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I am in a season of my life where uncertainty is all around me and all within me. I am also in my favorite season of all — fall — but I can’t quite experience it like before, with all my seasonal and slow living rituals. Things are within grasp but my reach is hesitant. I can see my dreams in the distance but can’t quite get myself there.
I’m writing this to remind myself — and you — that seasons don’t last forever. They’re a reminder that everything will pass. Time doesn’t care for our aches and wishes, so what we’re left with is the imperfect present moment.
If this post finds you, I hope you’ll also give yourself grace and a gentle nudge to wake up in the morning and just live – now, today – no matter how messy, imperfect, or challenging it is. There are valuable lessons in the seasons of life and they say the only way out is through.
So how do we make it through unscathed? I don’t think we can, or that we should. I think we need to embrace whatever is happening and hold a strong vision for the future where things are better.
Until then, I hope we can explore cyclical living with a side of simple self care while taking tiny steps towards slower, simpler, more intentional living.
Living In Rhythm With The Seasons
We are cyclical beings, living with the rhythms of nature. We have our own slow living rituals in fall and winter, eat richer and more nourishing foods, spend more time inside our homes, cocooned under blankets and warmth. In the spring and summer, we come alive again, spend tons of time outside in the sun, eat lighter foods, and have more energy to do all kinds of activities.
For our body, mind, and heart to thrive in all seasons, it’s important to honor seasonal living. To not push ourselves when it’s time for deep rest, to give our souls a respite when they yearn for it, and to nourish our entire being with each season’s gentle offerings.
If you’re seeking slow, cozy, seasonal living tips, join my newsletter below. Twice a month, I share thoughtful ideas, calming traditions, free seasonal resources, and simple ways to ease into the rhythm of the season with softness and warmth.
Autumn is the season for the senses. All the cozy scents of pumpkin spice and sweet vanilla, the warmth of a soft blanket, the colorful leaves and home decor, the thick sweaters, the crisp air, and the taste of your favorite latte… I think this is why so many cozy souls, myself included, thrive in autumn.
Winter is the season of traditions, holidays, family gatherings, and gifts. It can teach you ways to take care of yourself in the simplest, sweetest, most aligned ways. To rest when it’s snowing outside, to watch a movie under a blanket on a cold night, to take a warm bath or sip a warm drink when the weather calls for sweaters…
But what happens when life feels harder to slow down for, or when you’re moving through a difficult season? How do you then find the heart space to cultivate joy in your life?
By noticing the little things in your day that are quietly there: the soft glow through the window, the comfort of a familiar scent, the quiet rhythm of your breath, reminding you that you’re still here to witness it all.
Gentle ways to cultivate more joy this season:
- Get outside, even if for just 10 minutes
- Cook or bake something seasonal
- Declutter one small corner of your home
- Take some quiet time for yourself in the day
- Bring nature inside your home
- Revisit old joys and recreate them
- Create something with your hands
- Spend time with people/things that feel good
- Tend to your heart through prayer, gratitude, or music
Slow Living Rituals for Heart, Body, and Mind
Before I list all the slow living rituals you could weave into your days, I want to remind you to take it easy. You don’t have to do them all in one day – in fact, I would encourage you to pick one or two activities and see where they lead you. Then you can swap them out based on how you’re feeling that day or choose the rituals that fit your lifestyle best.
Slow Living Rituals For A Gentle Heart
1. A heart filled with gratitude – Focusing on the things we have and being grateful for them is one of the simplest, yet most profound ways to give your heart some gentle reassurance.
2. A prayer of intention – Prayer, no matter the format it comes in, is another powerful practice for a peaceful, fulfilled heart. You can pray for a sign, for things to get better, for things to stay good, for the path ahead, for this season to be jolly, and so much more…
3. Hand over heart – Put your hand over your heart and feel your breath and your heart beating… Marvel at the perfection that is your body, the infinite wisdom it holds, and the way it works hard without your input.
4. Showing kindness to yourself and others – Kindness is free to give and even a small act of kindness can change someone’s day or even life! All it takes is a heart so filled with love that kindness is its second nature.
5. Practicing forgiveness towards yourself and others – This one can be tough because most of the time, we think forgiveness means giving permission to others to hurt us again. But forgiveness is the most soothing balm for the heart; it’s a release of negative energy that may be surrounding your heart and not letting it receive all the beautiful blessings of life.
Slow Living Rituals For a Grounded Body
Slow living for the body means honoring your natural rhythm and the way your body is in this season of life. Think moving, resting, and nourishing your temple with gentleness and love.
1. Slow and gentle movement – The body needs movement to produce, move, and release energy. It also needs movement to feel alive. Gentle stretches in the morning, yoga, light exercises, or a simple walk can do wonders for your body and mind.
2. Nourishing seasonal food – Eating seasonally is one of the healthiest, most intuitive ways to nourish your body and give it the nutrients it needs. By savoring what’s naturally abundant, eating seasonally invites you to align with nature’s flow and wisdom.
