Some thoughts on seasonal living and creativity
What if we’re not meant to live and work in perfect consistency day after day, week after week?
What if like everything around us we’re meant to thrive, rest and hibernate in seasons? Woo woo I know but I can’t shake these thoughts lately. I constantly feel bombard with this notion that we should be laser focused on maintaining productivity and constantly growing in every way possible – income, social media following, weight loss – and there’s no time for rest.
I feel more connected to nature than ever now that I’ve moved to a tiny village in the Peak District . It’s right outside my window when I wake up, I can’t ignore it. Do you ever look at nature and feel a quiet reassurance that it’s bigger than you, that your life is actually quite insignificant in the grand scheme of things and you’re part of something wonderful? Am I weird because I do? Weird or not I do feel this way; and enjoy the lovely sense of relief that comes with it.
This idea that we’re consistently supposed to grow grow grow isn’t just exhausting, I think it’s unnatural too. Even rampant vines, like the wisteria taking over our cottage, only burst into bloom for a few weeks every year. Most of the time they’re resting and preparing for the next big bloom when the time is right. A peony cannot bloom come May unless it’s enjoyed plenty of rest since the last time it bloomed. I’ve been slightly obsessed (ok very obsessed) with growing peonies in my garden lately so this feels like an apt analogy. I also love this blossom tree analogy from Sara Tasker.
The more I think about it the more I notice how varied my energy, focus and motivation is throughout the year. I’ve realised I’m naturally more productive in winter, where as in summer I prefer to be outside more and my focus on work naturally takes a backseat. Those long summer days seem to slow everything down. Autumn has that fresh new back to school feeling and I can guarantee my energies will rise again when it comes around.The more I think about the idea of seasonal living (and working) the more I see it literally everywhere – my Instagram growth and engagement is down lately – of course it is because everyone is outside enjoying the lovely weather.
I was out walking with a friend of mine the other week (her name is Cait Flanders and if you don’t already know of her work I think you’ll love it). We’d met online through our shared love of living with less and while she was visiting the UK she wanted to see the Peak District. Walking through Chatsworth park we both stopped for a second and took in the beautiful view,
“It puts me in my place,” I told her knowing she’d get my love of nature.
“It makes me feel small,” she replied.
Both of us felt humbled that we were part of something so much bigger, and that we weren’t the centre of the universe. These decisions, struggles, problems and general every day life stuff that we agonise over seems gigantic, but it’s actually not. The best and worst part is that most of this stuff is totally out of our control because it is so much bigger than us. The difficult part then – is learning to accept and rest in that.
Living and working in seasons is something I’ve been experimenting with lately. I first came across the idea thanks to creative coach Jen Carrington (listen to her excellent podcast episode on living and working in seasons). At the beginning of this year I decided to embrace a season of deep work while my energy levels were high and our move was pending, whereas the last three months have been a season of gentle change. I’ve had to surrender to all the adjusting that’s had to take place because of our move and accept my energies will be taken up with things like renovations and settling into a new lifestyle. I feel like I’ve woken up to a whole new awareness thanks to this mindset shift.
This isn’t supposed to be an in-depth ultimate guide to seasonal living, and by no means do I feel like an expert in this area, but having dipped my toe into it I feel like there’s something in this mindset and it felt worthy of a share with you all. It’s easy to think were greater than nature and the planet we live. We can now fly direct to Australia from the UK in 18 hours – we can do anything right? Cities get bigger and life gets faster. Somewhere in that rat race I think we forget we’re part of something so much bigger – and that’s ok.
I’m wondering if you can relate to any of this? Where do you stand on the idea of seasonal living? Have we got it all wrong in expecting ourselves to live and work like machines – or should we all be more like trees? I’d love to know what you think and if you’ve tried living and working in seasons. Let me know in the comments below.
