As the tides shift like clockwork, so do the seasons. We're starting to step on crunchy leaves, cozy up in soft sweaters, and feel the days shortening. It's a great time to turn toward our own selves with the intention of nourishing the foundation our minds and bodies.
The word nourish is so rich – it's more than sustenance … it's good for the soul, the spirit.
Can you think of a way you already nourish yourself and your loved ones?
Simple Ways to Nourish Yourself
Restful Sleep
Sleep is such a foundational aspect of whole health and yet we commonly forget how important it is. Try out the simple sleep hygiene tools below to help improve the quality of your sleep.
Turn off your phone 30 minutes before bed and put it away. Science shows the blue light emitted from your phone significantly affects the quality of sleep you're getting, so the earlier you stop using your phone/devices before bedtime, the better.
Try an easy, nightly wind-down ritual. After brushing your teeth and getting ready for bed, try one or all of the following:
list 3 - 5 gratitudes from the day
spend about five minutes taking slow, long, conscious, deep breaths (this type of breathing evokes the rest-digest branch of our nervous system through vagus nerve stimulation)
dump out everything from your brain on a notepad by your bed before you turn off the light
Allowing your nervous system to settle before you try to fall asleep can help to provide you more restorative, nourishing sleep.
Go to bed 15 minutes earlier than you usually do. A quarter of an hour matters in a 24-hour day. The smidge of extra R+R on a regular basis can do wonders for your wellbeing.
Delicious Food
Since food really is medicine, eating in-season nourishing fresh whole foods in a rainbow of hues is a great way to support your body and mind as the weather turns colder.
We all tend to go for apples and squashes/gourds as October sets in, but there are so many other beautiful options in season. Check out this article for ideas!
As we get deeper into fall, warming foods, like roasted veggies atop a whole grain drizzled with tahini or a dollop of hummus is a favorite of mine. Need a refresh on how and what veggies are good to roast? Check out this article.
Generosity
Neuroscience shows generosity positively rewires the brain. Try doing one kind thing for someone today, something you don't usually do – maybe for a stranger, maybe for someone you know. Notice how you feel afterward.
