Let's Talk About Balance
Let’s talk about balance. What is balance? How do we achieve it? How do we fine-tune it in the fall through early winter season?
Tuesday (9/22/26) was the equinox, signaling the start of fall. The equinox is when there is equal time in daylight and nighttime. We get one in the fall and one in the spring. To me, the equinox is a gift from the universe, reminding us about the importance of balance.
Balance is, in my experience, a lifelong quest. We have moments of joy and times of sorrow or pain. We need to take chances to grow and move forward, but sometimes we go a little too far and learn to back off and find the middle ground. Boundaries are about balance. Too few and life will trample you; too many, and you may miss out on a lot of life’s sweet gifts. It applies to food, work, exercise, relationships, travel, pretty much anything.
Nature strives for balance too. Here’s the thing, though: the only constant in life is change. From molecular processes to the spinning of the planets around the sun and beyond, things are always changing. To truly be in balance, or in homeostasis, everything would stop. Nature relies on change to exist. And in being part of nature, so do we.
From that perspective, seeking balance is not about achieving a desired end state so much as learning to shift and flow with everything around us in a way that allows us to thrive. What keeps you feeling balanced today might not apply next month, because the circumstances are always shifting a little. I’d call it more of a balanced flow state than finding perfect life balance.
A surfer, for example, doesn’t just stand up on their surfboard. They work with the waves, tides, weather, their own paddle power, and physical balance to ride a wave. On the next wave, they’ll use the same basic skills and aspects, but it will be slightly different because it’s a different wave. We can absolutely apply this concept to achieving our own balanced flow state
So what does this have to do with fall?
From late September through early winter (in the Northern Hemisphere), the air becomes cooler, drier, and more mobile, with wind and lightness dominating. It’s time for sweaters and pumpkin spice lattes, but also a new influx of colds and holiday stress. This can be invigorating but also depleting if not balanced.
In Ayurveda, fall’s qualities are dry, light, cool, rough, subtle, mobile, and clear, all of which align with Vata dosha, which is composed of air and ether. When the environment’s Vata qualities increase, they can aggravate Vata in the body (we all have some Vata in us), leading to dryness, restlessness, digestive issues, anxiety, or disrupted sleep
In our modern lives, we often move against the rhythm of the seasons.
As fall and winter arrive, we ramp up — back to school, end-of-quarter deadlines, holiday parties, travel. While nature whispers, “slow down and prepare for hibernation,” modern society shouts, “hold my beer!” Technology and information come at us faster than ever, leaving our nervous systems spinning. Talk about unbalancing.
The equinox and the start of fall remind us that it might be time to pause — to savor the moment, to breathe, and to gracefully decline a few of those holiday festivities.
So what can we do to bring ourselves back to center, back to balance, regardless of what’s going on around us?
Seasonal Balancing Ideas from Fall to early Winter
Anchor through rhythm and ritual
As daylight shortens, your body naturally craves predictability. Keep a steady rhythm — wake, eat, move, and rest at similar times. Ayurveda calls this Dinacharya, the daily routine that stabilizes Vata’s airy energy.
Morning: gentle movement (yoga, walking, breathwork) before screens.
Midday: warm, grounding meals — think soups, roasted roots, and spices like ginger or cinnamon.
Evening: dim lights, warm tea, journaling, and early sleep.
Nourish warmth and moisture
Cold, dry air can unbalance both body and mind.
Favor cooked, oily, and spiced foods over raw salads.
Hydrate with warm water or herbal infusions.
Use sesame or almond oil for self-massage (Abhyanga) to calm the nervous system.
Protect your energy boundaries
Fall’s social rush and winter’s introspection can pull you in opposite directions. Choose fewer, more meaningful engagements. Let solitude be restorative, not isolating.
Reflect and release
This season invites reflection — what habits, projects, or emotions are ready to be composted? Journaling or creative expression helps metabolize the year’s experiences.
Cultivate inner light
As sunlight fades, amplify your inner radiance through joy and creativity — music, laughter, candlelight dinners, or mindful movement.
General Tips for finding a balanced flow state
Harness your go-to feel-good activities
Journal prompts:
What do you like to do for fun and leisure? When you feel “off”, what helps you feel better? I mean truly better, not a quick fix like a stiff margarita. You’re in the zone. You might lose track of time. You feel whole and satisfied after. Who is there with you, if anyone? Where are you? What are you doing?
