THINK IT'S NOT THE RIGHT SEASON? Here's why every season matters

Jun 15

When I first heard the term "seasons of a woman’s life" I thought it seemed misused, and didn’t understand what it was referencing. I thought of a season as something that comes, goes and returns, in a cyclical type format. It’s also used as the American term for a series of a show with a finite amount of episodes, followed by a long break as we wait in anticipation for the next season to be released.

As I became more familiar with the term and started to hear it used in different settings and contexts, I grabbed onto it, understanding why it’s so relevant for me as a health and wellness coach.

There’s no denying that all humans have seasons in their life, in a biological sense - infancy, childhood, adolescence and puberty, adulthood. But, for females, there are arguably many more seasons, most of which are unique for us women.

Most women are familiar with what menopause is and have been led to dread its arrival. For many of us, puberty was harsh enough, bringing with it all types of changes like mood swings, an emotional rollercoaster, physical changes to our body and mental changes too. Then we’re brought up hearing about the onslaught of menopause in all its glory - hot flushes, mood swings, depression, anxiety, insomnia, memory loss, brain fog, low confidence, weight gain, loss of libido, and many more horrifying, scary symptoms.

What many of us are not familiar with, or educated about, is how we change in other ways through the varying seasons of our life. Not all of them can be as formally categorised as puberty or menopause, but they exist and bring new hurdles and experiences with them.

It’s important to understand this for several reasons. Firstly, as females we tend to go pretty hard, putting an enormous amount of pressure on ourselves to do and have it all. This belief, which for many of us comes from childhood and is reinforced through the media as we age, can be severely damaging to our health. Striving to have it all, without consideration of our physical and mental capability, can and most likely will lead to problems. Pushing forward with disregard for our health is in itself harmful, but the consequences will probably be a bigger decline in our overall health and wellbeing. How much of a decline may come down to which season you’re in and how much you’ve pulled in the opposite direction of it.

Think about your own life and where you are right now, regardless of whether you are male or female, or what your age is, and reflect on the different stages you’ve been through. For example, post-puberty there’s leaving school, maybe embarking on several years at university or going straight out into the world of employment, or even setting up your own business. There are new social circles, friendships and relationships. Changes in your family life and most likely your home environment. There might have been heartache along the way, either through broken relationships or the loss of loved ones. At some point, maybe you married or entered into a partnership and navigated the changes to your life this brings with it. Perhaps parenthood featured on your lifeline and all the enjoyment, worry and change this throws with it.

We all go through these varying ‘seasons’ in our lives, and some of these are guaranteed to have as part of them, very specific physiological add-ons. Things that happen to our bodies and minds we can’t just choose to ignore or neglect.

It’s important to recognise and be aware of this, so you can prepare for them, protect yourself and handle what you need to, as best as possible. Why? So you can continue to enjoy your life and be happy through these different life seasons and into what comes next.

Being prepared to navigate the seasons we all experience in our life, including those that bring the potential for huge shifts and change, is something that can help you to remain in control, focused, and healthy. It’s proven that when you’re healthy, you’re more like to also feel happy. When you feel happy, you want to take care of yourself, you have greater resilience and can cope with change easier.

Protecting yourself by being the strongest version of yourself also helps to maintain your health and keep you feeling well both physically and mentally. I’m 100% an advocate for being proactive rather than reactive with your health. Quite often, when it’s time to react, things can’t be reversed, only managed and adjusted to. This can result in your life-changing in ways you’re not ready for and with life-changing consequences.

There isn’t only one season when it’s time to begin this investment in yourself. To live healthy, happy and strong now and in the future, you should be investing in yourself right from the off.

“Know that you are the perfect age. Each year is special and precious, for you shall only live it once. Be comfortable with growing older.”

— Louise Haye

When I worked in corporate, I always used to think and operate with the mantra of “it’s all about the planning”. I know from my own and others' health experiences, that being prepared when it comes to your life and having protected yourself through the right healthy habits and lifestyle, sets you up so much better to handle each new season that comes your way.

Being able to embrace the season of your life, rather than wish it away or lament the seasons lost, will lead to the happiness you desire. It builds a more mindful, positive mindset, recognising the cycle that life runs through. You’ll have appreciation and respect for where you are right now, knowing it won’t last and that you can tune into it to connect and find your harmony with it

Some seasons will inevitably be more difficult than others, and some you may be pleased to see the back of. My key takeaway here is the awareness that they are what they say on the can - seasons. This means they won’t last, they will move on and bring something new in its place. They’re part of nature’s course. They’re part of being human.

How much do you know about the seasons of your life and what they are likely to bring with them? Are you creating the healthy mind and body you need to support and protect you for the rest of your life?

The principles of healthy living apply at every stage of your life to make sure you’re able to live the full, happy, incredible life you wish for.