September Theme: A Month To Slow Down

So here we are in September, the month of Harvest: gathering, preserving, and slowing down after the busy summer months.

We’ve had a lovely August away with Bruce our old Vw Camper Van, life is so much simpler in a van, we take the essentials, and head off to spend time outdoors in nature, walk barefoot on the grass, eat outdoors, read books, play cards, listen to music, watch sunsets, go for a swim, a coastal walk, all in our own time. Nothing to do and all day to do it! These are the precious times, to relax and replenish our energy and we always feel the benefit of the freedom these trips bring. Scotland is the most beautiful country, I feel so blessed to live here with so much beauty on our doorstep.

Autumn brings with it a reflective energy, a time to take stock, and prepare ourselves for the colder darker days ahead. Our theme this month is in tune with the seasons and how we are meant to be living our best lives, so welcome to Slow September, a month of taking a breath to gather where we are, assess our goals, clear out what no longer serves us, including clothes, possessions, habits and outdated beliefs, and dare I say it, even people, who don’t support the best version of us.

We live such fast paced lives these days, fast food, quick fixes, eating on the run, chasing our tail, available 24/7, setting unrealistic goals for ourselves, endless to do lists, mindless habits, drowning our sorrows or failings with alcohol, sugar-laden food and unhealthy snacks.

This is the scenario that too many of us are familiar with, it creates a perfect storm for chronic disease, as our body is constantly in fight or flight mode, and let me tell you that the body can’t heal or function optimally in this state.

Our body needs to feel safe in order to heal, we can eat the best food, take numerous supplements and feel we are doing everything right, but the reality is we need to take time for ourselves, away from screens, phones and laptops and endless to-do lists. We need space, calm and downtime to nurture ourselves and we need it on a regular basis. We can’t pour from an empty cup and we certainly can’t outrun or ignore chronic stress, however that shows up for us.

So I invite you to slow down this month, take stock of your health and life goals;

what would you like to achieve as we head into Autumn? Not all goals have to be ambitious; humble goals, such as hoping to read more books or making a new fermented food are valid and important too.

The whole ethos of the Wellness Hub is to make positive changes, one step at a time, not to overwhelm ourselves and try to do too much.

Trying out one new recipe each month is absolutely doable, no matter your skills in the kitchen. All our recipes are simple, seasonal, focused on gut health and diversity. Find the ones that work for you and your life. As it’s almost soup weather, download Super Soups e-book from the website for a fabulous selection of delicious recipes, all in the one place.

There is enough time to pause, let this month be your pause. Breathe deeply and notice the little changes as nature transitions into a new phase. It happens each year but it’s never the same.

In good health,

Janice xx