Summer is nearly over, we have a few weeks until autumn and the pattern of time is now that this season is ‘back to school’. 160 years ago or so the pattern of time would have been a return to the normal pace of life after a summer of harvesting crops and other food stuffs. The preservation of  this food by making jam, pickling and curing was the activity of the cooler post harvest days.

This means historically we have been practising self compassion as a priority. Harvests can easily be wasted if they are not stored correctly or made into products that keep for several months. Thus the focus of autumn was to prepare for winter. I feel we have lost this focus of self care as a primary concern. Yes, we don’t have to make jam to ensure we can eat fruit in winter. Or that we cure bacon to make it last longer than fresh meat. But this may not be the ‘progress’ people think it is. Easy access to food stuffs mean human nature has downgraded food as a priority task. And with this have we downgraded our self care?

This winter could you flip your outlook to pay yourself first?

Self compassion is what you do first, not what you give yourself with any energy you have left. Thhis mindset change is key to your survivial of winter, and in life in general.  Cards Against Procrastination have great tips to help you take care of the most important person – YOU.

In Cards Against Procrastination you will find cards 2, 3 and 11 as good starting points for work sessions or relaxation sessions. Planning to be kind to yourself and leave info for future you to work with. Card 11 is also amazing as it gives you space to set yourself up to make sure you are emotionally ready to proceed. Using the HALT initialism you reflect on how you are feeling and if that includes hunger, thirst, alone or tired then taking steps to resolve this issues will improve how you are feeling.

It sounds simple but as we don’t have to plan our food months in advance we sometimes then forget to plan for it at all.