25 Autumn Inspired Self-Care Possibilities

Autumn has always been one of my favorite seasons. With the crisp scents and bright colors who wouldn’t fall in love? But the changing season delivers more than just those cooler temps, scarlet hues and shorter days. It inspires a bounty of my favorite traditions in self care.

Indulging in the spell of the season, a culmination of color blankets the landscape inviting us to participate. With outdoor fires, hearty dishes and the cozy garments to keep us warm, there are plenty of ways to enhance our romance with fall.

According to Chinese Medicine, autumn is a worthy time to concentrate on the internal, nurturing of our body and mind by becoming more reflective. Embracing a season of mindfulness, releasing the negative burdens we are holding onto and allowing space for new experiences, all, which can bolster growth and generate gratitude, as we breathe into the season.

Forging a mindful season includes indulging our senses, tending to our souls’ cravings and softening into the season upon us. While autumn’s appearance is often brief, I relish the space it provides while keenly aware of winter’s approaching gaze.

Each year in anticipation of fall I find myself befallen to many of my own seasonal habits. And on the days when I can savor them I dutifully follow this list …

1. Awake before everyone and enjoy the peace-filled house in between the furnace creaks
2. Drink a warm glass of lemon water to feel refreshed
3. Journal a list of aspirations for the season
   • Hay rides
   • Campfires
   • Dates with the outdoors
   • Wine tasting
   • Races
4. Sit outdoors to capture the first glimpse of morning
5. Fuzzy slippers (a must)
6. Cozy blankets rolled nearby in a basket
7. A daily dose of SAVOR by Shauna Niequist
8. Pumpkin spice coffee at the ready
9. Fireplace lit for warmth and ambiance
10. Carmel scented candles illuminating my space
11. Pumpkin spice pedicures with girlfriends
12. Seasonal scarves (you can’t have too many)
13. Fall foliage tours to drink in the season
14. Apple picking at a local farm
15. Gatherings that include a bonfire (and marshmallows of course)
16. Pumpkin Spice lattes
17. Pay it forward’s
18. Camping out
19. Indulging with warm Chai tea
20. Brisk walks in the woods
21. Crock pot meals
22. Warm apple cider
23. Wine tastings that compliment the season
24. Outdoor photo shoots
25. Participating in local 5k races (The great pumpkin and turkey trot)

And just like summer, fall too will slip away quickly into winter’s grasp. But before surrendering to its departure, I will discover delight in the moments that fall collects, raking them into lists and creating memories like the gathering leaves we accumulate, allowing them to linger into the cold of winter while I reminisce their warmth.

What are your fall favorites? Let us know in the comments below!

“Life is about unraveling, a continuous cycle of activity until you find yourself whole.” Tina Zarlenga loves to tell the stories life creates, those things that connect us. You can discover more of her inspirational musings about love, life, and loss on her beautiful website www.unravelingmyheartthewriteway.com.