3. Warm and soothing drinks – A warm drink can feel like holding comfort in your hands. A cup of tea, hot cocoa, or warm apple cider can help soothe the nervous system, reminding your body that it’s safe to soften.
4. The art of true rest – Rest in its deepest form is the quiet space where your body and mind can simply be without needing to do more. It is in this sacred stillness that healing can happen.
5. Intentional self-care – This is about meeting yourself exactly where you are, not where you think you should be. It’s about noticing your needs and tending to them with care, kindness, and intention.
Slow Living Rituals For a Calm Mind
1. A quiet morning time just for you – Mornings are full of new potential, so before the hustle and bustle of the day, grab your coffee and set aside a few minutes to be with yourself for yourself. Don’t plan the day, don’t think about your to-do list, just drink your coffee, observe what’s happening at the moment, and breathe with intention.
2. A daily stillness practice – For a few minutes each day, stop whatever you’re doing and just be still. Find a quiet place and stay present in stillness. Don’t move your body, quieten your mind, and just be in the moment. You’ll be surprised by the things you’ll uncover when the body and mind can rest together.
3. Evening mental reset – Each night before bed, reflect on your day and find three things you’re letting go of from the day. Take a few deep breaths, say thanks for all the blessings you experienced, and pray for a better tomorrow before you drift off to sleep.
4. Conscious consumption – What do you allow to enter your mind during the day? From endless content, conversations, social media, news, work, home, decisions decide which of these things nourishes or drains your mind and then eliminate everything that is not serving your highest good.
5. Gentleness in self-talk – How you talk to yourself and the words you use can literally shape your self-image and self-esteem. Choose to be gentle with yourself in your self-talk. Give yourself the grace and compassion you would another human being because you’re worthy of all the love in the world.
Slow Living Tools To Support Your Softer, Simpler Life
Changing your life for the better doesn’t have to be an elaborate challenge based on a strict schedule. You don’t have to uproot your entire life or start over unless you want to. The greatest journeys start with the smallest steps, and slow living is exactly that: a journey of small, aligned steps that’ll lead you toward a more fulfilled life.
When I started this blog, I wanted to help others experience life from a different timeline and perspective. I was burnt out, chronically tired, unfulfilled, and struggled to find joy in life. Somehow, my body knew I needed to slow down and when I did, my life changed forever.
Through this blog and the slow living tools and essentials I’m creating for you, I want you to tend to your heart and listen to its whispers. What makes your days fulfilled? What fills your cup? What is your definition of joy and contentment? What do you need in order to be happy?
My Favorite Slow Living Tools, Products, and Essentials
Slow living isn’t about creating a perfect little dreamy life where everything is simple and nothing ever gets messy or chaotic. Slow living is the foundation on which you build a pace of life that you can follow. It’s not about having 2-hour mornings filled with slow living rituals and activities – it’s about what makes your mind slow down, even if it’s just having a cup of morning coffee in quiet.
I’m not saying you *need* to spend money and buy products in order to live a slower life. But if you’re ready to invest in tools, products, and essentials that could help you live a softer and more intentional life, then here are my best recommendations:
Slow Living Products to Make Your Life Easier
Whether you’re on a budget or can afford to invest in some products that could make your life easier and prettier, here’s a list of my favorite slow living things for mind, body, and self-care:
1. Soothing wellness-supporting teas (Get yours here)
2. A nice set of loungewear for ultimate coziness (I love the fit of this one)
3. A pretty self-care journal + a nice pen (Get your journal here and pens here)
4. Calming shower steamers (I looove the variety of these)
5. A pair of quality PJs for peaceful nights (This set is so cute)
Digital Tools for Your Slow Living Rituals
The Simple Guide To Slow Living
The Simple Guide To Slow Living ($9) is your roadmap to a more intentional way of life. This ebook will empower you to embrace the art of slow living and find beauty in life’s simplest pleasures.
The Soft Life Planner
The Soft Life Planner ($7) is designed to be your daily companion to a softer, slower way of life. Let it guide you to what truly matters, leaving space for slowness, and practicing the art of doing less.
Seasonal Affirmations for Slow Intentional Living
Download my pack of 27 seasonal affirmations for slow, intentional living. Simply print them, display them, or keep them close for a little whenever you need a gentle nudge towards gratitude and joy.
My seasonal playlists:
Create Your Own Slow Living Rituals for Each Season of Your Life
It’s been a gloomy, rainy season in my life but I’m not wishing it away. It has a lesson to teach me. One that I can only recognize and learn if I open up my heart and really lean into it. As the rain pours outside this October, I can feel the chill and heaviness in my heart and I have no umbrella to protect it.
But I do have hope and I do have willpower. I’m letting this season be however it wants to be: slow, joyful, heavy, festive, calm, chaotic, all of it. And these slow living rituals are there to help me feel grounded and prepare myself for yet another season of change.
I hope these rituals do you good as well, and give you a glimmer of joy no matter what this season brings for you.
Discover more seasonal blog posts here and please share this post with someone who you think would find it helpful.
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