The kinds of rhythm I’m thinking of here are diurnal and circadian. Namely the ones that our bodies naturally work to for self-regulation.¹
Each of our body systems are interlinked – for example our hormonal system affects and is affected by our digestive, cardiovascular and immune systems and also allows the proper functioning of our brain etc. Each of our bodies are different in the ways that they respond to the same stimuli, and of course there are so many relevant factors including the season and location in the world.
Non-stop summer!
These variables are factors I’ve been acutely aware of for me personally, especially after experiencing my first winters in the last couple of years. These have come after 6 years of travel with non-stop summers!
Basically my whole body has needed to completely reset and acclimatise.
In the past I’ve typically found winters challenging, although it’s definitely getting easier for me. The daily cold showers that I’ve been persevering with since February this year have been helping enormously. I’ve even been loving embracing this feeling of really needing to hibernate as we’ve plunged into winter.
I tend to function at my optimal in natural, bright light, and I get sleepy in artificial light, likewise less alert in air con rather than fresh air.
Winter or summer?
Have you noticed that your body naturally feels better at certain times of the day, month and year?
The more I embrace rather than resist what’s happening around me – especially when it comes to winter-weather, the more I actually enjoy it. For example, I’ve definitely been getting into snuggling up by our woodfire, which becomes the heart of the home, as opposed to more of the focus being outside during the summer months.
So I’m curious. I’d love to hear what you’ve noticed when it comes to your own body rhythms?
Until I see you on this week’s #ALivewithFi, ciao for now!
¹ When our natural body rhythms are out of whack it can affect multiple areas of our health…
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5647832/
Shift Work: Disrupted Circadian Rhythms and Sleep—Implications for Health and Well-Being
S.James,K.Honn et al (2017)
Fi Jamieson-Folland D.O., I.N.H.C., is The LifeStyle Aligner. She’s an experienced practitioner since 1992 in Europe, Asia and New Zealand as a qualified Osteopath, Integrative Nutrition Health Coach, speaker, educator, writer, certified raw vegan gluten-free chef, and Health Brand Ambassador.
