Wednesday Wellness: 7 Fall Self-Care Ideas

Good morning and happy Fall my friends. I know that a lot of people LOVE summer, I am not one of them. I like the sun, warm(not hot and humid) weather after a long winter, and I like to walk in the sand and frolic in the ocean. But…Fall is my season. I love everything about it; the cool crisp mornings, the leaves crunching under my feet as I take my morning walk, daylight savings, cosy evenings by the glow of  candle light,  the smell of the first wood fire, pots of soups and stews simmering on the stove and of course all things pumpkin!

As much as I love Fall it also signals the start of the “most wonderful” and stressful time of the year, in the blink of an eye we will be knee deep in wrapping paper and flour preparing for special events with family and friends. Fall self-care is all about getting cosy and nesting.

Life is stressful, that’s a fact and these past 20 months have been even more stressful, if we do not take the time to alleviate it can make us sick, feel overwhelmed or suffer from anxiety. I am all about taking time to nurture themselves. and doing little things for themselves every day of the year, even if it is only taking 30 minutes to be alone to take a walk or read a chapter of a book or to just be.

Why is Self-Care Important

If we don’t take care of ourselves and put ourselves first we won’t have the energy or good health to care for others. Women are traditionally the care givers and nurtures in the family and they often expend all of their energy on others, so much so that they have nothing left for themselves. That is where self-care comes in, for some self-care means taking a little time to de-stress and be alone, for others it is spending time with friends out and about, for others is might be slowing down and getting some rest, it all depends upon the person and what they need.

Here are 7 Self-Care Ideas to Practice This Fall

1. Find a new routine

Embrace the changing weather and day-light savings. Go to bed earlier and get up a little earlier. I have found myself turning in at least an hour before I normally do and I take the time to wind down and read. In the morning I’ve been getting up earlier and enjoying the peace and solitude before the neighborhood comes alive with the hum of mowers, cars, dogs and more. On the weekends sleep in if you have nothing planned or take a nap on a lazy Sunday.

2. Have some Fall Fun!

Make a bucket list or just a list of fall activities that you like and get out there and do them with friends, family or even by yourself.

Here are a few examples;

• Go leaf peeping
• Host a chili cook-off
• Visit the pumpkin farm
• Go apple picking and then come home and make caramel apples
• If you need a few more suggestions here are 13 Fall Activities to Enjoy.

3. Savor a Warm Beverage

Over 20 years ago I was watching Oprah and she was sharing stories about a recent  birthday celebration, she mentioned that she received a beautiful cup and saucer from friend John Travolta and with it was a note that said, “slow down and savor, take the time to enjoy the little things”(I am paraphrasing). She said from that day she would stop, take out that cup and saucer and savor a cup of tea. I am a hot chocolate girl myself and I have a whole collection of special cups, saucers and chocolate pots and every day I take the time to make a pot of hot chocolate and then I sit down with a book and I enjoy 15 minutes to myself. I love the everyday ritual of making the chocolate. The cups take me back to trips or remind me of the people who gave them to me and the chocolate pots do the same. Why not take 15 minutes to yourself to make a post of coffee or tea or chocolate and get out your special mug and enjoy the scent of the brew, the flavor, and the warmth as you cradle the cup between your hands.

4. Ask for help.

Fall is the start of a busy couple of months with lots of holidays and family parties and activities. Between Halloween costumes, parties and trick or treat then on to Thanksgiving meal preparations and of course decorating for Christmas inside and out, baking, attending cookie exchanges, making care packages and buying, making and wrapping all of the gifts in addition to planning, hosting and attending a holiday parties, writing out the family Christmas cards and every day life for those 3 months it can be, correction, it is exhausting. You should not and cannot do it all, and goes what? That is ok. Let someone else in the family make the yeast rolls for Thanksgiving or bake the pies or write the cards or mail the packages.

5. Keep a Gratitude Journal

In life we often focus on all that is going wrong in our lives(not hard to do over the last 20 months) and we overlook all of blessings and little things in our lives that are going well. Get yourself a nice pen; I use one of two beautiful pens that I  purchased over 25-30 years ago on trips to Europe and each time I use them it takes me back those trips and a journal. I’ve had many journals but to be honest my favorite books to write in are ordinary composition books. Each day before I go to bed I write 3 things that I am grateful for, somedays I could write 20 things and other days it is a struggle to write 3 but each time I close the book my mood is lifted and my perspective on things is shifted.

6. Declutter

If you are like me over the last 20 months there are piles of books and magazines as well as clothes I no longer wear or like and other items around the house that can go. When we downsized and moved I donated a lot of stuff but now that I am living in the house/construction zone and I do not have access to a lot of stuff I realize that I need even less than I thought so I have been opening boxes and getting Reid of more and more things. Think of this as Spring cleaning in the Fall, declutter your house, and your mind and leave room for new gifts.

7. Bake

Baking is the ultimate in self-care because baking reduces stress and it’s fun. For me it is like a walk down memory lane, each time I step into the kitchen I feel like I am back by my grandmother and my mother’s side baking all of our family favorites. Baking is the perfect way to express your love for your family and friends so pull out your favorite family recipes and whip up a pumpkin pie, a huge slab apple pie(this is my grandmother’s recipe) or some cookies. You could spend the day baking with your kids, grandkids, or even the neighbor kids, once you are finished pack up little care packages to share.

I hope these self-care ideas give you some inspiration for slowing down and taking care of yourself in this new season. Remember, you don’t have to try them all, just try something small everyday to give your mind and body a rest.

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Have a great day.

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