🍂 From Autumn into Winter – Slowing Down and Letting Go
As we move from autumn into winter, nature gives us little reminders that it’s time to slow down, soften, and let go. The trees drop their leaves, the air feels cooler, and everything starts to turn inward. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, each season has its own energy — and by working with it, we can really help our bodies and minds stay in balance.
Autumn – The Season of Letting Go
In Chinese medicine, autumn is linked with the Lungs and Large Intestine – the organs that help us take in what we need and release what we don’t. It’s the perfect time to reflect and gently clear out things that no longer serve you — whether that’s clutter, habits, or emotions you’ve been holding onto.
Just like the trees shed their leaves, autumn invites us to let go, creating space for something new when spring comes around. It’s a great time to declutter and clear out the house, cupboards drawers and allow the new in. We hold on to things and sometimes those things hold us back and we need to let them go so that we can move forward. ( a declutter always feels like a fresh start eh)
Here are a few simple ways to support yourself this season:
🍲 Choose warm, cooked meals — soups, stews, roasted veg, and seasonal foods like squash and carrots.
🫖 Try warming drinks — ginger, cinnamon, honey, or a slice of pear in hot water are lovely for the lungs.
🧣 Keep your neck and chest covered — the first chill of the season can easily get in and cause coughs or colds.
💭 Spend time reflecting and releasing — journalling, having a clear-out, or even a quiet walk can help you mentally “let go.”
Moving into Winter – The Season of Rest and Renewal
As we move towards winter, everything in nature slows down. It’s the most Yin time of year — a time to rest, restore, and go inward. In TCM, winter is linked with the Kidneys and Bladder, which hold our core energy or “reserves.” This means winter is about rebuilding strength, not burning it.
Try to:
🔥 Keep warm — especially your lower back and feet (the Kidney area).
🥣 Eat nourishing foods like bone broth, miso soup, black beans, seaweed, or warming spices.
🧘♀️ Rest when you can — go to bed earlier, have slower mornings, and listen to what your body needs.
💧 Reduce stress — say no where you need to, and do things that genuinely fill you up.
A Time for Stillness
Autumn teaches us to let go. Winter teaches us to rest.
Together, they remind us that it’s okay to slow down —
that rest isn’t laziness, it’s healing.
When we allow ourselves to follow the rhythm of the seasons, we give our bodies time to reset and restore. By the time spring arrives, we’re ready to grow again — refreshed and full of new energy.
🌿 At Olive Tree, treatments at this time of year focus on balancing your body’s natural rhythms — supporting your energy, immunity, sleep, and emotional wellbeing as the seasons shift.
If you’ve been feeling tired, flat, or just ready for a bit of calm, it might be the perfect time for an autumn–winter reset, so get booked in now.
