The Practical Guide to Seasonal Living for Moms
Seasonal living means drawing inspiration from nature to live our day to day lives. It means flowing with the energy of the seasons and pulling ideas for how we approach our lives from what we observe outdoors.
Seasonal living also commonly means embracing a more nature-centric way of life, honoring not only nature's rhythmic cycles, but also her well-being. I cover tangible opportunities to live a more nature-aligned life in Part Two of The Connection between Yoga and Nature.
For moms, integrating seasonal living into the daily chaos can sometimes feel out of reach, or like something other families do, but not you because it's just not practical. It may feel like a Pinterest board of activities you never get around to implementing with your kids or a monthly rotation of seasonal decor.
Instead, as I discuss in Defining Seasonal Living in Motherhood, seasonal mothering is less about throwing the season at your kids through activities and crafts (although by all means, those strategies can be a ton of fun!) and more about being in and observing nature, then reflecting on and making shifts in your daily rhythms to mimic what you see.
Use these practical tips to support your family in aligning with nature's rhythms.
Practical Steps to Live Seasonally with Your Family
These simple steps can guide you to a more seasonally aligned lifestyle. Start at the beginning or pick and choose the individual steps that most apply to your family. Spend time in reflection along the way. How does it feel to start integrating these changes?
Commit to a daily nature observation practice.
Whether it's a daily post-dinner walk, lap around the yard before jumping in the car and heading out for the day, or a simple sit spot where the family rests together before bedtime, commit to going outside and noticing what's happening around you. Make this practice possible by picking a time that works for everyone and scheduling it like it's a non-negotiable (because, really, to choose to live seasonally, being in nature regularly is in fact a non-negotiable).
Another tangible way to make an observation practice possible for your family is to ensure everyone has seasonally appropriate attire. Try thrifting a season ahead, purchasing from brands whose values align with nature, and focusing on natural fiber clothing.
Reflect on whether your life is aligned with the current season, and choose to make a shift each week.
As you fall into your nature observation routine, you may start to notice areas of your life that don't align with the energies you observe outside. If stress and to dos in your personal life are ramping up just as autumn sets in and nature starts to slow down, consider the opportunities you have to shift some of that busyness away from this season of calming and easing into rest.
I recommend spending time in this reflection about once per week and determining one shift you can make that week to better align with the current season. Just imagine how in tune you will feel after a full season (or even a full year) of consciously realigning with nature's gentle rhythms!
Harmonize your daily consumption choices with nature.
An integral part of seasonal living is honoring nature's well-being. We live in a capitalistic society and overconsumption is a common, and often celebrated, reality. You can choose to reject that extractive behavior by only making purchases that you need, eating seasonal produce, and choosing eco-friendly options when possible.
It's not your job to solve the global challenge of restructuring our society to a more regenerative way of being, but you can make that change within your family unit. For more ideas on how to care for nature in your day to day, check out this post.
Openly discuss seasonal changes you are making to your day to day life with your children.
As you begin the shift to a more seasonal lifestyle with your family, talk about changes you're making with your children. Whether it's integrating the committed daily nature observation, swapping your laundry detergent for a non-toxic option you can make with your kids, or engaging in fewer away-from-home activities in winter, telling them why can normalize this path for them as well. It also opens up the opportunity for them to share ideas about how they would like to see seasonal living integrated into your family.
Pause when the shift to seasonal living feels overwhelming.
Seasonal living is meant to feel aligned, comfortable, and in flow, not overwhelming or like a task list to get done. If the shifts you're making start to feel more like a list of goals, and that list starts to feel a little too long, pause and take a breath. Nature doesn't hurry and you don't have to either. Recommit to the shifts that have been most meaningful to your family or that are most important to you, and focus on making space for those changes day in and out. When those changes become habitual, it may be time to reflect again and choose a new shift to focus on.
Seasonal living is accessible to anyone willing to observe and mirror nature's rhythms and energies. I hope these steps can guide you to toward a more seasonal lifestyle for you and your family.
Yoga, Nature, and Seasonal Living for Busy Moms
The online yoga studio for busy, working moms seeking a slower way of life offers monthly pre-recorded yoga and meditation you can use to sink into a slower pace, plus a slow down framework where you can restructure your most overwhelming challenges into peaceful, rhythmic routines that support you and your family.
Two-minute Reset Meditations for Routine Calm Days includes ten completely free two-minute meditations for you to capture a moment of calm right now, without spending an hour at the yoga studio or taking paid leave.
The Mama Naturalist on my website and Substack is a space where I share both conceptual and practical guidance on slowing down, connecting to nature, and living seasonally.
Mindful Moms Digest offers exclusive yoga and meditation classes, nature stories from a wildlife biologist (me!), and free, supportive resources including links back to every blog post for busy, working moms journeying toward a slower, more seasonal way of life.
Cultivate Calm Mornings is a structured series of three yoga workshops that supports you in transforming your morning routine from chaotic to calm.
