Carrie Baker – The Growth Collective

What season of life are you in at the moment? Do you know?

In eras gone by, people lived their life according to the seasons. They woke with the sun, and their work was done when it went down. Their work was often dictated to, by the daylight, the weather and the seasons.

You and I live in a modern age, where we are expected to, and expect ourselves to, maintain the same level of energy and output in all the things we do, all year round, no matter what the season. But the thing is, we are constantly changing, like the seasons and with the seasons.

Recently, someone privately commented on a message I wrote, in our group chat. I said that I couldn’t make it to a thing, because I needed to conserve my energy for the coming busy week. She said she loved that I was setting boundaries.

The older (and wiser?) I get, the more I realise that as much as I may want to, I can’t do everything. Do you know what else I am realising? That I don’t need to do everything.

In the last couple of years, I have learned to remind myself of what my priorities are, and what I need to do. When I begin to feel overwhelmed or that life is getting too busy, I set boundaries to protect my time and my energy.

Time and energy are resources in my life that are very limited. As they are in yours. I know that for my body, I have less energy at certain times of the year, and I try to make the right choices around that, for me.

Recognise your season.

I was messaging with a friend the other week, we both happened to be having a sick day from work.

We were chatting about how as working mums, we rarely give ourselves permission to stop and take time to rest and recover.

We talked about winter’s arrival here in the UK, and how our children are full of colds and viruses (which they pass on to us). And yet, life is still moving at the fast pace it always does, and maybe even busier as we head toward Christmas. She said how hectic her life felt, and as she ran through her regular schedule, it sounded exhausting!

Our conversation moved on and my friend told me of a podcast she’d listened to, all about goal setting. She then made a comment, about how she didn’t know what her next goal should be.

I quickly stopped her right there, and reminded her that this ridiculously busy season she was in, was not a time to be setting new goals. I lovingly reminded her of how she had recently made some big leaps and reached some big goals, and now it was time to let her capacity catch up with that. I was able to recognise her season, when she perhaps had been too busy to see it.

We don’t always know ourselves.

There are so many seasons to life, and we need to listen to our bodies and recognise the season that we are in. There are a few things to take into consideration when thinking about this:

• What time of year is it?

• What time of life are you in?

• What does your life demand from you?

• How is your health at the moment?

• How is your mental health?

By thinking about the answers to these questions (definitely not an exhaustive list), you can begin to have a clearer picture of your personal season. When you recognise your season, you can begin to see what you, your mental health, and your body needs within that season.

The statement ‘we don’t always know ourselves’, may sound ridiculous, but it’s true. We are so busy, stretched, tired, we multitask, juggle and can be very distracted.

When was the last time you just sat quietly with your thoughts, and did a little assessment of your life?

Ok, well apart from that person over there, feeling smug (well done you), the rest of us mere mortals, are just not quite as mindful of ourselves as that. But it’s true, we are so busy in this age that we have been born into, the few times we sit quietly with our thoughts, are when we are busy worrying or going over an annoying/upsetting situation. Within these times of rumination, we aren’t necessarily taking stock of our season.

Seasons.

Let’s take a look at the seasons, because I think it’s important that we try to live within the seasons of the natural world. We live in an incredible world, that is finely tuned to the cycles of the seasons. The earth turns, the seasons change. There are many plants and animals that rest in the winter, and then everything begins to awaken in the spring, and at its fullness in the summer.

We are created by the same God who made all that, we are created from the earth, to live within it, and be sustained by it. So it is only natural that our bodies also follow the seasons.

As we head in the hardness of the winter months, here in this part of the world, we especially need to allow for how the physical season will affect us. As you draw near to each season, do you notice that you feel a little different in yourself, or in your body?

If you are aware how each of the seasons affect you, and what you need in each of them, you can feel ready by making the choices or changes necessary.

(I touch on preparing for the seasons in a previous blogpost, about how we are basically just complicated houseplants.)

Winter.

As it gets colder and darker, your energy levels naturally drop. You feel as though you are going into hibernation mode. The cold saps your energy, and you use more energy to keep warm. It’s ok to change your rhythms and routines to fit this season. You may feel like staying home more in the evenings, and go to bed earlier as you will feel more tired.

You might suffer from low mood due to less daylight and sunshine. By being aware of how you will feel, you can pre-empt this with chasing the sun when it’s out, getting out for fresh air when you can, getting a special light to help, as well as taking supplements.

Spring.

This is an exciting time of year. You feel the newness of this season and the fresh energy it brings you. The promise of the warmer days fills you with anticipation. The signs or new growths of trees and plants all around you, are signs of new life. You will notice your energy levels rise a little, as though you are waking too.

You may start making plans for your summer, and look forward to taking a holiday. This is often a season of personal growth, as you set goals and dream new dreams for your future.

Personal growth can be uncomfortable. As you step outside of your comfort zone and try new things, allow a little extra room in your life for this, as you may feel a little more tired, as you stretch and grow.

Summer.

The warm days and long evenings feel magical. You feel as though you come to life in the summer months. It can sometimes feel like anything is possible. You have energy for all the things you want to do, you revel in holidays and time with friends and family. You can sometimes even do a little too much in these weeks and months. Make the most of the benefits the summer brings, enjoy it, let it recharge and refuel you.

Autumn

Before you know it the first signs of autumn begin to creep in, the nip in the air, the nights drawing in, the leaves change their colour in a beautiful display of the turning of the season. Autumn brings with it the traditions around the season, cosier evenings and the excitement of Christmas. This season is another one full of change in the natural world around you, but also may elicit a desire for change in your personal life.

Here are some questions for you to ask yourself, to learn what it is you need in this season.

• What natural season is it?

• How does my body respond to this time of year, and how does it make me feel?

• What adjustments do I need to make, to thrive in this season?

• Am I getting enough rest?

• How can I make the most of this season?

• How can I prepare for the coming season?

These are just a few questions to get you thinking about what you need now, and in the months ahead. I am learning that in winter, my body feels tired and needs extra rest. I crave more time at home, and enter a hibernation phase.

By asking yourself some of these questions, you can gauge whether you are living in the season well, for you and your body.

Preparation.

When you are getting ready for something like a day exploring the woods, or going for a weekend away, you gather what you will need for your trip and go into it feeling ready for wherever happens. You will make sure that you have all the things you need.

Seasons are similar. By making choices and changes in your rhythms and routines, in anticipation for what you know you’ll need, you can approach the coming season, and be ready.

If you expect that you can do the same level of work, output or have the same energy all year round, you are going to risk your health at some point, by getting run down. Learn what you need from each season by asking yourself the questions above.

Learn to lean into the seasons, each of them adds its own beauty to the world in which you live. Allow your life to be more in sync with the natural world around you, the seasons and all that they bring.

In the next blog post we will talk about you personal seasons, how to recognise them as they approach. So stick around for part 2 next week.

I am here, to champion your personal growth, encourage your goals, and cheer you on as your reach for your dreams. I want to help you become the best version of you, that you can be.

Thank you for spending time here, I am so glad you did. Before you go, I would love it if you could like my post and share it. I’d also really love to hear from you, so go and leave me a comment! And you can find all the places I hang out here.

Sending you love Friend,

Carrie xxx

Photo credit :: Pixabay/Wordswag