5 Ways To Embrace Seasonal Living

Learn how to embrace seasonal living practices and live more in tune with the natural rhythms of the world around you.

Seasonal living used to be a way of life. It’s how people used to live. Not because it was trendy, but because it was necessary. Now we can have almost anything we want within just a few days but that’s not how life was lived in the past and because of our on demand lifestyle, I believe we’ve lost touch with the natural rhythms and routines of the seasons.

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The Importance of Seasonal Living

Seasonal living is this…

living in a pace with the changing of the seasons throughout the year.

Simply put, it means to live with the seasons; winter, spring, summer, and fall. It’s a way for us to connect with an find joy in the natural rhythms of the world around us. Our ancestors had no choice but to live, plant, eat, and enjoy by the seasons. But for us it’s a conscious decision to embrace a lifestyle of slowing down and intentionally connecting to each season.

Benefits of Living Seasonally

The benefits of seasonal living may include but are certainly not limited to…

an increased feeling of connectedness with the natural world
a chance to slow down and refect
less stress and an improved mood
knowledge of our world
living intentionally based on your values

But what does this look like in practice?

1.Notice the Seasonal Changes

One simple and practical way to ease into seasonal living is to take notice of the natural changes you observe. The signs of the seasons are all around us. Spring time buds lead into longer summer days. While the changing of colors and falling of the leaves lead into cool crisp nights and eventually snow on the ground. Go for a walk or even sit on your back porch and really focus on your surroundings. What is God’s creation showing you? Focus on your five senses. What’s the temperature like? How much daylight is left? What do the trees and plants look like? It’s amazing what you’ll notice if you intentionally take the time to pay attention.

These small observations which repeat each year build a connectedness to our world and create a sense of peace and joy inside us. Just try it. I think you’ll agree.

2.Embrace Seasonal Eating

Seasonal eating refers to the practice of eating foods that are grown and harvested in the season you’re eating them. I hate to be the one to break it to you but just because you can get an apple anytime of the year at the local grocery, doesn’t mean you should. Take a moment to consider the region in which you live. Are apples fresh from the orchard in February where you live? Probably not. This means that they have to travel long distances and are often times sprayed with preservatives or covered in wax to ensure they look pretty and fresh in your groceries produce department.

Fruits and vegetables that have been naturally ripened and harvested are healthier for you and taste so much better. Not to mention they are often less expensive during season. Don’t believe me? Try biting into one of those high dollar strawberries in November.

Eating seasonally also has a way of making you appreciate and look forward to the next season. Just when you grow tired of strawberries in the spring you can look forward to the juicy watermelons of the summer! But seasonal eating can be much more than just fresh produce, think of stews and soups for the cooler months and grilled meats and salads for the warmer seasons. Just the thought of a warm slice of sourdough bread and a bowl of potato soup has me longing for cooler temps.

Here’s a little chart I’ve created with seasonal fruits and vegetables. Click to download and print or save to your phone as you’re meal planning and shopping. Note that this chart is based on the United States and several fruits and veggies overlap seasons.

3.Create a Seasonal Home Environment

Bring the outdoors in:

This is such an easy way to create a cozy spaces in your home. Something as simple as bringing in a few bare branches for a large vase or picking a bunch of wildflowers and placing them in a jar can bring the outdoors into your home. Going to the beach? Bring home a few shells to place around your home or in the fall pick up some pine cones on your walk. This is such a fun way for my children to get involved. They love it when I show off their treasures by making a special place for them even if it’s just for a season.

Smells of the seasons:

This is my absolute favorite way to make our home feel seasonally cozy! Add a seasonal smelling essential oil to your diffuser such as lavender in the spring, or cinnamon and bergamot for winter. Clean burning candles are another way to add seasonal fragrance plus you get the added cozy factor of the flickering light.

Lighting:

Speaking of flickering lights, beeswax taper candles are my favorite way to cozy up my home in the fall and winter. I also enjoy the warmth of lamps in both small and large spaces instead of obnoxious overhead lighting. In the spring, toss back the curtains and fling up the windows to let the outside in. How calming is a thin curtain blowing in the breeze or the sound of birds or wind chimes just outside the door? Nature is full of decorative accessories!

4.Participate in Seasonal Activities

Going for a walk anytime of the year is always a good idea! Bundle up and get outside even just for a few minutes in the cold of winter or get out for an early walk in those hot summer months. Hiking, biking, swimming, skiing, snow tubing, or even splashing in a puddle or two will bring you closer to nature and is time well spent. As a family, we try to get outside every single day even if its just for a few minutes. If you’re up for a challenge, check out 1000 hours outside and set a goal of matching screen time with time outdoors. If your a homeschooling family, I’ve added seasonal tracking sheets to my Simple Homeschool Planner.

5. Mindfulness and Seasonal Awareness

Ok. This one may sound a little kookie but just bare with me. Mindfulness is just the practice of being fully present in any given moment. This is not something we practice very often due to the distractions of technology, but practicing mindfulness can be a great way to reduces stress and anxiety. Nature has a calming effect on our brains and when we’re outside enjoying ourselves we tend to worry less. Seasonal awareness is just being aware of the seasons and changes in nature. Combining the two is a winning ticket.

One way to practice mindfulness and seasonal awareness is…

Go outside and simply sit, maybe under a tree or by the edge of a river, and just listen and observe. Sounds easy but its actually super difficult not to let your mind wonder. Start with a small time frame, maybe just 3-5 minutes. I think you’ll be surprised at how much you notice and how much of a deeper connection you feel to the seasonal changes. This is also great practice for kids!

God’s creation is overwhelmingly amazing but we rarely take the time to notice.

“But ask the animals, and they will instruct you;
ask the birds of the sky, and they will tell you.
Or speak to the earth, and it will instruct you;
let the fish of the sea inform you. 
Which of all these does not know
that the Lord has done this?
The life of every living thing is in his had, 
as well as the breath of all humanity.”
Job 12:7-10

Set intentions starting today. Choose one way you want to embrace seasonal living and pay extra attention to the cycles of nature. Slow down and enjoy the changing seasons. Spend some intentional time outside and possibly create seasonal celebrations and traditions as a family. I just know your mind and body will be better for it!