Autumn has never been my favourite time of year. Chunky jumpers and cosy scarves can only go so far in fighting off the dreariness of those long, damp nights and dark, cold mornings. Even a daily pumpkin spice latte isn’t enough to make up for the weeks of grey, dreary weather.

My experiences with poor mental health also make this time of year anxiety-inducing. The mildest dose of SAD has me worried that a relapse is on the horizon – like I’m at the top of a steep, slippery slope just waiting to take a step in the wrong direction. For weeks leading up to the first days of autumn, I’ll find myself ‘on guard’ for the first signs that something is wrong. It’s exhausting.

This year, however, I’ve been doing a lot of work on my resilience – using running as a tool to bolster the self-care routine I already had in place. So, as summer drew to a close, I decided to seek out some advice for making the transition into autumn a little easier. There were plenty of tools out there, but one stuck with me: the idea of ‘leaning in’ to the season. 

The concept was something I came across while writing a piece about ‘autumn anxiety’ – the sense of unease many of us feel as summer comes to an end. As part of that article, I spoke to Navit Schechter, a CBT therapist and founder of the coaching platform Conscious and Calm, who suggested that embracing autumn for what it is could be the key to feeling less uneasy about its arrival.

“Focusing not only on the things that you’re feeling apprehensive about but also the benefits of the coming months can help to put things into perspective,” Schechter told Strong Women.

“It may be true that the days are getting shorter, but focusing on how you make the most of longer nights – making your living room cosy, using the extra time at home to catch up with long-distance friends by phone or enjoying warm soup and a glass of red wine by a fire – can help.” 

While I certainly don’t have a roaring fire to sit in front of, this idea of embracing or leaning into the seasonal vibe resonated with me. Nature, after all, begins to slow down in autumn – the trees begin to shed their leaves and animals prepare for hibernation – so why shouldn’t we do the same?

I know first-hand just how powerful getting outside and moving your body can be, but since the seasons changed, balancing that energy with more rest and recovery has helped to reduce feelings of guilt and worry about feeling more sensitive than usual. Not only that, but this more joyful and accepting mindset has helped to remove the negative connotations I previously held towards autumn – replacing difficult memories with cosy reality.

I know this kind of thinking isn’t groundbreaking, but my experience proves that making small changes to both your mindset and behaviours can make a real impact. Autumn will always arrive, no matter how much we want the summer to go on. But ‘leaning in’ to the season – both the good and the bad – can help you to go with the flow, rather than worrying about what might happen.  

If you, or someone you know, is struggling with their mental health, you can find support and resources on the mental health charity Mind’s website and NHS Every Mind Matters or access the NHS’s list of mental health helplines and services.

If you are struggling with your mental health, you can also ask your GP for a referral to NHS Talking Therapies, or you can self-refer.

For confidential support, you can also call the Samaritans in the UK on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org. In a crisis, call 999.

Images: Getty