For many, September signals an end to summer fun and a return to “real life.”
The kids are heading back to school, and you may be buckling down to accomplish your year-end goals.
During transitional periods like this, you can gain a sense of calm and security by sustaining or establishing routines that nurture you.
Transitions between seasons, especially late summer, correspond with the Earth element in East Asian medicine. The Earth element is associated with your muscles, digestion, sense of self, belonging to a community, giving and receiving support, and habits.
Nourishing your Earth Element Can Help Regulate Your Nervous System
Determine which habits support you. Your daily routine provides a structure that can help you feel grounded and nurtured during times of transition or can keep you stuck in an unpleasant place. Notice which of your daily habits nourish you and continue those. Replace an unwanted habit with a different one that moves you toward where you’d like to be. It could be something as simple as flossing your teeth after every meal.
Carve out time in your schedule for you. In times of transition, it can be easy to lose yourself in external demands. If you’re missing out on activities you value, like working out, seeing your friends, reading a book, or preparing healthy meals, put them on your to-do list and block out space for them in your schedule. These activities are important for your long-term health and wellbeing and need to be part of your weekly rhythm.
Prioritize eating in your schedule. I see many patients struggle with establishing a regular eating schedule and I acknowledge that it can be difficult. It’s also a key aspect of regulating your blood sugar, mood, and hormones. Starting your day with a cup of coffee, not eating until two in the afternoon, and then grabbing a few handfuls of crackers for “lunch” is recipe for anxiety. Set yourself up for success by having something to eat with your coffee, even it’s just a piece of toast. Take time away from your computer (you can block it on your work calendar) and enjoy a lunch with protein, vegetables, and a complex carbohydrate around the same time every day. If you fail at it today, try again tomorrow. Eating breakfast and a balanced lunch two to three times a week benefits you more than not doing it at all. Having patience with yourself as you make these changes can help you build new eating habits.
Incorporate walking into your day. Walking can also help you reset your nervous system by shifting you breathing patterns from the shallow, rapid breathing of sympathetic dominance to the slower, deeper breathing patterns of parasympathetic dominance. Slipping a 20+ minute walk into your day is great. If you can’t, try getting up and walking around for five minutes every hour. If you sit for an eight-hour workday, you’ll still be able to incorporate 40 minutes of walking into your day! Strolling around the block or to the local coffee shop, or even taking the long route to the bathroom can add up.
Self-acupressure for grounding. Stomach 36 is an acupressure point that can be used year-round and is especially beneficial around times of transition. As an Earth point on an Earth channeling, it is especially nurturing and grounding, and can help boost your mood. It also improves digestion and elimination, strengthens the immune system, and increases energy.
To locate Stomach 36, place your index finger at the base of your patella (knee bone that moves when you bend and straighten your leg). Stomach 36 is located roughly four finger widths below the patella in the muscle lateral (on the outside) of the shin bone.
You can hold Stomach 36 lightly with your fingertips or palm until you feel a pulsation. For a more yang style of acupressure, try tapping the area with a loose fist. This video will show you how.
Stay Ahead of Your Health Needs: For your comfort and well-being, I suggest you take a moment to schedule your self-care appointments for the season. Plan to come in before you desperately need to be seen. It’s easy to let it slide, but soon the holiday season will hijack your time. I recommend a monthly maintenance acupuncture appointment to help manage your stress, anxiety, and/or pain levels so you never feel like you “have” to get in for a same-day appointment. Schedule an appointment or plan your monthly maintenance visits now.
