The Ultimate Autumn Self-Care Guide
As the nights draw in, the weather gets worse and the leaves begin to leave the trees, many of us begin to struggle with the winter blues. The darker days can make it difficult to feel motivated - it’s definitely harder for me to get out of bed in the morning when it’s still dark outside! Suffering from the winter blues is not uncommon and it is estimated that 1 in 3 of us suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Symptoms of SAD often include a low mood, lethargic feelings and a greater need for sleep and the severity of symptoms can vary from person to person. It is thought that SAD is caused by the reduction in sunlight that we are exposed to during the autumn and winter, which can impact the hypothalamus in the brain.
During the darker autumn and winter months, we need to be compassionate with ourselves if we are struggling with a low mood and lack of mojo. These are my top 5 self-care tips for surviving autumn, to help you to look after yourself and your mental wellbeing.
If you think you are suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder and are struggling to cope, contact your GP.
Self-Care Tip 1 for Surviving Autumn - Baths
I don’t know about you, but as soon as it starts getting colder outside I am ready to jump in the bath. A German study found that a 30-minute warm bath every evening can greatly improve your mental wellbeing. For the ultimate self-care bath to help you survive autumn, I recommend adding a bath bomb. In particular, look for natural bath bombs which include essential oils that can be beneficial to your wellbeing. For example, our popular Sweet Dreams Bath Bomb is made with lavender and bergamot essential oils to help you to feel calm and relaxed. You can’t beat a bath bomb, so getting cosy in the bath with a bath bomb is my number one self-care tip for surviving autumn.
Browse our relaxing bath bomb range here.
Self-Care Tip for Surviving Autumn - Getting Outside
My second self-care tip for surviving autumn is to spend time outside every day.
Although it can be darker days and cooler temperature aren’t always the most inviting, UK mental health charity Mind says “Ecotherapy” (getting outside with nature) can improve your mood and decrease stress levels. As well as this, going for a walk outside can also help us to stay active and get those endorphins flowing. For nice lighting and a cheeky Insta pic, the evening sunset is a good opportunity to go for an evening walk and reflect on the beauty of nature.
Self-Care Tip for Surviving Autumn - Music
Listening to music has been proven to release dopamine into the brain, which improves our mood. By listening to music when you are feeling low, you can give yourself a much needed lift. So blast some ABBA (or your song of choice), forget about your worries and get lost in your favourite banger! Consider combining with tip 2 and take your headphones on a sunset walk outside as a self-care activity to help you to survive autumn.
Self-Care Tip for Surviving Autumn - Socialising
The fourth self-care tip on my list to help you survive autumn is to regularly talk to your friends. As well as being a fun way to spend your time, catching up with friends can also really lift our general outlook and mood. When we are with our friends we can express our feelings and our worries are put into perspective. In particular, it can be beneficial to talk to friends who are in a similar situation to you, although it can also be great to get a completely different view to help you see things in a different light. The most important thing is to actually catch up. Why not pick up your phone right now and drop that friend that you haven’t seen for ages a text and arrange to catch up?
Self-Care Tip for Surviving Autumn - Exercise
We all know that exercise is not only beneficial to our physical health but also aids our mental wellbeing. Although it might feel harder to fit in as the nights draw in, exercising can really help your mood. If you struggle to fit exercise in, try to only drive or get public transport part of the way to work and walk the rest. Otherwise, group exercise classes can be great fun - consider trying something completely new, I have just returned to Thai Boxing classes and am absolutely loving it! Have a Google and see what group exercise classes are available near you and give something new a try.
How to survive autumn? A self-care guide
From bath bombs to nature and music, these have been my top self-care tips for surviving autumn. The darker, colder days of autumn can be hard and it is okay to struggle - 1 in 3 of us do! Be kind to yourself and give yourself the love and self-care that you deserve.
Looking for self-care products to help you combat those winter blues? Shop our luxury range of natural bath and body products here.
