When I first heard of the science of neuroplasticity, the word struck me as a rather odd way to describe the brain. How could the brain be plastic? But as I delved into the sea of astonishing research, I realized that scientists refer to plastic as a malleable substance that can be stretched, flexed, shaped, reshaped, molded, and transformed easily. The more I researched the subject, the more proof I found that we’ve been living under the influence of false scientific beliefs — beliefs about our mental capacity to change, shape, and transform the structure, function, and ultimate potential of our brains.

Autumn is my favorite time of the year, perhaps because I grew up in Connecticut surrounded by the splendor of changing leaves. The season’s crisp winds, golden light, and first days of school instill a fresh, buzzing, alive feeling inside. I feel inspired to complete unfinished projects before the holidays, and I love bringing out cuddly winter sweaters, woolly scarves, and cozy tights. Long walks through crinkly leaves remind me of romping in leaf piles on my way home from school as a young girl.

The magic of the season extends deeper than our wardrobes, though, for during these crucial months, nature prepares for her long winter’s rest and teaches us to do the same. It is time to gather, store, organize, and wind down from summer’s high tempo and the relentless forward momentum that modern living usually demands. When the crisp winds of autumn start to blow, we need to tune in to the signal that it’s time to start slowing down.

Our ancestors adhered to the daily, seasonal, and yearly rhythms of nature by necessity, but modern life overrides these cycles, compromising women’s health and happiness. Millions of women are trying to do it all, all the time, and end up feeling depleted and defeated. In The Way of the Happy Woman: Living the Best Year of Your Life, Sara Avant Stover shows how simple, natural, and refreshingly accessible practices can minimize stress and put us back in sync with our own cycles and those of nature.