15 Self-Care Tips for Autumn
Today I will share 15 self-care tips and activities for autumn. If you’ve never prioritized self-care in your daily life, it’s time to create your self-care routine.
We all need self-care at any time of the year. Since autumn is the season of transition, incorporating seasonal self-care activities into the fall season helps to keep ourselves physically and mentally healthy.
The leaves are falling, the air is crisp and cool. Summer is over. Heading into the autumn months, the days are getting shorter and darker.
With busier schedules, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and the Christmas season are fast approaching. This is often the time of the year you might find yourself feeling a little bit more anxious, fatigued, less energetic, or less motivated.
Work, family, chores, and commitments require our time. If you put self-care as your lowest priority, you can easily get burnout.
The best way to combat these feelings is by taking some time out for yourself. Engaging in self-care activities not only improves your physical and mental health but also enhances your emotional health and well-being.
If you think prioritizing yourself is selfish, you need to change your mindset.
When you’re not looking after your health to stay healthy, you cannot take care of others. Don’t put yourself last.
Self-care requires us to check in with ourselves to get to know our physical and emotional needs.
Practicing daily self-care is an important part of life. It can help us feel more fulfilled, grounded, and balanced in the face of change.
Since there are various forms of self-care practice and everyone is different, create a self-care routine that you’ll love and follow.
In this article, we will explore some fall self-care ideas that you can use to get through the season of change with a sense of ease and peace. Let’s get started!
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15 Fall Self-Care Tips and Ideas to Help You Get Through the Season of Change
1// Drink warm water in the morning.
Stay healthy and hydrated in the dry season by drinking a glass of warm water first thing in the morning.
2// Layer clothes for fall.
Cool, crisp fall air is here. Stay warm, cozy, and stylish this fall by layering your outfit with your favorite cardigan, coziest jacket, scarf, and boots.
3// Get your annual health check-ups.
Talk to your healthcare provider about the best time for any tests or exams which you may need. Check if you need any vitamins or supplements as well.
Get your flu vaccine to protect yourself and your family. Flu spreads easily during the peak seasons between fall and winter.
Taking care of your physical health is also good for your mental well-being. Be sure to have enough sleep and eat a balanced diet.
4// Prioritize your time and energy for what matters.
Most of us have busy schedules. It may be difficult to do everything on your list. Prioritizing tasks and focusing on things that align with your goals and values is important.
Declutter your schedule by saying no to the things you don’t really enjoy or don’t have time or energy to participate in.
5// Have a breath of fresh air.
Connecting with nature and breathing in fresh air help clear our minds, increase happiness, boost energy, and reduce stress.
Spending time outside can improve our mental health and physical well-being. Getting outdoors in autumn is fun and here are some simple activities you may want to add to your self-care routine:
- Go for a walk around your neighborhood.
- Sit under the sun in your yard, patio, or balcony to enjoy the fall foliage.
- Go for a hike with your friends or family.
- Go for a run.
- Outdoor sports. e.g. football, tennis, cycling, outdoor yoga, etc.
6// Have some fun fall activities.
Make the most of the autumn season by adding these fun activities to your fall bucket list. Enjoy the self-care activities with your friends, family, or by yourself. They all help to boost your mood and lift your spirit:
- Pick a basket of apples at a local orchard.
- Visit a pumpkin patch, pick your own pumpkins and take a wagon ride.
- Enjoy getting lost in a corn maze.
- Visit a petting zoo.
- Go to local farmers’ markets and stock up on some farm fresh produce, honey, baked goods, and more.
- Crave pumpkins with your kids.
- Decorate your home for fall.
- Host a spooky movie party.
7// Enjoy the fall fruits and vegetables, and your favorite fall foods and drinks.
- Using in-season produce is much cheaper and full of flavor. e.g. apples, and all kinds of squashes, etc.
- Cuddle up with a cozy blanket and enjoy yourself with a hot drink like a homemade apple cider, pumpkin spice hot chocolate, thick and creamy hot vanilla, maple latte, etc.
- Baking is considered one of the best forms of self-care. Bake pumpkin bread, apple pie, or anything you love.
- Cook yourself a fall-themed soup that satisfies your taste buds.
8// Light fall-scented candles.
Scents can have positive effects on mood and create feelings of relaxation. Lighting a fall-scented candle creates a calming and relaxing atmosphere to make the room feel cozier. I love lighting this kind of sustainable and environmentally friendly candle during my morning stretches.
9// Plan a spa day.
The temperature change can make your skin dry. Pamper yourself with a self-care spa session at home. It doesn’t have to be complicated.
