Finding balance through cyclical living in uncertain times
How honouring cycles and seasons can help us to stay grounded and weather life’s storms
Today, I want to talk about cyclical living; the practice of aligning ourselves with the natural rhythms of the Earth and how it can offer a sense of calm, grounding, and connection, especially in times of uncertainty. I talk about this from a spiritual perspective in my post about the Celtic-Pagan Wheel of The Year. I appreciate that doesn’t align with everyone’s perspective, so I wanted to share some more secular reflections and suggestions about the cyclical nature of life.
If you’re new here I’m Laura, a nature therapist, counsellor and a trauma therapist. I also teach meditation and hold spaces where people can explore their relationship with themselves, with their bodies and with the wider natural world. My offerings weave together counselling psychology, embodiment, nature connection and ritual to support deeper alignment with our inner and outer cycles.
I’m sharing this cyclical living post as a reminder that, when the world feels unpredictable or overwhelming, returning to seasonal shifts, ebbs and flows, can remind us that change is natural, life is cyclical, rest is essential and nothing stays the same. Whether it’s the phases of the moon, the shifting seasons, or the rise and fall of our own energy, living in tune with these cycles can help us feel more rooted, more spacious, and more at peace with where we are.
Cyclical living and hustle culture
We live in a society that expects us to operate like machines, resetting every single day, pushing through exhaustion and striving for consistency and productivity. This pressure doesn’t pause for changing seasons, shifting energy or personal challenges. It demands we show up the same way, every day, regardless of the weather outside or the weather within us. For those who experience a female hormone cycle, this expectation becomes even more unrealistic. Our hormones fluctuate across a four-week rhythm, which naturally affects our energy, mood and capacity and we're rarely given space to honour that ebb and flow.
And that’s just one piece of the picture. When we add in the impact of trauma, illness, disability, neurodivergence, systemic oppression or economic instability, the demand for constant output becomes not just unsustainable, but harmful. These lived realities shape our energy and our ability to meet the world’s expectations and the dominant, over-culture refuses to acknowledge them. Instead, we’re required to fit into a model of productivity that’s rooted in capitalism, one that values sameness, speed and output over humanity, nuance and care.
I know this might sound heavy but it’s important to name the reality we’re navigating. It’s not that we’re broken or failing; it’s that we’re trying to live in a system that denies the cycles and differences that make us human. No wonder so many of us feel depleted, disoriented or disconnected. We've been pushed to ignore our natural rhythms, those of our bodies, our emotions and the Earth itself.
But there is another way. A gentler way of living. One that invites us to remember our cyclical nature and to return to ourselves with compassion. As poet Nayyirah Waheed so beautifully writes: “Be easy. take your time. you are coming home. to yourself.” And perhaps that’s the invitation: not to keep up, but to come home. To our bodies, to the seasons and to a rhythm that honours who we truly are.
How can honouring cycles and seasons keep us steady?
Imbalance can arise when we spend too much time in our active, outward-facing energy. This is the part of us that’s constantly doing, achieving, striving and producing. In Traditional Chinese Medicine and philosophy, this is referred to as yang energy. Yang is dynamic, fiery, expansive and externally focussed. It’s the energy of movement, growth, and action and it’s aligned with the seasons of spring and summer, when the natural world is buzzing with life, blooming, building and reaching outward toward the sun.
But, in the same way day turns into night, yang needs its counterpart, yin, to stay in balance. Yin is the energy of stillness, introspection, slowness and rest. It’s associated with the seasons of autumn and winter, when the natural world begins to turn inward: trees release their leaves, animals slow down or hibernate and the earth moves into a quieter, more reflective phase. Yin energy invites us to pause, soften and come home to ourselves, something that modern life often pushes us to resist or skip altogether.
Energy as an archetype: a pattern, symbol or role that shows up across stories, myths, and human experiences
While this cyclical living post isn’t rooted in any spiritual frameworks, we can think about the idea of yin and yang energy as an archetype. An archetype is a pattern, symbol or role that shows up across stories, myths, and human experiences. Think of it as a blueprint of human behaviour or personality that we can recognise. Exploring our experience through archetypes can offer a framework to compare our experience to, taking what resonates and leaving what doesn’t.
Our ancestors lives were in tune with nature’s cycles out of necessity. Daily lives were structured around the rhythms of agricultural cycles and seasons. They knew when to plant and when to harvest, when to hunt and when to rest. The seasons were their teachers and this cyclical knowledge shaped everything, from food and sleep to ritual and community.