For me, it’s playing guitar and singing, being in nature, quality time with loved ones, creating new recipes, being on my yoga mat, a warm bath, cleaning a messy room in my house, reading a good book
Similarly, when do you feel your most productive and successful in your work life?
Knowing what “works” for you can give you some peace when you feel disrupted. I recommend coming up with some quick ones you can access when you're time-crunched (ex., I have time to play one song on guitar on a break between meetings)
The longer activities are great to use as rewards. Something to look forward to. They can also remind us to intentionally pencil in some “fun time” into our calendars.
Stay grounded through daily habits
Daily rituals (Dinacharya) teach us that a little of the good stuff every day helps us not only find our center in the moment; its effects are also cumulative. Leaving us with a full cup ready for the busy and stressful moments.
I’m not suggesting that you overhaul your daily schedule with a bunch of new healthy habits. You’ll likely fail to keep them up and stress yourself out tremendously trying. (Trust me, I’ve tried. It’s not effective long term.) Plus, you probably already do some great things for yourself. Let’s build on that.
Journal prompts:
Think of your typical day. Reflect on the time from when you first awaken to 2 - 3 hours later. What are you doing? How do you feel? Alert? Sleepy? Calm? Rushed? Repeat the same for the final 2 - 3 hours of your day before bed. What actions are you taking, and how do you feel as you head towards rest? Exhausted? Amped? Cozy? Stiff? (energy level, emotions, actions)
What do you wish you had more (or any) time for? What do you wish you spent less time doing?
Revisit your typical day. What is one thing you can add, shift, or eliminate in your morning and/or your evening dinacharya to cultivate a little more balance in your life?
Need some ideas on things to add?
Morning:
warm glass of lemon water
gratitude list or journaling
exercise or stretching
meditation
drink your coffee in the morning sun
prioritize your day
Evening
more stretching or gentle yoga practice
spend focused time with family
read or write
listen to soothing, calming music or sound
turn the tech off a few hours before sleep
Breathe your way back to center
Our breath is one of our greatest tools in the toolbox. A few that help us find balance are the box breath and alternative nostril breathing. And in a pinch, a few big belly breaths in with a slow, open exhale can reset you in the moment.
Box Breath
The Navy SEALs use this one as part of their training. Imagine your breath as a box. Pick a number, say 4. Count to 4 as you inhale. Hold your breath for 4 counts. Exhale for 4. Hold your breath out for 4. Pick a number that slows your rate of breathing down but isn’t challenging.
Alternate nostril breathing
This one works to balance the left and right hemispheres of the brain. Cover your right nostril with your thumb and inhale through your left nostril. Switch and place your ring finger on your left nostril. Exhale through the right nostril. Inhale right, switch your fingers, and exhale left. Inhale left, switch again, and repeat.
Meditate to regulate
Meditation takes us out of our active “monkey mind” and brings us back to our center. It also stimulates different areas of our brain and can improve our mood, sleep, blood pressure, cognitive function, and so much more.
Which kind? The one that works for you and that you’ll stick with. This is also cumulative, so a little every day helps you get into balance flow and stay there with reserves for those unsettling life moments.
There are tons of great apps dedicated to meditation. YouTube and music apps also have guided meditations galore. Many yoga practices will also combine meditation (even sweet savasana counts).
Tips: try a few types and see what feels like you might stick with it. Try it at least 3 times to really get a feel for how it works
Remember it’s a practice. Some days it might feel easy and blissful. Other times, annoying and boring. Luckily, even those days are helping build you up collectively.
Feed your Balance
We are what we eat, thanks to our gut microbiome. You don’t have to be a saint, but food really does affect things like mood and energy.
Tips: (note: these are general guidelines. Work with a dr/nutritionist for your specific needs)
Balance your plate. Try to fill ½ the plate with produce and add some protein and fiber.
Try to eat seasonal produce when you can. It’s better for your gut, and that food is usually on sale.
