Autumn: Embrace it or Fight it?

For some, autumn is a welcome change. It can bring a sense of comfort, colour and renewal - crisp mornings, changing leaves, familiar routines, cosy evenings, and an opportunity to slow down, reset and enjoy the small pleasures of the season.

For others, the changing season can bring darker days, lower energy, disrupted routines, feelings of loss or anxiety about the months ahead. Seasonal change can affect us in different ways, influencing our mood, motivation, sleep, physical health, family life and the way we experience work. It may also affect how connected, hopeful or resilient we feel from one day to the next.

Autumn can be a time of reflection and transition. It may offer opportunities to notice what matters, reconnect with people and places that support us, appreciate small moments of joy, or prepare for the months ahead with greater care for ourselves and others. It can also bring memories, traditions and expectations that shape how this time of year feels.

This Schwartz Round will provide a safe, confidential and reflective space to explore the emotional impact of autumn and seasonal change. Through shared stories and reflections, we will consider the different ways this time of year can affect us - both positively and more challengingly - at work and at home.

The Round is not about finding solutions or giving advice. It is an opportunity to pause, listen and reflect together on the human side of working in health, care and community settings.

You do not need to prepare anything or share your own experiences. You are welcome to simply listen, reflect and take from the conversation what feels meaningful to you.

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