Glow in The Chaos "October Slide"

[00:00:01] Hey, y'. All. Welcome back to Glow in the Chaos. I'm your host, Alyssa, and today we're going to talk about something that hits a lot of us this time of year. It is what some people call the October Slide. [00:00:12] Excuse my extremely nasally voice today, even more so than normal, because I always kind of sound nasally. But I am dealing with my first October cold or fall cold, which kind of goes along with this podcast episode of the October Slide. So I had never even heard of this until this year, but this makes so much sense. So what is the October slide? [00:00:39] That quiet shift where the days start getting shorter, the air feels heavier, and suddenly everything from getting out of bed to keeping up with daily life starts to feel just a little bit harder. [00:00:51] If you've been feeling more tired, more anxious, or just kind of like emotionally off, you're not broken, you're not lazy. You are just human. And your body and mind are reacting to the change of seasons, routines and rhythms. [00:01:06] I never even used to think about the fact that of course our bodies are gonna react to the change in seasons. I mean, it's a whole different routine. You know, the sun goes down sooner, the sun comes up later. Like, we're in dark longer. [00:01:23] So let's talk about it. The October Slide, obviously, is not a medical term. It's just what some people call that, like, downward shift. A lot of us feel around this time of year, summer's energy is kind of fading. The sunlight disappears faster, and our nervous systems, especially if you live with chronic illness, adhd, anxiety, or depression, really start to struggle with the lack of routine, light, and warmth. For me, it shows up as, like, low motivation. My fatigue is off the charts, and that feeling of being behind before I've even started, it's like I blink and my to do list has doubled, but my energy definitely has not. It's almost been cut in half. [00:02:07] And when you're managing with a chronic illness, that slide can feel even steeper. [00:02:12] Your body's already working overtime to regulate itself. And then you add in the weather changes, which causes extra inflammation, less vitamin D. [00:02:21] That's just a recipe for a slump. [00:02:25] Here's something I've had to remind myself. I'm not falling apart. I'm adapting. This is just a season now. I do love the fall season and the winter season and all things October, November, December, Fall, Christmas, New Year, Thanksgiving. All the things I love this time of year. [00:02:48] But it really does take a toll on our bodies and on our minds as well. [00:02:54] Your body is trying to find a balance in A season of change. And it's okay to need more rest. It's okay to crave slower mornings. It's okay to not feel like that girl who thrives on pumpkin spice energy and fall bucket lists, which I totally want to be that girl. Like, that girl is goals. Like the cute boots, carrying my Starbucks. [00:03:17] Just having that fall girl energy, which we can still have sometimes, but we can have some fall girl energy and some fall girl naps as well, if you know what I mean. [00:03:28] Sometimes surviving the season is the accomplishment. Instead of fighting this slide, what if we learn to move with it, give ourselves permission to slow down and to see it as a strength and not a weakness. [00:03:41] Like, what if we can see it as this is time to slow down and reflect on ourselves? Reflect. You know, I mean, Thanksgiving is coming up, so let's start maybe a gratitude journal. Let's start reflecting on things that we're thankful for. So this is a slower season. Let's look at the beautiful leaves and observe how life changes around us. Observe just everything. Just slow everything down. Because life truly moves way too fast. So this October slide does not have to be a bad thing. [00:04:14] I want to start thinking of it as like the time of year where I can truly enjoy all of the beautiful things around me. [00:04:23] Stop trying to constantly thinking about go, go, go and burning myself out and not feeling good. I want to slow down and enjoy the beauty of this life. [00:04:36] Here are a few little things that help me climb out of the October slide. Or at least like make me feel a little bit softer. Fall a little bit softer. Anyway, get outside for just five minutes. Even if it's cloudy, your brain still gets like little signals that help our mood and energy. [00:04:55] Warm drinks and weighted blankets. Comfort matters more than we admit. So let yourself feel cozy on purpose, you guys. Amaz. Amazon has prime day deals right now. Gosh, I cannot speak today. Amazon has prime day deals right now. I will try to make a blog post later on today and put together like a list of all my fall cozy favorites that are on there. That way you can take a look and pick and see if there's anything that you like. Because now is the time to stock up on all things fall. Our fuzzy pajamas, our fuzzy socks, our weighted blankets, our heated weighted blankets. All of the fall things are on deal right now. So I will put that list together. [00:05:36] That way you can just. You don't even have to research it. Just click and go. [00:05:41] Simplify your goals. You do not have to chase big growth right now. Just maintain, just exist. That is enough. [00:05:50] Talk to someone who gets it, a friend, therapist, or even an online community like Chroniclo. [00:05:58] Don't isolate yourself in this slump, though. Make sure that you're not turning inward and internalizing everything and getting so far into the slide that you can't pull yourself back out. We are here for you, friends. We're all feeling this. [00:06:13] Let's pull ourselves up together and start seeing the beauty in the October slide. [00:06:22] Reflect instead of react. [00:06:25] This time of year can be powerful for inner growth. Ask yourself what's shifting inside of you, not just around you. [00:06:32] What is changing inside of you? What does no longer serve you? What can you do to help your peace and your health? We've touched on it before, but stress is such a big deal to those of us with chronic illness. I mean, everybody in general. Stress affects your health so much. I cannot stress that. [00:06:52] I cannot stress that. I can't stress stress enough. [00:06:57] So let's take this time to just see what we can remove from our life. [00:07:02] You know, I mean, think of it like the trees shed their leaves this time of year to make room for prettier leaves. [00:07:10] So let's do that for ourselves. Let's shed our leaves that have been around and taking up space and causing us stress. Let's shed those leaves, ladies, and let's grow some new ones and make room for the new beautif that is coming through the new glow, if you will. [00:07:31] If you're in your own October slide right now, I just want to tell you, you're not behind, you're not weak, you are not losing your glow. You're entering a new chapter. And maybe it's meant to be slower, softer, more inward. [00:07:45] You're allowed to rest. You're allowed to breathe. You are allowed to just be. [00:07:52] Your glow doesn't depend on how productive you are. It's in your persistence, your tenderness, your willing to keep, willingness to keep showing up even in the darker months. [00:08:03] Your glow is just about you, your personality. It's not your sickness. It's not. [00:08:12] You're not losing your glow, friends. [00:08:14] We're changing. We're adapting. That's what life is all about. So let's lean into it rather than slide into it. [00:08:22] Thank you so, so much for tuning in today, you guys. This podcast heals me more than you will ever know. Just to know that I am potentially able to talk to somebody or reach somebody that is really going through it, and just the thought of being able to create this community, I really feel like this is what I was meant to do. [00:08:42] If this episode spoke to you please share it with someone who might need a reminder that slowing down is okay. [00:08:49] And if you're craving a little extra light this season, come hang out with me. Come on over and watch my videos on TikTok. [00:08:56] Join my WordPress blog. Subscribe so that way you can get emails. Whenever I send out a new blog, which I will be doing today, I will be trying to put together a list of all of the fall cozy things on Amazon Prime Day deals. [00:09:13] And here let's just just tune in to our environment where we talk about all things chronic illness, self compassion, and finding peace in the mess. [00:09:22] Until next time, take care of yourself. Slow down when you need to, and remember, you're still glowing even in the October slide. [00:09:32] Thank you friends and keep glowing in the chaos. I will see you next time.