Understanding and Navigating the Four Seasons

I love going through the four seasons. Even summer is okay when I know fall is around the corner. I have also lived in places that have almost no seasons. Basically, summer and slightly less summer. Those places are not ideal for me. But even when you live in a place that doesn’t have the four distinct seasons, I still think that it’s important to understand the cyclical nature of the seasons and how those times might affect how you are feeling.

I know many people struggle with the winter blues and some struggle with Seasonal Affective Disorder. If that’s you, I highly recommend reaching out for professional help to ensure that you have the support that you need to get through the season.

For me, winter is a beautiful time of hibernation, coziness, and reflection. It’s when I slow down, and I lack motivation to do any big things. I prefer staying in, watching the snow fall, getting cozy under a blanket and watching movies, or even having a fire burning, inside or outside.

It’s the time of the year where I’m at my most mindful, reflecting on the year past and on what goals I want to achieve in the new year. For me, it’s a season of gratitude, and spending extra time with loved ones. It’s my planning period, not my big decision period. It’s the time where I enjoy long hot showers, and homemade hot chocolate.

The weather also affects my mood quite a bit, not just in winter but throughout the year. When it’s sunny outside, I’m more awake and involved. I want to do stuff. When it’s dark and overcast, I want to stay inside, and I usually lack motivation. One of the ways that I manage this is to make a weekly plan instead of a daily plan. This way I can knock out many things in a single day if I’m so motivated or I can show self-compassion and do nothing on a day where I lack the motivation, while keeping on track of things that need to be done before the end of the week.

Spring is where I’m most motivated. I love seeing the trees and flowers coming to life, the extension of sunlight in the day while also keeping crisp fresh air for a while. This is a great time to travel or to read outside. Not too many bugs in the beginning so I like using that time to soak up the outside before it gets too hot and too buggy.

I’m very goal oriented here, and I like using this time to plan things in more detail and get ready for the rest of the year. I make good progress on my goals, and I enjoy being outside. I feel rejuvenated and it’s my prime time of hopefulness of good things to come.

If you feel similarly to how I do during spring, make sure to use this time to stack your successes. Create and breakdown attainable goals during this time for the rest of the year. It’s easy enough to change later if need be but take advantage of this time to architect your year to be the best that it can be.

Summer is my least favorite season. It has the most bugs but more than that, it’s too hot for this cold loving penguin. I enjoy staying inside more than going outside in the summer, but I also get stir-crazy if I stay inside for too many days in a row. I enjoy going to the movies during summer because usually there are a lot of them coming out and the movie theater is dark and cool.

I know there are a lot of people who love doing summer activities such as going to the beach and I’m fully supportive of that. I love going to the beach in winter. If summer is your favorite season, fill it with the activities that you love doing and do it with the people that you enjoy the most. Relax and enjoy summer in the best way that you know how and if you love summer but don’t know what to do, experiment with different things to find out what your summer vibe is.

One of my favorite times of the year is the fall. Summer is finally leaving; the air becomes crisper, and I can smell the change. The leaves start turning and I love seeing the bright yellow and red hues dotting the landscape everywhere. Like winter, it’s a time of reflection and planning for me. I slow down and I become more introspective. It’s also my favorite season to read in. There’s something just extra cozy about reading in the fall with a blanket over your legs.

It’s the time of the year where I get to reclaim myself and enjoy my introvertedness more, especially after a social summer. It’s the time where I make a point of keeping more in contact with people, checking in with them and ensuring that they know I’m there for them. I know a lot of people struggle with the fall and winter, especially in loneliness, and I want the people important to me to know that I’m there for them, should they need me.

The four seasons bring about different mental spaces for me. I try to utilize them all in a way that’s natural to me to the best of my ability. Of course, life is life, and we still must do things that don’t match how we feel, but when you can, I recommend leaning into how you are feeling and picking activities accordingly rather than forcing yourself to do something else.

Whatever the season is when you’re reading this, what is your favorite thing to do and what is one thing that you dislike about it?