Once upon a time, people’s lives tended to revolve around the seasons far more than they do today. For example, spring would have been for planting and autumn for canning and preserving food to last you through long winters. These days, you can heat your home at the flick of a switch and the most winter food planning you have to do might be making sure you have up-to-date delivery menus. However, when you think about it, we still tend to live by the seasons. We make New Year’s resolutions, spring clean and talk about hibernating in the winter. While it is nice to have some flexibility and not be beholden to the seasons, there is something to be said for getting in tune with them. Here are some ways you can take a contemporary approach to harmonizing with the seasons.
Spring
Spring is a time of renewal and fresh starts. Instead of spring cleaning in your house, why not use this season to organize your finances? This is the time to make that budget or start that savings account you have been putting off. If you have debt, take a look at it and see what you can do to get it under control. For example, you might want to take the time to research consolidating your student loan debt if you have multiple outstanding loans. With a consolidation, you will have just one monthly payment with a lower interest rate.
Summer
Summer is a time of abundance, growth and leisure. It is a time to celebrate the light, which peaks at the summer solstice, the longest day of the year. A great way to observe summer would be to invite your friends or family to an outdoor summer party in which you celebrate the beauty and the care-free feeling of the season.
Fall
Autumn is a time when the life springing forth everywhere in summer begins to die, but you shouldn’t see this as a depressing time of year. Autumn is just as abundant in its own way as spring and summer, with brilliant leaves on trees, plants that only thrive in cooler weather and a crisp note to the air that can come as a relief after summer’s heat. This can be a good time to acknowledge loss and consider letting go of something that is no longer useful to you, whether that is a bad habit, a relationship or a fear that has held you back.
Winter
Winter has its perks, especially if you enjoying skiing or simply staying inside where it’s warm and reading a book. However, it can also be very dark and cold. Winter is a time for two things: hibernating and reminding yourself that there is light after the darkness. You may want to light candles or hang strings of lights to make your home feel cozy. This can be a good time to reflect on the year that is gone and to set goals for the year ahead. Write down your goals and the steps you need to take to reach them. Remember that your goals do not have to be big ambitious ones that others would admire. The point is to think about the things you want to do in the following year that would truly enrich your life.
