Fall Self-Care Ideas
“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall”
F. Scott Fitzgerald
Hello and happy halfway through September, friends! Have you heard that September is the new January?! For me, there is a certain “fall buzz” that fills the air once schools start back and the air becomes a little less…humid. I notice my energy starts to shift and that I feel a new excitement and motivation towards my personal and professional goals once the seasons begin to change.
September feels like a new start for me and I typically try to rework my routines/self-care outlets a bit to match the new energy that I feel. That might mean adding in journaling in the morning while I drink coffee with my animals outside, making time for an extra walk during the day with cooler weather, or creating a “fall bucket list” and referring to this weekly for extra inspiration. I have found that making these adjustments gives me a sense of newness and excitement that makes my daily routines extra rejuvenating.
If you are looking to spruce up your self-care routines this fall, join me in trying at least one thing off of the list below to try out for the rest of this month:
Declutter an area of your home. Transitioning to the fall/winter seasons might mean more time spent at home depending on where you live. Pick a room or area of your home (closet, desk, communal mail pile, kitchen cabinet) and organize it the way you want to for the new seasons ahead!
Enjoy nature as the seasons change. Go for a walk outside even if it’s just for a few minutes. Take time to mindfully notice your surroundings when you step outside-what do you see, hear, and smell?
Add something new to an established routine. Do you already have a solid morning or evening routine? Try adding stretching, journaling, or repeating positive affirmations in the morning or before bedtime and see how it impacts your mood.
Try a “power hour.” List out the tasks that have been weighing you down and make a plan to get them done. Set your timer and give yourself an hour to knock out a few of these tasks. Do this once a week until your list is finished!
Replace old items. Get rid of old items and replace them with new ones (think sponges, tooth brushes, makeup brushes, etc.)
Track your mood & behaviors daily for a week. Try to look for patterns & reflect on what made some days “good” versus “bad”-what did you do differently on these days?
Declutter your social accounts. Spend 15-20 minutes unfollowing or muting accounts on social media that don’t make you feel good. Next, unsubscribe from email lists that you no longer wish to be a part of.
Make your favorite fall recipe! Try a new recipe using a seasonal vegetable like butternush or acorn squash, or make your favorite warm drink like cider or a flavored coffee drink!
Write down your thoughts. What do you want this season to look like? Are there certain challenges you face as the seasons change? How do you want to spend your time over the next few months? Give yourself freedom to write down whatever feels important to you in the present moment!
Be kind to yourself. For some people, the fall is an exciting time filled with nostalgic memories and fun moments. For other people, the fall means something different and can be daunting to move through as the seasons change and winter awaits. Whatever this season means to you, be kind to yourself as you adjust and move through a new season of life.
I hope that this list gives you some good starting points on your self-care routines or helps to supplement your routines that are already established. If you try one of these ideas, tag me on Instagram @vbcounselingcollective and let me know how it went!
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Thanks for being here and for your support,
Ragan
