How to live & travel more in tune with the seasons
Masseria Moroseta shot by Salva López
Moroseta Villas, photo credit:
We’re constantly seeking the sun, jetting off to warmer climes during the cooler months – but how can we learn to live more in tune with the seasons, making the most of what every month has to offer?
Seasonal living may be hard to comprehend when you’re living in a cold climate and rain is relentlessly falling from the clouds but living more seasonally is natural for us. Everything around us exists cyclically, such as our menstrual cycles, the phases of the moon and the months themselves. Rather than fighting the natural passing of the year, we can embrace a slower and more intentional pace of life by embracing each season.
Spring and Summer are easy to adore. The warmth of the sun and clear blue skies give way to days spent outdoors; wild swimming, enjoying picnics, tending to gardens, and just enjoying the warmth of the sun on our skin. During the warmest months of the year, we should relish the chance to spend as much time as possible outdoors, throwing open our doors and windows to blur the boundaries between inside and outside. If we travel during these months, it should be to other places currently basking in the sun, lapping up the Vitamin C and enjoying the chance to leap into the sea, lakes and rivers to cool off.
When Autumn arrives with a rush of fiery leaves and cooler air, it is time to prepare for the winter months. We still want to spend time outdoors, enjoying the scenery as the colours change, but we need to wrap up to stay warm. The pleasure of enveloping yourself in a woollen jumper and walking through a forest tinted red, inhaling that distinct scent of autumn leaves is one that can only be enjoyed for a fleeting time each year. There is a magic in the air during the Autumn months, a crackling energy that is heightened by misty mornings and windy days. Trips taken during Autumn should either be a last hoorah of Summer (warm days but cooler nights, temperatures low enough to enjoy long hikes) or a full appreciation of Autumn at its finest. Seek out the best displays of Autumn foliage in dramatic landscapes in destinations such as South Tyrol or the Douro, where the trees are ablaze in colour for a few short weeks.
The Winter months are harder to love but have just as many perks if you look deep. Rather than running away to warmer climes, embrace all there is to enjoy about Winter: nights huddled up in front of a fire, walking in deep snow, the crispness to the air, the beauty of its sunrises and sunsets. If you’re travelling during the Winter months, seek the best bits of the season – ski trips in the Pyrenees, magical snow-covered Nordic landscapes and Alpine mountains beckon. Cast aside memories of floating in azure seas and allow yourself to live in the moment, enjoying the striking beauty that Winter brings.
If you spend each season at home, or in places that showcase it at its finest, seasonal living should come naturally. You may stay up later in Summer, to take advantage of the long days, but fall into bed early on short Winter days, clutching a book and enveloping yourself in blankets. The food you eat should also echo the seasons, choosing local and fresh produce that brings seasonal flavours. Salads are best enjoyed on balmy Summer days, just as hearty stews have their place on Winter evenings.
If you live somewhere that endures long, harsh Winters, it can be tempting to uproots and travel someplace tropical for a welcome burst of sunshine. By all means, take this trip and enjoy a burst of warm weather, but don’t neglect the rest of the season. If it snows, rush outside appropriately dressed to enjoy and admire the frosty landscape. If it’s wet and wild outdoors, bunker down on your favourite armchair and create a cosy ambiance indoors. Throw yourself into the season with open arms.
Once you begin to live your life more seasonally, you’ll find a deeper appreciation for each season, anticipating the arrival of the next while enjoying the present.
