Embracing Autumn: Slowing Down with Purpose

As autumn unfolds and the vibrant energy of summer fades, I find myself drawn to the quiet cues of nature. After a bustling season, I savour the opportunity to slow down, intentionally taking stock of my recent projects and accomplishments. This isn’t always easy—just this past weekend, I felt a strong urge to dive back into work. Yet I resisted, knowing the value of honoring both purpose and recreation, rest and activity. Without this balance, burnout is inevitable.

In our ever-connected world, we feel the pressure to stay plugged in, often long past the time when we’d be better off unwinding with dimmed lights and a moment of stillness. Many of my coaching sessions with clients address this exact challenge: how to foster a balanced circadian rhythm. With autumn as our reminder, we might each take a leaf out of nature’s book and embrace a gentler, more grounded pace.

As we prepare for winter, the media will soon start selling us their annual advice on “coping with Christmas holiday stress,” followed by glossy spreads on achieving the “perfect Christmas.” It’s a reminder of the mixed signals we face, and the endless push to do it all while appearing unruffled.

Whether it’s clients who feel overwhelmed and overextended or those who’ve lost the structure of a balanced day, the solution lies in restoring equilibrium. Just as nature models a rhythm of activity and rest, we, too, can pause, breathe, and allow this season to gently guide us back to balance.