Practice mindful eating. Stay off the phone when you eat. Take your time. Enjoy the act of eating and the senses you’re experiencing. Stop when you’re about 75% full
80/20 rule. Play the long game. What you eat is also cumulative. Aim for 80% stuff you know helps you feel great. 20% eat fun stuff. Joy is part of balance and longevity too.
Spices for general balance according to Ayurveda:
Turmeric -anti-inflammatory, supports digestion; always with black pepper and fat
Cumin – digestion, bloating
Coriander – gentle digestion, antimicrobial, and cooling
Fennel – bloating and gas, cooling
Cardamom – digestion, breath
Black pepper – stimulates agni, enhances turmeric absorption
Move into a balanced flow state
Movement is key to longevity, health, and just feeling good. What type of movement might shift with your age, health, energy level, interests, time, or the seasons?
Tips:
The moment you enjoy is the one you’ll stick with. Start there.
It’s cumulative. 10 minutes every day is better than 90 minutes once a week.
Movement is a great activity to combine with another, like riding bikes with friends and family, or turning a meeting into a walking meeting around the office park.
Meet yourself where you’re at. If your mobility is limited by injury, time, or perhaps cost, brainstorm an alternative. After bunion surgery, my movement was chair yoga and sit-ups. It wasn’t my favorite, but it got me through and kept the restlessness at bay.
More is not always better. Feeling exhausted, sick, or even perimenopausal can lead our workouts to do more harm than good. Sometimes movement looks like gentle stretching. We’re talking about balance today, right? Work with a dr or coach if you’re not sure what you need for your workouts.
Journal prompts:
What are your favorite ways to move? Do you like moving alone? With others? As part of a team? Outside? Inside?
If you’re not sure, it's a perfect opportunity to try something new. Who knows, it could be your new favorite thing!
Review your consumption
Journal Prompts:
What are you taking in every day? Food, drink, but also other things like tech, news, social media. Are you constantly surrounded by loud outside stimuli? Do you notice how different things make you feel? What helps you feel lifted up? Or drained? Angry?
I have to be very careful about my news consumption habits. I notice a tremendous difference in my mood and general sense of wellness and happiness when I stay away from news and doomscrolling.
Do I still do it? Heck yes, but I’m aware of how it sours my world, so I’m consciously practicing being mindful of how much time I spend and taking breaks when I start to go to the dark place mentally.
NOTE: Consumption habits can be tremendously challenging to break. I’m not going to pretend to fix it in a blog post. I invite you to do this exercise in the spirit of creating awareness, with the acknowledgment that some things will be easier than others to shift. That’s ok. If you notice some judgy thoughts coming up regarding your behavior. I invite you to acknowledge them. Remember that you adopted these habits because at some point in your life, they helped you, so you kept at it. They might not serve you anymore. That’s ok and very human.
What has helped me and my clients is threefold. One, start small and pick something that feels easier for you to shift. Two, especially for the big ones, you don’t have to go it alone. Doctors, coaches, support groups, medicine, friends, education all might be part of your journey to shift. Three, it’s a process, and it takes time. Some habits shift in a month; others are our life’s work. I’ve spent decades working with my own - body dysmorphia, substance addiction, doom scrolling. Give yourself a little grace; seek help where you can, trust the process.
I hope something in my novel here brings you a little closer to finding your balanced flow state. I’d love to hear your thoughts too. What do you love to do to find your balance and flow? What ideas from this post resonate with you? Share in the comments or drop me a message. Happy flow into fall, friends.
Ways to deepen your Fall Balance Flow:
If you’re feeling that tug toward seeking your balanced flow state — follow it. Fall is the perfect time to take yourself back to the School of Longevity. Join me for any or all of the following fall workshops and classes.
You can ground into a new routine with:
Gather & Ground Fall Wellness Retreat in Joshua Tree — a full-body reset blending movement, journaling, cooking, and intention-setting
Back to You Cookalong - Scrumptious Mushroom Bok Choy Stir Fry & Irresistible Dessert Energy Balls. A seasonal cooking class for busy humans who don't have time to cook but want to eat well — learn how to eat with the season and support your biology - Online - Sunday, September 20, at 5 pm Pacific
Weekly Yoga Online - Gentle, all levels. A new weekly ritual — created by you, supported by the season
Fall is the season of gathering, preparing, and returning to yourself. Let’s step into it together.
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