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Recalibrate for Autumn
As we move into Fall, and indoors, our worlds will once again shift and it will be up to the individual to recalibrate their day-to-day. This is also a time when we might be holding onto past seasons, not just Summer, but past seasons of joy, warmth, calm. Reminiscing is inevitable, yet, it is these times of transition when burnout may sneak up.
Throughout your workday, when you are feeling like you might be generally edging toward sub-optimal, there are self-observances that will help keep burnout at bay and aid calmness within the moment before returning to work.
Calming Through the Physical Senses
- Sight: Look around you. Select one element in your field of vision to focus on, and break it into smaller parts. For example, if you’re looking at trees, look at the width and height of the tree, the branches, the colors of the leaves, and the individual leaves. If you’re in a city, watch one person as they pass and focus on their shoes until you can’t see the person any longer.
- Smell: Identify a scent that is soothing. Allow your brain, psyche, and body to respond to that scent. Where did you go? Flowers, perfumes, and soaps are easily accessible items that can be used for this task. Take a cotton ball, dip it in your favorite scent, put it into a baggie, and when you need sensory self-soothing, smell the cotton ball.
