New seasons and changes in the weather can be so exciting! It offers an opportunity to explore our everyday lifestyle from a new lens with different foods, activities and holidays to enjoy.

The change of seasons and the weather also means that our exposure to natural sunlight changes and that can actually impact your wellness.

Do you feel a change in your energy or mood as the seasons change?

Are you looking for new ways to enhance your wellness and self care routines as the weather shifts?

Science shows that changes in seasons can be related to health conditions like depression. If you’re feeling different as the seasons change, implementing regular wellness practices can help, especially when you engage in practices that you enjoy.

Adjusting with the seasons can be fun and an opportunity to embrace wellness activities that you wouldn’t practice during the other seasons.

Whether it’s sunny and warm or cool outdoors, it's always a good time for self care!

Self care means making wellness a priority and that can look different depending on who you are and what you need at that moment. It’s so important that we make time for ourselves and what we need. Wellness is a balance of 7 dimensions and so many factors can influence what you prioritize.

Being the dynamic individuals that we are, it is important that we are flexible with our routines and are in tune with identifying what we need or desire. Wellness routines can help you regularly prioritize self care and show up as your best, higher self.

Keep reading to learn the science behind how the weather can impact our mood and ways you can holistically enhance your wellbeing as seasons change.

What is Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?

According to the NIH, Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) is a form of depression that is experienced as the seasons change from warmer temperatures like summer to colder temperatures like fall and winter. Some people also experience SAD as the weather changes to spring and summer, although it’s not as common.

How can natural health and wellness help Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)?

Spending time in the natural sunlight (safely) provides many health and wellness benefits like boosting our production of serotonin, a hormone that provides feelings of happiness. As less sunlight is available during the colder seasons many people do feel changes in their mood and energy levels. Try finding opportunities to enjoy the sunlight when it is available by getting outside.

According to research, light therapy has also been shown to treat SAD when coupled with other health and wellness practices. What’s light therapy? Light therapy imitates natural sunlight to help you get more serotonin and reduce the amount melatonin (a hormone that helps you sleep). If you’re curious to try it, light therapy boxes are convenient ways to practice at home.

Lastly, you can identify ways to pour into yourself via holistic wellness and self care. Doing this will support you having a happy, healthy lifestyle. Stay consistent by creating a wellness plan or routine to support your needs and naturally boost your mood as the weather changes.

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How could I naturally boost my energy levels?

Eat energizing, healthy foods that are plant-based
Maintain healthy sleeping habits
Spend time in the sun whenever possible. As mentioned, natural sunlight can increase the production of serotonin, a hormone that naturally boosts your mood by increasing feelings of happiness. It also supports healthy sleep by reducing melatonin, a hormone that supports sleep
Move regularly by taking walks and staying active with your physical fitness routines

Ready for ideas and activities to enhance your routines?

Here’s a list of holistic wellness and self care shifts you could make as the weather changes:

Fall and Winter Wellness Ideas

Warmer beverages

Do you enjoy hot tea? Colder weather is the perfect time to indulge in different teas or other warm beverages.

Warm water with lemon/lime

Really this is a great beverage to drink first thing in the morning on an empty belly year-round. This is definitely my go-to when I’m not juicing or having a plant-based smoothie (filled with fiber*) instead.

*I loveeee using seeds in my smoothies. SO yummy!

Apple Cider

Seems like the fall and winter months are loaded with opportunities to drink apple or pumpkin spice flavored drinks. I’m not crazy about pumpkin spice, but apple cider is SO delicious. You can drink it chilled (cold) or warm it up and add a bit of cinnamon.

Eat Well with Brielle Tip: Check the apple cider label to see that the ingredients are all-natural. For instance, you will want to see either no added sugar or at least real sugar used instead of something unhealthy like high fructose corn syrup. Read this blog post to learn which ingredients on your food and beverage labels are sugar.

Self care baths ((Have you downloaded our free self care bath checklist?))

Sounds cliche (and it totally is!), but I’m a Pisces and I LOVE the water. It sparks creativity for me and is VERY relaxing. Setting up a self care bath is an easy way to pamper yourself.

I’ve even created self care shower routines for moments that I want some extra self care, but for whatever reason don’t want to take a bath. The self care showers are efficient and include extra steps like a full body scrub. SO amazing! Something like that doesn’t take long but feels extraaaa special. Click here to download the FREE Self Care Bath Checklist to get started with ideas.

Tonics

Have you ever tried a tonic? It’s basically a beverage used to boost your wellness. I love to make tonics during the chilly seasons to help prevent colds or even combat them. Curious about tonic recipes I use? Let me know, babes!

Plant based soups

I love soups year-round, but mostly make them during the colder months. Soups are a great way to explore plant-based eating by seeing what vegetables you can include. I’ve found that soups help me enjoy vegetables that I would normally avoid.

More cozy journaling sessions with all-natural candles

I loveeee all natural candles. If you follow me on Instagram @WellwithBrielle then you’ve seen some of the small USA businesses that I love getting my all natural handcrafted candles from. Candles pair perfectly with self care baths, journaling sessions or really just any time you want to relax and enjoy a nice scent.

Long hikes or shorter wellness walks or trails on the weekend

I’m always sharing on Instagram that my daily goal is to reach 10,000 steps a day. I’m not someone who works out regularly (so bad!), and so getting those steps is a great way for me to keep moving. This is especially helpful on days where I may be working from home or have been in meetings for most of the day. It’s crucial that we remain active.

Fewer hours of the night. Stay safe, babes!

This isn’t a self care practice. I just know that as the seasons get colder, we often lose hours of sunlight. Be safe and use good judgment when heading out for fun.

Spring and Summer Wellness Ideas

Smoothies

I love making smoothies all year because they can be so filling, delicious and quick to make. The combinations are endless! Maybe you will make smoothies all year round, or save them as a cool treat for the warmer months.

Juicing

Juicing happens all year too, but during the warmer months is much easier to find a variety of produce to juice on sale. Check out this blog post to read more about my celery juicing experience.

Long hikes, wellness walks or trails on the weekend

Let’s get those 10,000 steps every single day, all year-round, babes! During the warmer months, I make it a point to explore different state parks and go hiking. Well with Brielle actually hosts hiking events! It’s a great way to have fun and naturally boost your mood.

Try hiking to see if you like it! Being around nature is a great boost for your health and wellness. Even if you don’t enjoy hiking, you may enjoy journaling in the park.

Swimming at your local pool or beach

Swimming is a lot of fun and great exercise. Find a local pool or beach that you enjoy visiting! If you’re at an outdoor pool or beach then it’s a great time to benefit from the sunlight!

Fresh salads

I love creating tasty salads that also allow me to feel full. I’m super picky because I know that condiments can easily take a salad from healthy to not so healthy. Typically my salads include a variety of vegetables ((not a fan of fruit in my salads)) and a healthy homemade dressing.