I don’t know how it has happened already but this fall season is cruising by which means that winter is just around the corner.

When the days get shorter and the nights get longer, it can affect our biological rhythms like mood, appetite, and sleep. As many of you know, we are connected to the season’s cycles and what our bodies desire switch with these changes of season.

This can be a time of finding balance or at least the closest thing to it. On one side, the world is moving at a million miles an hour. Time is so fast that in a blink of an eye, another day, another week, another month has gone by and there is no slowing it down.

On the other side, our bodies are wanting to down shift and prepare for winter. This can manifest in a more internal way where we have less energy, require more sleep, and we feel the urge to take more time for ourselves. We may also find that we want more nourishing foods. Things like root vegetables, soups and stews, comfort foods can all be things that we start craving.

How do we figure out what it is that we are in need of when we are feelings these shifts happen? I have personally found that when I sit and reflect it can bring clarity and awareness around where I am and what direction I need to go.

Where in your life are you feeling out of balance? Are you giving too much and need to receive more? If there are things that are draining you, can you bring more into your life that fills you?

Do you feel like you are experiencing tons of change or are you feeling stagnant? Are you feeling connected to others or are you isolating yourself? Sit with where there may be imbalance and feel into what you may be able to do in order to find your homeostasis....

Here are some suggestions as to ways to take care of yourself:

1. Make sure to get outside-we need sunlight and our bodies know on all levels when there is less of it in a day. This is part of the reason we may feel less energetic and it can even affect our sleep.

2. Make a point to connect with others and not completely isolate. Remember, connection releases the happiness hormone.

3. Exercise. Move your body and continue to allow it to produce those wonderful endorphins to make you feel good.

4. Try to stick to your routine best you can.

5. Continue to eat as many whole foods as possible. You may just find that warming them or turning them into soups and stews is what your body prefers.

6. Self-care in whatever form that calls to you; Journal, take a hot bath, body work, dance, nature, reach out to a friend or loved one.

We are much more connected to nature’s cycles than we realize. Be gentle with yourself and enjoy the rest of this beautiful fall season.