LIFESTYLE
Life Coach, Grace McMahon, explains how we can remain positive in winter Why do we feel so blue in the autumn? The summer months are more likely to be spent being social – spending time outdoors or on holiday - often bringing greater instances for deepening existing relationships or forging new ones. Then all of a sudden, the cooler months have arrived and the sense of excitement, activity-filled days and the greater points for connection are gone. A feeling of loss creeps into the void. This feeling of loss might also trigger older feelings of loss; times when we felt lonely or aimless. What can we do? Connect with people, and not on social media. Given the sociability of summertime, we can often feel a little lonely as we spend more time indoors sheltering from the rain and cold. Whilst it’s unlikely you can fit in quite as much socialising time as when the days are longer (and more days of annual leave), you can still prioritise social sessions in your daily life. Turn your
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evening walk into a chance to catch up with a friend, plan dinners, FaceTime and set up midweek moments for friendships. Stay Open to New Experiences We can feel more open in the warmer months, and it can be a little stifling coming back to cooler ones. Mindsets shift a little and we can err to the edge of hibernation during this time. But cooler months shouldn’t have to mean putting that experimental mindset back into a box. You may benefit from keeping an open outlook as the nights draw in, by trying new recipes, joining a local group or even something as simple
as a new route to work (or method of getting there roller-skates anyone?). It’s not just the change of scenery that makes summertime so fun, often it’s the changes in ourselves that make us feel so good. Reflect Whilst the summer is often filled with holidays and minibreaks, time away from our day-to-day can give us a muchneeded break from the everyday humdrum. They can also cast a stark light on what we’d like to change about our lives and mean we may have to confront some uncomfortable truths. If work is really making you so miserable, perhaps it’s time to look for a new job? Was it a relief to spend time away from a demanding friend or partner? Then perhaps a conversation with them is in order. Time away from our dayto-day can offer us a fresh perspective on what it was we felt we needed a ‘break’ from in the first place and help us see more clearly the changes we need to make.
Grace McMahon is Beingwell’s certified and accredited Life Coach, with a background in education, psychology and counselling. For more information, please visit www.beingwellfamily.com
