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If you came here hoping for PSLs, pumpkin patches and trendy fall fashion, you’re in the wrong place. Don’t get me wrong, those things are perfectly fine if you enjoy them, but fall is a profound and beautiful season that tends to get lost underneath the superficial IG-worthy moments.
Despite the inevitable coming of Midwestern winter, fall is my favorite time of year for many reasons. First and foremost, I love trees. (I even named this newsletter after my favorite tree). Second, fall allows for a lifestyle reset, a “mid-year January” if you will. It’s a time to regroup and start fresh with new schedules and routines. But one of the best things about fall is the opportunity to slow down and embrace a season that is so magical and fleeting.
I’d like to share some of the ways I embrace the season as we transition to cooler temps and shorter days.
Embrace the Season
Nature
Find a way to immerse your senses in nature. I’m a 60-degree girl - It’s my comfort sweet spot for exploring the outdoors. My favorite way to do this is to hike nature trails and surround myself with trees. The air is fresh, the leaves crunch, and the sound of the forest is hypnotizing. It’s a peacefulness that can’t be replicated.
Fall is the perfect time to get outside and peep the changing colors of the leaves. Take a long walk or park yourself on a bench. Whatever your speed, spend time in nature and enjoy this short window of time before the trees are bare and the temps drop.
Ground yourself using all of your senses. What do you see? smell? touch? hear? taste? Fully embrace your surroundings and feel your tension begin to melt away.
Nourish
Fall is abundant with seasonal flavors and belly-warming foods. A fun and tasty way I like to enjoy fall is eating. Soups, stews, chili, roasts, apples, root vegetables, cinnamon, spices…the list goes on. An easy way to know what’s in season is to look for produce that’s on sale at your grocery store. I also like to use Uproot Kitchen’s monthly produce lists as a guide.
These are some of my favorite fall recipes:
Read
Fall is the perfect time to slow down and settle in with a good book. I personally enjoy hard copy books - pages I can feel on my fingertips, flipping through one at a time. Reading analog-style just feels slower to me.
Browse your local library or support bookstores. It’s easy to get lost wandering the shelves and reading book summaries. Find a book that stands out to you and settle into a cozy reading nook. If you’re not sure where to start, check out this list of autumn reads.
Hot Take: The Harry Potter series is the best if you want those fall feels. Back to school vibes and fall holidays, plus magic. I promise, it’s so good. If reading all 7 giant books feels intimidating, just go for the first one Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Check your local library for availability if you’re hesitant to invest.
Get Cozy
Hot drinks, blankets, sweaters, music, a fire, candles - whatever feels warm and fuzzy, do that. Fall is the perfect time to cuddle up and feel warm inside and out.
I’m a serial black coffee drinker, but when fall hits, I crave something a little bit more festive. As a treat, I’ll enjoy a latte with almond milk and a sprinkle of cinnamon, a chai tea, or golden milk. They all have warming spices that are classic fall flavors.
Warming spices to enjoy this season: cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, black pepper, turmeric…yum. (What is “pumpkin” spice anyway? Is there actual pumpkin in it?)
Another way I like to make everyday moments cozier is listening to music. Do you ever feel like certain days are *specific musical artist or song* days? i.e. Sometimes fall days feel like Chris Stapleton, other times Ray Lamontagne. I can’t really explain it, but you know what I mean, right? Acoustic guitar is definitely a musical element that feels very fall to me. I’ve been listening to this Autumn Acoustic playlist on Spotify as a background soundtrack to my life lately.
I also like to light a candle or a bonfire and sit for a while. The warming glow of a flame can feel comforting and almost meditative. It can also mark the beginning of a moment of rest.
An excerpt from one of my favorite books, Sabbath: Finding Rest, Renewal, and Delight in Our Busy Lives, describes it beautifully:
“…Sabbath time begins with the lighting of candles. Those who celebrate Sabbath find that in this moment, the stopping truly begins. They take a few breaths, allow the mind to quiet, and the quality of the day begins to shift. Irene says she can feel the tension leave her body as the wick takes the flame. Kathy says she often weeps, so great in her relief that the time for rest has come. This is the beginning of sacred time.”
Restore
After the hustle and bustle of summer, I like to take time to get back on a regular schedule of taking care of myself - moving my body, eating nourishing meals, time outside, and getting more sleep. Most importantly, building time in my schedule to slow down and rest.
Resting could look like putting my feet up on the couch, sitting outside on my covered porch, soaking in a warm bath, or lying down on my bed to meditate. Whatever it looks like for you, make it a priority and schedule it into your days. It’s easy to just do one more thing when you have a few extra minutes to spare. Listen to your body and your energy levels and lean in. Return to yourself.
Reflect
Fall is a great time to focus inward and reflect. You won’t be surprised to hear me say that journaling is my favorite tool for reflecting. Take some time to think about where you’ve been, how you’re feeling today, and where you’d like to be going forward.
Journal Prompts:
Look back at your intentions that you set at the beginning of the year. What have you accomplished? Take a moment to celebrate the moments leading up to today.
How are you feeling now? What is your energy level? What are some ways you can you nurture yourself?
What would you like to do before the year ends? Places to visit, people to see, things to try.
Create a fall wish list. How can I embrace this season and get the most out of it? Schedule what means the most to you on your calendar.
How do you transition from summer to fall? What are some practices that help you to embrace the season. Share your favorites in the comments section below.
My Favorites
I’m late to the game on this one, but I’m reading Tiny Beautiful Things by Cheryl Strayed. Great nuggets of life advice in this one.
This was a big splurge, but I had to try these Cozy Earth sheets. They’re soft like a cloud. Hint: If you listen to The Mel Robbins podcast, you’ll find a discount code in there.
I just ordered this Portland Leather Tote in nutmeg. Perfect for toting my computer to the coffee shop.
Very much enjoying my new cookbook The Cook’s Book by Bri McKoy.
Excited for my new Olive and June Mani System with new fall colors. Hint: You can find a discount code if you listen to The Lazy Genius Podcast.
The vibe of this song:
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- Diana xo
Fall, we’re ready for you & all your beauty! Xo
I love catching the sight of a single leaf falling from a tree and keeping eyes on it until it hits the ground. That moment of free fall in that leaf, I can almost feel it.