Seasonal living is the key to aligning our lifestyles with the natural rhythms of the Earth.

Autumn not only brings changes in the form of colorful foliage, shorter days, and lower temperatures, but the seasonal shift also alters our priorities and wellness routines.

As we transition into the cozier "ber" months, we choose to celebrate Autumn's arrival by adding more structure back into our routines, prioritizing discipline towards our individual goals, and giving gratitude for family time, cozy moments, and deeper connection to ourselves, others, and the Earth. By making small shifts in our daily routines we can find comfort in leaning into everything the season has to offer.

 

What's in Season? 

Nutrition

One of our favorite ways to connect with a new season is by switching up what's on our plates! Eating seasonally is a great way to try new produce, get food at it's peak freshness, and make sure we're giving our bodies the particular nutrients they need for the season. Nature knows how to protect us and gives us exactly what we need when we need it. 

In Autumn this looks like adding more warming spices, nourishing soups and stews, and swapping out juicy, cooling Summer produce for more hearty, root vegetables and warm meals.

 

Incorporate Autumn Produce

Apples

Source of fiber, Vitamin C, and antioxidants to support digestion and brain health. 

Add to oatmeal, bake or stew with cinnamon, or make homemade applesauce.

Beets

Anti-inflammatory and good source of magnesium.

Blend into hummus, add to salad with cranberries and nuts, or make beet juice.

Brussel Sprouts

High in anti-oxidants, which protect against free radicals.

Shred for a salad base, toss in extra virgin olive oil and roast, or add to a sheet pan with chicken to roast.

Carrots

Contain carotenoids that protect eye health and block blue light.

Bake carrot cake muffins, roast with salmon, or add to stews and chicken noodle soup.

Cabbage

Contain antioxidants that reduce inflammation. High fiber content is helpful for digestion.

Sauté with olive oil and garlic, add to a stir fry, or steam until soft and serve with polish sausage. 

Pumpkin

Vitamin A and Vitamin C strengthen the immune system and fight against infection.

Make a homemade pumpkin spice latte, bake pumpkin pecan bread, or blend into a pumpkin soup. 

Pears

Good source of fiber, minerals, and vitamins to support heart and gut health.

Make baked pears with butter and cinnamon, bake into a pear crumble, or stew for an oatmeal topping.

Sweet Potatoes

Great source of fiber to aid in digestion and lower blood pressure.

Turn into homemade fries, add to a breakfast burrito, or roast with honey and cinnamon. 

 

We also love to incorporate warming spices like cinnamon, turmeric, ginger, and garlic to many Fall dishes for an added immune boost! 

 

Support Your Well-being

We like to focus on adding more heat during Autumn. Not only can we add heat through nourishing soups, hot teas, and rich spices, but also through self care!

Some of our favorite ways to add warmth to our routines are implementing hot baths, sauna, staying active with Fall color hikes around Northern Michigan, and practicing gratitude daily (it warms the heart). 

 

Enjoy a Bath

Light your favorite candles and draw yourself a warm bath with Epsom salts to support detox and relieve stress. Taking warm baths has been shown to improve heart rate, release muscle tension, and improve circulation, while the steam from the bath can even clear sinuses and congestion. 

If you have a sauna available to you, the research shows all these same benefits are increased tenfold with regular sauna usage! 

 

Get Outdoors

Just because temperatures are lowering doesn't mean you should hole up indoors. Throw on some layers and go for a hike to enjoy the changing leaves, go apple-picking, or even visit your local pumpkin patch! Staying healthy year round means prioritizing time in nature, no matter which season. Take advantage of the sunshine while it's still around to improve your hormones, mood and support your immune system with Vitamin D from the sunlight. Breathe the fresh air, get your hands dirty, and find a way to enjoy active time outdoors to regulate your mood and benefit from being in tune with the world around you.

 

Open Windows

We know that indoor air can be hundreds of times more polluted than the air outdoors (according to the EPA), so regularly refreshing your space by opening windows can make a huge difference for your health. Let the fresh air circulate throughout your home and enjoy the cooler breezes that come along with Autumn. Besides ditching toxic home fragrance and cleaning products, letting fresh air inside regularly can significantly lower your toxic load. 

 

Practice Gratitude

Autumn is the perfect time to turn inwards and reflect after the bustle of Summertime. Taking a few moments each day to acknowledge gratitude for life, loved ones, and whatever else we're feeling thankful for each day, can bring more peace and contentedness to our lives. Appreciating the beauty--and the hardships--of life can help shift our outlook and set the path to noticing more of the good in each day we're given. So whether this looks like journaling, reaching out to a friend about something you appreciate in them, prayer, or even daily meditation, a daily gratitude practice can improve mental and emotional health this season. 

 

 

Paying attention to the cycles happening within and around ourselves can keep our connection to nature harmonious. As human beings, we are part of nature itself, and sometimes the stressors we feel in daily life can come from a disconnection from the Earth. Living seasonal can help us to revive that connection.