Today, many of us are disconnected from these patterns. But when we intentionally reconnect with nature’s rhythms, we can begin to find a sense of balance. We remember that the earth needs winter to regenerate and so do we. We need rest and reflection to grow. Recognising and honouring the dance between yin and yang within us allows us to live in a way that is more sustainable, intuitive and aligned.
Listening to your inner seasons
One of the most supportive ways to connect with cycles and seasons is to begin noticing your “inner cyclical life” In the same way nature has periods of growth, fullness, release and rest, so do our bodies, energy, and emotions. Some days feel like summer; vibrant, outward, social, while others feel like winter, when we crave stillness, reflection or solitude. By listening closely to these shifts, we can choose activities that match the season we’re in, rather than forcing ourselves into constant output.
To shift gently into cyclical living, you could create a simple practice of checking in each morning: What season am I in today? If you’re feeling spring-like, full of ideas, maybe it’s a good day for brainstorming or starting something new. If it feels like autumn, maybe it’s time to let go of what’s no longer serving you. When it feels like winter, give yourself permission to rest, withdraw and replenish. This isn’t about labelling yourself or predicting how you’ll feel, it’s about leaning into curiosity and self-compassion as your inner weather shifts.
Journal prompts to explore:
Which season best describes how I feel today?
What kinds of activities feel supportive in this “season”?
How can I honour my inner season without judging myself for not being in a different one?
Aligning Daily Life with Natural Rhythms
Cyclical living doesn’t have to mean huge lifestyle changes; often it’s the small, steady adjustments that make the biggest difference. You might notice how daylight changes across the year and gently adapt your routine; going for walks earlier in winter when the sun is low or spending more time outside on summer evenings. Eating more seasonally can also help you feel in tune with the land: fresh berries in summer, hearty soups in autumn and root vegetables in winter. The Almanac: A Seasonal Guide is a great resource to support this. A new one is released for each new year and it includes suggestions for outdoor activities, wildlife and plants that you might see at different times of year, recipes, stories, songs and illustrations.
Technology makes it easy to forget we’re part of a cyclical cycle, but a few simple practices can help you reconnect. Try dimming lights in the evening to mirror the setting sun, or taking a brief pause at lunchtime to step outside, look at the sky and notice the day’s qualities. These micro-moments of alignment can act like anchors, reminding you that even in stressful or uncertain times, you are part of something larger and steadier.
Journaling prompts to explore:
What seasonal foods, scents or activities make me feel most connected to the present time of year?
Where in my daily routine could I add a simple pause to notice nature’s rhythms?
How does my body feel when I allow myself to flow with these rhythms, rather than resisting them?
More tips for connecting to yourself during uncertain times
Start noticing your natural rhythms; daily, weekly, monthly, or seasonally. Keep a journal or tracker to observe how your energy, emotionsand focus shift over time. This awareness can help you better understand your own internal cycle.
Mark the turning points of the year; solstices, equinoxes, and cross-quarter festivals with small rituals or reflections. Light a candle, make a seasonal meal or take a mindful walk in nature to honour the shift. You can find more tips for bringing ritual into your life here.
Remember: you’re not meant to be the same every day. Let go of the pressure to be constantly productive. Offer yourself grace when your energy dips or when you need to rest.
Rest isn’t a reward, it’s essential. Build in regular pauses for quiet, daydreaming, napping, or doing absolutely nothing. Honour your body’s signals without guilt.
Engage in grounding somatic practices like gentle movement, breath work, stretching, or placing your bare feet on the earth. This helps you reconnect when life feels overwhelming. This post shares some reflections on somatics and includes a practice for you to explore.
In our increasingly busy, digital, and indoor lives, it's easy to forget the healing power of simply being outside. Nature therapy, nature connection and nature based healing is underpinned by intentionally engaging with the natural world to support emotional, mental, spiritual and physical well-being. This post shares a load of free resources that can support you to explore your connection with the natural world.
It can also be really useful to remind ourselves that life is not a straight line, it’s a spiral. Growth, healing and creativity all happen in cycles. Trust that even when you’re pausing or retreating, it’s part of the process. Living cyclically isn’t about doing more, it’s about doing things differently. It’s an invitation to return to a more natural, intuitive rhythm that honours both your body and the earth.
