As I type this, fresh laundry is blowing in the breeze on our terrace. Hot coffee is in my favorite cup. My husband and I just finished a massive, chock-full-of-everything green salad with half a bottle of rosé. It’s fabulous. And not just because this season means more literal sunshine.
Magic happens when the seasons change. Even if you live in a place that’s warm all year round, when you pay attention, you notice that things shift. The sun rises and falls at different times (and totally screws up your baby’s biorhythms). It might rain more, or less (sidebar: I’m always that mom without the stroller rain cover). If you live around fresh markets like I do, you’ll see different fruits and vegetables cropping up depending on the season (yum!). And spring even tends to deliver more babies – both animals and humans.
But this isn’t limited to nature.
The change of seasons can teach us, by modeling, how to take care of ourselves in motherhood.
When you think about it, we fully expect nature to flow from season to season; it’s science. We’ve been connected to this natural rhythm since time eternal, and only recently started to separate from it (for example, with the invention of electricity, we stopped working only when it was light outside).
Yet, we expect something much different from ourselves.
We expect to do more, faster, better.
And we expect it all the time. Every day. Year round. No off-cycles. No seasons.
It’s one of the reasons that, I believe, we as moms are so tired, so often.
Your body does have a rhythm. It has natural seasons of work and rest. Noticing and following them is both the challenge and the reward (and how you manage your energy most efficiently).
Most moms I’ve worked with are such spectacular superwomen – parenting, breadwinning, house-managing, volunteering, mentoring powerhouses – that they had to actively work to get back in touch with their bodies’ messaging. This might be through yoga or other bodywork, meditation, dancing, writing, stillness after exercise… something relaxing, intuitive, and SLOWER.
Slowing down helps you sense your season. It helps you identify “Hey, I’m getting the urge to go and move and create.” or “Hmmm, this feels like a season for rest and recovery.“
There’s a powerful quote that says something along the lines of, you can’t see through the water until the wind slows and it’s still enough to let the silt settle to the bottom.
Less movement = more clarity.
What season are you in right now? Do you know? Let go of any judgement when thinking about what season may be yours at the moment.
And if you don’t know which season, how can you slow down this week, find out, and honor it?
Slowing down might look like…
- Monotasking. One thing at a time.
- Breathing deeply a few times before you get out of bed.
- Letting someone else do the work. No micromanaging.
- Walking instead of running.
- Yin yoga instead of vinyasa.
- Watching the cartoon with your kiddo instead of being on your phone or laptop.
I know it isn’t easy. But this change is possible, and the resilience you’ll get in return is sooooo worth it.
P.S. Need another little idea for some sleep support ASAP? Look no further than my personal sleep secret I swear by.
Self-Care Style Quiz
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