Seasons of wellbeing

Change is undeniable, constant and comes in all forms. It can be the small beautiful changes we see in our gender affirmation or the unprecedented and monumentally tough stuff like the COVID-19 pandemic.

Often the circumstances of change are out of our control, and can have an impact on our mental health and wellbeing. Although it is difficult to predict what will be changing, we can take some inspiration from the plants and animals of the natural world who survive in constant changing conditions through adaptation and preparation.

The seasons of Autumn, Winter, Spring and Summer can help us conceptualise these inevitable changes as the ebb and flow of life. When we talk about our seasons of wellbeing, we don’t mean how our mental health can be impacted by the annual seasons, but to help us understand and plan for how much energy we might have when we’re doing well or not so well. We may experience multiple seasons in one day, or stay in a single season for a long time.

Not only can this help us talk about it with other people, but can help us remember that just like seasons, our mental health is going to change too.

One way to approach this is by drawing up four columns, one for each season, and thinking about what you might feel able to do to look after yourself and your loved ones during each season. There’s no right or wrong answers here, and it’s okay if Winter is pretty sparse – we sometimes don’t have much energy and have to tend to the basics first.

This may be something that you fill out yourself, alongside a trusted friend or family member, or with a counsellor or other health professional, or maybe you won’t do it at all, but it’s just a helpful thing to think about.

The above are some examples, but no matter what’s on your list, remember that this is about finding things to be proud of having done, rather than being frustrated about what we can’t do. Even when we’re in Summer, there’s no expectation that we are going to be perfect, and that’s okay.

By taking the time to recognise and celebrate our small achievements throughout all of our seasons, not only are we giving ourselves the credit we deserve, it can also helps us to maintain or motivate ourselves to continue to look after and nourish ourselves. Achievements aren’t just about work, money and quantity.

So what is a small achievement? Well, there is nothing too small, as scales of achievements are relative to yourself and nobody else. These may include activities that you already do everyday, without much thought, but contribute to your survival. Small achievements can nourish you and the environment around you.

Whenever we set ourselves a goal or a plan, it can be grating or frustrating when we struggle or aren't able to meet our own expectations. It’s far more important to be gentle with ourselves and what we’re able to do – not only do we deserve that patience and kindness, but it strengthens us when we try not to be harsh with ourselves. 

Remember that what we are able to do in each seasons may vary greatly depending on our capacity, so be gentle with you, and remember to still celebrate any achievements big or small, especially when you’re feeling low on energy.