Seasonal + Sustainable Planning for Goal Setting, Health + Happiness
I’ve learnt a lot in my eight years of transitioning into and living a slower and seasonal lifestyle. But after finishing this year exhausted, depleted and struggling with multiple injuries I have realised two things:
Although I’d been making sure to schedule in regular self care I hadn’t actually given myself any real holiday or time off all year!
The way I was planning and trying to work just wasn’t in alignment with my slower and more intentional way of life.
Although seasonal living doesn’t mean doing less, it does mean slowing down and following natures cues to live + be in a cyclical process that supports wellbeing, as well as many physical and mental health benefits…
But what if there WAS a way to set goals, plan + make my dreams happen in a more intentional and sustainable way?
What if I could prioritise health, wellbeing and happiness AND achieve my goals for the year?
These were the questions I asked myself in December last year.
A Seasonal + Intentional Planning System
Once I’d realised what my way of planning and goal setting was missing I set out to create a method that did work for me. Enter the Seasonal + Intentional planning method and Seasonal Alchemy.
Seasonal Planning is a method that helps you lean into the natural cycle of the seasons + make the most of your body’s natural flow of energy, creativity and focus.
Nature is always our greatest teacher. She is wise and resourceful and we need only look to natures plants, animals, and the night sky to find a guide for sustainable planning.
The plants and animals instinctively know what to do each season, but humans have forgotten, lost that knowledge Our natural seasonal nature has been lost to societal conditioning.
If inflammation is the cause of all illness, and stress in the biggest cause of inflammation in the body, then why do we perpetuate the thing that’s making us sick?…
Our societal conditioning is causing more and more nervous system dysfunction, and the stress we face on a daily basis just perpetuates this cycle of toxic ‘productivity’ and feeling like we must be busy all the time to see ourselves as successful.
Seasonal living (and this seasonal way of planning) pushes us away from that way of being, and creates a whole new mindset, space and intention around the things we prioritise each day; whether that’s work, personal goals, creative pursuits or just organising your (and your family’s) personal life.
I’ve been using this process for the past 6 months and I love it so much I’ve decided to share it and create a workbook so you can use this method too!…
The Seasonal Planning System
The underlying thread of this process is rebuilding a connection with nature, and getting to deeply know your own cycles and needs through the month.
There are many cycles in nature and within ourselves that we have been ignoring ;
The four seasons
Our menstrual cycle
Our circadian rhythm
The Astrology of our birth chart
The phases of the Moon
My new project Seasonal Alchemy covers all of these, but here we will just take a look at the seasonal aspect for your planning…
Breaking Down Seasonal + Sustainable Planning
The first step to seasonal planning is understanding the seasons…
We all know there are four seasons each year, but other than the changes in weather what does that actually affect?
Each season has its own energy and areas of focus.
Winter (Dec-Feb) is Earth, the pause, the death, the stillness. A time for turning inward, facing shadows and recouping energy.. The season of alchemising, dreaming and as we roll into the new year; making plans.
Spring (March-May) is Air the fresh start, the new beginning, the season we see things starting to sprout and grow. And the seeds you planted in the autumn/winter can start to see the light of day. A time when energy shifts from slower, inward focus into a time of outward and expansive energy in all you do.
Summer (June-Aug) is the Fire of the year, the season of growth, expansion, basking in the sun, your most outward energy and active season, a time of seeing plenty of people, and celebrating the abundance.
Autumn (Sept-Nov) is your Water season, a time to shift, flow, shed and release all that no longer serves us, a time where you need to be shifting to a slower pace of life and inward facing energy in your focus and actions.
As you think of all the usual actions, tasks, habits and rituals you have within your life / business are there certain things that you see naturally falling into one season over others?
Obviously their are things that you do daily or weekly that can’t be moved to just one season, there are also things that as humans we should do regularly (at least once or twice a year) that we avoid — like self analysis and really breaking down what’s working in our lives, if we’re even happy with the direction we’re taking.
To start using the seasonal planning process you will probably want to take some time to brainstorm what things feel connected to each of the four seasons in your life, and how the things you do daily or weekly can be adjusted through each season to be more in line with what you and your body truly needs…
This can look different for everyone, and can look different from one year to the next. But the main thing you need to remember is more for Spring/Summer and less for Autumn/winter.
Focus on intentional and considered action and let the rest fall away. Focus on what is important to YOU. What would your body need to feel good? What does your mind need?
You can start each season (or three months) by looking at the energy and focus areas of that season, and building your routine and to-do list from there.
Taking your cues from nature.
And making sure to focus on your health + wellbeing…
WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SEASONAL PRODUCTIVITY?
If you would like to learn more about seasonal productivity and a cyclical approach to life & work you can read my eBook; Seasonal Alchemy, your guide to diving deeper into the world of seasonal & cyclical living for planning with the rhythms of nature. You can also check out the accompanying Seasonal Life planner…
Combined these two resources offer you seasonal guidance for health, productivity & creating a balanced, intentional life plus a framework that offers easy reference to help you stay aligned with your natural rhythms all year round, eat seasonally, stay mindful & connected… and SO MUCH MORE
xo Emily
