by Emma Skjonsby, LMHC
Are you ready for a change in seasons? Have your summer routines started to feel a little bedraggled and sun-faded like our dried-out lawns? Fall is a great time for a health reboot, a natural time when life takes a different rhythm – whether heading back into the classroom, playing a different sport, or having to spend more time indoors. Sometimes, it helps to talk to someone about sustaining the energy of summer into the slower pace (or different focus) of fall.
Reflect on your needs
When working with our patients I like to start with the vision of what a better autumn could look like.
- What’s important for you in this season of fall, after the energy of summer?
- What would you like more of in your life?
- What would it look like if you were enjoying the season more?
Set intentions for fall
Once you’ve reflected on your goals for the season, consider how your current habits align with them.
- Which routines or daily habits do you have that support this goal and fit with the autumn?
- What do you need to let go of that no longer serves its purpose?
- Are there inward habits that need to be nourished to sustain longer-term growth?
Make small changes, see big impacts
Sometimes making a small tweak to what you’re already doing can help you feel better.
- Morning ritual – Swap cappuccino or warm cinnamon tea for your summertime iced coffee can be a welcome change.
- Movement – Transition from outdoor swim workouts to indoor yoga, stretching, dance classes, or brisk walks in the fall foliage.
- Seasonal eating – Switch out summer barbecues and salad to heartier meals and baked desserts featuring the vegetables and fruits of fall.
- Hobbies – Replace fun summer reads with more complicated novels. Gardening outside can transition to indoor crafts.
- Evening wind-downs – Change up your indoor lighting to account for earlier sunsets. Longer evenings give time for reflection, relaxation, and meditation.
- Nurturing friendships – Keep the connections of summer going with dinner parties or get-togethers to watch a game.
- Family connections – Spend time with loved ones by enjoying the activities and festivals of the season.
Work with a therapist or other professional
Your behavioral health clinician can work with you to find the small changes that can lead to a healthier fall. Common issues we support patients with are:
- Troubleshooting sleep issues
- Building relationships
- Managing work stress without alcohol or marijuana
- Sustaining an exercise routine that fits your season of life
- Replacing scrolling with healthier habits
Schedule a mental health appointment at Kinwell
New Kinwell patients should discuss any behavioral health concerns with their primary care clinician who can recommend a behavioral health consultation. Current patients can schedule a behavioral health appointment directly through their MyChart account. Set your next appointment online or call customer service for more information and scheduling options.
Emma Skjonsby is a licensed mental health counselor with a BA in psychology from George Fox University and an MA from LaSalle University in counseling psychology. Particular areas of focus are helping with life transitions; aging and caregiver stress; relationship losses; depression; anxiety; and coping with mental illness. Emma is based in Kinwell’s Renton clinic, and she sees patients regionally through online appointments over your computer or smart device.
