As the seasons change, so do our activities, our schedules, and even our exposure to different kinds of viruses – all things that can challenge our overall wellness. So, while you reach for your pumpkin spice latte and snuggle up in your favorite cozy sweater, do your best to flow with the energy of the seasons and explore what it will take for you to become or remain spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically healthy.

For some of us, maintaining our overall health may include simplifying our commitments and daily routines. For others, it may mean eating more healthful foods, so our bodies have the nutrients they need to function at their highest levels or getting more sleep. But for all of us, there is the room and necessity for a few basic practices to ensure we are at our optimal spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical health, especially as we enter a time of year where our health is easily compromised.

1. Cleanse your Body 

With each season change, we often feel a sense of renewal. It’s a great time to reset our bodies too. Rid it of harsh chemicals, pesticides, toxins, pollutants that have accumulated with a seasonal cleanse or juice fast. They will flush out impurities from our internal organs, cells, and tissues.

When you have been able to reset your body, continue to nourish it with organic, local foods. A healthy body leads to a healthy mind and more stable emotions.

2. Clear your Mental and Emotional State

Meditation is a powerful tool – especially when there is a lot going on in our lives – to clear your mental and emotional state. Take the time to just “be.” As we honor the stillness and quiet time we create in meditation, we are able to reduce stress, depression, and anxiety, all while increasing our sense of peace and well-being. It has a way of neutralizing your emotions and helping you find your center.

If you already create space for meditation in your life, you might want to consider going deeper into the stillness by exploring yoga nidra.

3. Move your Body

Keeping your body moving is critical to your mental and physical health. Movement does not necessarily mean exercising or playing sports – it can be a leisurely walk, dancing, or anything else that has you up off the couch. It improves circulation, encourages flow of the lymphatic system to keep us healthy, enhances your mood, boosts your energy, and helps regulate digestion.

4. Mentally Close your Day

As your body winds down for the day, it is also important to wind down mentally. Recapping your day through recapitulation is a powerful and conscious way to evaluate your day and quickly determine if there are any shifts you would like to make, instead of letting the events of the day fester and potentially keep you awake. This is best done right before going to sleep.

Recapitulation is a simple process that just takes a minute or two:

  • Sit up straight in your bed and close your eyes.
  • Take a few deep breaths and settle comfortably into your space.
  • Begin to play back your day on the screen of your awareness.
  • Start from when you woke up and move through each of your experiences, conversations, and behaviors all the way up to this moment.
  • Play back your day relatively quickly—as though you’re watching a movie reel—and don’t spend too much time on the details.
  • Observe the events of the day.
  • Notice any course corrections you may need to make and also note where you are doing well – both during your days and in your life in general.
  • When you have finished, settle into your bed for the night and sleep well.

I wish you success as you explore how to feel your best this beautiful fall season!