Samvida Patel, IIN Content Editor, Class of February 2015 

Hitting the books, packing school lunches, and prepping for cooler temperatures… It’s safe to say that bidding summer good-bye isn’t always easy. At the same time, fall has its share of well-loved aspects – sweaters, colorful foliage, and pumpkin spice lattes, to name a few.

How can you embrace the transition to fall? Here are four tips to help you align yourself with what autumn has to offer:

1)      Eat grounding foods.
Many ancient practices, including Ayurveda and Traditional Chinese Medicine, advocate being in harmony with the environment. As the air gets colder, nourish yourself with grounding and warming foods, like sweet potatoes, squash, beets, hearty grains, ginger, clove, and cinnamon. Pumpkin spice, anyone?

2)      Revisit what you started.
Although it can be scary to think about how the year is flying by, autumn presents an opportunity to slow down and settle back into a routine after the hustle and bustle of summer. Look back to the goals and intentions you set at the beginning of the year. How far have you come? What do you want to accomplish before the end of the year? What mind-sets and action steps will help you get there? Finding a quiet work space – such as a café or library – can inspire you to shift into back-to-school mode and motivate you to make progress on any projects that have been on the back burner.

3)      Let go.
Just as the trees shed their leaves, letting go of what no longer serves you or what you’ve been trying to move past can be liberating. Seasons are proof that nature is cyclical! Embracing this concept can provide reassurance – as there is always something new to look forward to.

4)      Cozy up.
Seasonal shifts provide a wonderful opportunity to whip out your favorite sweaters (perhaps some grounding dark colors or earth tones) and cuddle up with a good book and a cup of tea. Autumn is the time when animals start to gather and preserve food as they prepare for hibernation! Channel that energy by spending time indoors in nourishing ways or put on some warm layers for a hike in the mountains. Autumn is all about feeling warm and fuzzy! Plus, exercising in cooler temperatures can be refreshing, as is taking time to appreciate the vibrant autumn colors around you.

What self-care practices help you settle into autumn? Share below!