Two Tips for Adapting to the Change in Seasons

In coastal California, the change of seasons isn’t always so obvious. We don’t have as many trees that change colors, or a huge drop in temperature that make it so blatant. The signs are more subtle, like gradually shortening days and slightly cooler temperatures. And really, around here we don’t really have four seasons. It’s more like we have two: wet and dry. Until we have heavy rain storms rolling through we don’t always have stark indicators of a changing season.

But the recent atmospheric river storm that rolled through this past weekend most definitely signals the beginning of the wet season, and a change of seasons into fall.

Changing seasons require our bodies to adapt to a new homeostasis. This is one of the reasons that I have had so many patients report feeling tired lately, for no apparent reason. There is also a lot of intense energy in general in the world right now with everything that’s going on. Unexplained fatigue can be a sign that the body is working hard internally to adapt to the new external reality and recover from the intensity in the collective. Provided it’s short-lived, it’s totally normal and nothing to be concerned about.

With cooler temperatures and shorter days, it’s also the time to start eating more warm cooked foods like soups and stews. Fall vegetables like pumpkin, winter squash, and root vegetables (like beets, turnips, sweet potatoes, etc.) are wonderful nourishing foods this time of year.

So during this time of transition, getting more sleep and eating more warm, cooked foods will help your body integrate all the change more quickly, with less periods of sickness or physical symptom flare-ups. And of course if you need a boost or are struggling with something specific, I’m here to help!