreat days where we focus on Yoga and Ayurveda for the season we are in. Click here to find out more about our Seasonal Ayurvedic & Yoga Day Retreats