5 Self Care Activities to Practice During the Fall Season

Autumn, we’re almost there. Summer is ending. My favorite season is coming. With the weather cooling down, it’s time for pumpkin drinks, warm blankets, cold air, and rustling leaves. It makes my soul happy but also makes me reflect on my life and pushes me to take time for myself to recharge before the busy holiday season.

Fall is a perfect time to look deep within ourselves and ask “What do I need?” Asking yourself this question every day is a way of practicing self-care. What does self-care during fall look like for you? Is it cozying up on the couch with a good book and a cup of hot spiced coffee? Or is it taking a walk in nature and enjoying the beautiful fall foliage? Focus on what you and your body need to be at peace this season.

Below is my list of 5 self-care activities you can do this autumn to make sure you devote time to your physical, emotional, and mental health.

GO ON A SCENIC DRIVE

Take advantage of the beautiful weather this time of year and allow yourself to spend some time outside. You can take a simple walk around your neighborhood, find a hiking trail nearby, or go on a scenic drive. Do whatever activity speaks to you and take that time to think and meditate on the changing seasons and the change happening in your life. Breathe in the fresh air, move your body, take in the sights, and let the fall foliage inspire your spirit.

LET GO

The fall season reminds us of how beautiful it can be to let go of things that no longer serve us. It is time to let go of whatever we are holding on to that prevents us from being at peace and experiencing happiness. An easy way to do this is to write down a list of emotions, people, or physical boundaries that are holding you back. If you want a more symbolic way of releasing the entities that no longer serve you, burn your list with a candle flame or throw it into a lit fire. The fire serves as a symbol for relinquishing whatever it is you want to let go of. Doing this has become a way of releasing pain, grudges, regrets, or suffering, and allows us to focus on what is truly important to us.

GET COZY

You know that I love to get cozy, and my home is covered in soft blankets and pillows all year long. But Fall is the ultimate time of year to embrace comfort and coziness. Bring out the big blankets, fuzzy socks, oversized sweaters, and anything else that’ll make you feel wrapped in a hug. Light some candles, dim the lights and get comfortable. Read a book, watch a film, take a nap, or stare out the window while watching the leaves change colors. Getting cozy is all about relaxing and allowing yourself the decompress!

INCREASE YOUR GRATITUDE

A daily habit that you can bring into your life is speaking out loud or writing down what you are grateful for. Fall is a season of gratitude and being thankful, that’s why give thanks for everything that we have at Thanksgiving! An easy way for you to practice being appreciative of this season is to have a gratitude journal or notes on your phone or computer. Every night before bed, I write down 5 things that I am grateful for that day in my notebook. This helps me to appreciate the good in my life and be thankful for the people in my life, my health, and for all that I have.

COOK SOMETHING

Fall is a time for harvest and cooking. This means that your home and stomachs will be filled with delicious bread, soups, cookies, and pies! The recipes don’t have to be hard to create, you can buy a can of soup, box cake mix, or frozen cookie dough if that is your cooking style. My favorite dish to cook during Autumn is soup! You can check out my chicken pot pie soup recipe in a blog post that I wrote last year. Soups have a way of making you feel all warm and cozy inside, and they can be so flavorful! I also love baking bread, pumpkin pie, and snicker doodle cookies during this time of year.