Rainbows wake up the child in me. I’m always in awe! Yesterday's was a good one.

I hope you are well. I wasn't going to write today as I have a bad cold and need rest. Then I thought that this was a good topic to raise. We often hear about hibernating during the darker months — and the days are getting shorter this month! — but what does it mean for you right now?

I don't think there is one way to hibernate. It will be different for everyone depending on their life circumstances and will also be different for you at different times. 

Right now, I am unwell so I am listening to my body and allowing it to rest. It's my second cold in a month. My body is obviously telling me that I am exhausted and need to stop. I also made sure I booked my COVID booster jab, made available for my age range this week. Many things in my personal life have given me anxiety lately, but I know that our mind dramatically influences our levels of anxiety and we can get caught up in a spiral, like a toddler who starts crying for a little thing but if you don't help them settle down, they will cry almost hysterically to a point where they don't even know why they're crying. In my case, anxiety has depleted me physically.

This weekend, I am hibernating which means

• cancelling my handover appointment with my boiler specialist: he spent a week in my house changing the whole heating system and that was stressful, 
• cancelling my weekly 'house-loving' session when I tend to my house, clean, take care of my plants inside and outside, move things around, do laundry, etc,
• making more cups of tea,
• allowing what is and not going in my head: no stress or anxiety allowed, only things that make me feel good,
• napping in the sunshine like a cat,
• leaving the fairy lights and candles lit all day,
• in a word, moving at the slowest pace and focusing on feeling good.

QUESTIONS TO PONDER TODAY

Do you allow yourself to hibernate? 

What does it look like for you right now? 

How do you want to feel? 

Are you allowing yourself to move at your own pace? 

Do you allow yourself to spend time on what you really want to do? 

Can you let a few things go until later or even completely?

What does your body need?

How can you make your home feel cosier?

What can you cancel?

What can you delegate, even just one task?

Don't just read these questions; take the time to answer them either in your head or preferably in your journal. We read many things without taking the time to reflect and take action. Allow yourself the time to do this because your mental and physical well-being depends on it. Sometimes we need to pause and recalibrate the way we are doing things. Autumn is an important transitional season and demands more adjustments than spring when things are getting lighter and more beautiful. 

So get ready for the darker and colder months by deciding now what you need to make it through. Think about how you are going to really take good care of your mind and body. Go even deeper by reflecting on the word 'allowing' because it might bring up a few things you need to acknowledge and honour.

Allow yourself to take extremely good care of yourself!

Valerie 

http://valeriemarsh.com