Ease Into Autumn
Seasonal shifts can be exciting for some people and challenging for others. Our moods, thoughts and feelings can shift. For some, it can bring up past anxieties or create new ones. If you find yourself feeling a bit more anxious as you ease into autumn, you might enjoy these reminders/reflections.
The Anxiety Wellness of Chicagoland offers these CBT Strategies:
- Catch thinking traps. Notice if your mind jumps to all-or-nothing thoughts like “Fall is always hard for me.” Ask yourself: “Is there another way to see this?”
- Anchor in small actions. Even 10 minutes of daylight, movement or checking one thing off your list can create a positive ripple.
- Create seasonal rituals. Cozy routines – journaling, warm drinks, or walks among the leaves – can ground you.
- Plan for connection. Don’t wait until you “feel like it.” Schedule time with friends or family to buffer isolation.
- Practice acceptance. Remind yourself: “This is just anxiety showing up because change is hard for me.” Naming it reduces its power.
Another way to manage autumn anxiety is to find quiet moments of reflection, moments that bring you joy, and opportunities for writing, journaling and/or reading. Consider this poem entitled Fall, Slowly by Abaigéal Warfield.
A Poem for Reflection
Go slowly into Autumn,
notice the colours,
sense the breeze amongst the trees
as September softly sweeps
the summer away.
Autumn is nature’s way of making room
after the brimful abundance of summer.
A time for slowly shedding
what is no longer needed.
Let go of what you don’t need.
Let the gentle breeze help you discover
which leaves are ready to fall.
Let them go, lovingly,
and with gratitude,
knowing summer will come again.
Smile inside your heart,
and feel the earth beneath your feet,
safe in the knowledge that
change can be beautiful.