You can create a tranquil spa atmosphere at home. All you need is to do some preparation and set aside time for this self-care spa night. Set up your space to maximize comfort and here are the ideas:
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- Make your room smell amazing by lighting your favorite scented candles or using an essential oils diffuser.
- Have a playlist of relaxing spa music.
- Put your comfy bathrobe and soft slippers on.
- Use soft towels and washcloths.
- Make yourself refreshing spa day drinks and snacks. e.g. sparkling juice, champagne, herbal tea, warm almond milk, tea cookies, etc.
- Soak in a bath.
- Do dry brushing.
- Put skincare masks as you like. e.g. face mask, eye mask, lip mask, etc.
Take good care of yourself and relax your mind and body by adding skincare to your self-care rituals.
10// Practice mindfulness.
Mindfulness improves physical and mental well-being. Being mindful help remind us to be present, appreciating the simple pleasure and accepting our thoughts and feelings in the present moment without judgment.
Many of us get bombarded with a large number of marketing messages day in and day out, especially this time of the year before the holidays.
There are many ways to practice mindfulness. Unplugging a day from social media is a great way to rest and recharge for the week ahead of you. It also helps to increase your productivity and creativity.
Another mindfulness exercise is meditation. Breath meditation can help alleviate stress by focusing your attention on the breath. It allows you to enjoy the quiet moment, relax and get back into alignment with what matters most.
11// Do things you enjoy every day.
Allow yourself to do the things you enjoy, whatever small things matter. e.g. reading a good book, taking a nap, learning a new skill, journaling, watching a 10-minute funny youtube video, or even a few minutes of stretching exercises.
Make time for what you love, even just a few minutes daily with these simple self-care activities can help you find inner peace, boost your mood, and bring joy and happiness.
12// Stay socially connected.
Engaging in self-care activities with your family, best friend, or a group of close friends nurtures relationships.
Spending time to connect with family and friends is important to your mental health. Here are some social self-care activities:
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- Call or text your loved ones.
- Date night with your partner.
- Cook a meal together.
- Visit a local coffee shop for a fall-flavored coffee and enjoy an uplifting moment.
- A board game night.
- Take fitness classes.
- Watch local sports games.
- Go for a walk and talk.
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13// Declutter your home.
Clutter can cause emotional stress, negatively impacting our mental and physical health.
Using decluttering as a form of self-care can help reduce stress, promote focus, increase productivity, and bring in positive energy.
Adding decluttering to a self-care routine is a great way to boost mental well-being and peace of mind.
While we stay indoors more in the colder months, we mostly tend to do things we enjoy at home.
Letting go of the excess not only can make more space in our home and make it easier to find things but also reduce the amount of time we need to spend on cleaning.
A clutter-free home can give you a sense of peace and tranquility — two things that are vitally important for overall well-being.
14// Keep a journal.
Journal writing is a powerful tool for self-care. It can be effective in reducing your stress level because it allows you to be more aware of your emotions, thoughts, and feelings.
Journaling is also a great way to give yourself clarity of mind. It will help you to achieve your goals.
As journaling requires you to check in with yourself, it makes you get to know yourself better.
Start using your journal for self-discovery and reflection if you never tried it before. It can help build up a strong foundation for resilience in tough times.
Related post:
The Most Powerful Way to Clear the Mental Clutter
15// Write a gratitude list.
There’s no better time to start a gratitude list than in autumn. While many festive occasions are coming up, it’s time to be grateful for all the good things in life.
Spend a few minutes each morning or before bedtime, by writing down 3 things or people you’re thankful for. This regular gratitude practice helps you focus on the positives and stay upbeat and optimistic in challenging times.
Gratitude journaling has been shown to promote joy, improve moods, and boost energy levels. It is good for mental health.
If you haven’t started incorporating gratitude practice in your self-care yet, why not give it a try this fall season? You won’t regret it!
I’ve got a Weekly Gratitude Journal Printable PDF for you. Just fill in the form, download it, print it out, and start using it. It’ll change your life!
Final thoughts:
I hope these fall self-care ideas and activities will inspire you to tackle the change of the seasons and hectic times of the year.
Practicing self-care decreases the risk of burnout. Give yourself permission for self-care. Whether taking a day of pampering or simply taking 10 minutes of self-care each day. It’s that time of the year to slow down and boost your overall well-being.
Crave out some time for yourself and make time to nurture yourself. Create a self-care plan in your daily routine and do something you enjoy.
What are your favorite self-care activities for the fall season? Let me know in the comments.
