“Autumn doesn’t rush. It teaches us how to slow down and fall in love with stillness” -Auerlia Leafsong
I heard someone say once in a YouTube video “somehow life gets in the way of living” and I resonated with this sentiment in a way that I am certain most would. While we may be wanting to slow down more in our life it seems that at times it simply moves faster than we expected. To truly slow down in this modern day one must be intentional about doing so because if time is not created for us to simply be still and savor, then most likely the opportunity will never come to do so.
Now that autumn is here for us to enjoy in the northern hemisphere, let us create our own opportunities to expereince the things that make life more enriching this time of year. If you work full time like I do, then be aware that there are only seven weekends left to enjoy this enchanting time of year, so why not make a plan to revel in the season all the more? Here are 10 ways that you can slow down and savor autumn this year. These ideas are curated to be slow and intentional to create a simple, yet effective seasonal experience.
Make a Pot of Tea
Not simply a quick cup with a teabag thrown in but instead make a whole pot of tea to be savored. Enjoy the sounds of the kettle coming to a gentle boil, the aromas of the tea as you pour in the water, the gentle steam rising from the teapot, the visual pleasure of a delicate teacup as it’s being poured into. I will create an entire tea tray with my pot of tea to savor. But even if you just want a simple pot of tea to enjoy, take the time to slow down and enjoy the process of making a pot of tea as much as drinking the tea itself.
Watch the Leaves Change Colors
Not just merely all around although that too is a great way to savor the season but notice in particular the trees around your home. Maybe you have a favorite tree in autumn that turns a more vibrant color than the others, or maybe there is a group of trees that you particularly enjoy. Notice every few days how the leaves are starting to change colors and fall. This is a practice in being mindful as well as appreciating the beauty of a rhythmic nature that we can always depend on.
Visit Your Favorite Cozy Shop
A cozy shop for me are shops like a bookstore, a cooking store (like Williams-Sonoma or Sur La Table) antique store, or a home decor store. I love to visit these types of shops at any time of year, but especially so during autumn. Around this time, you will start to see all of the autumn decor as well as so many seasonal items to be enjoyed as well. I will make a plan to stop off at a coffee shop to get a drink, put in my air pods and then simply walk around the shops and savor the atmosphere. It’s a solo date that I schedule to be able to slow down and really savor my favorite shops as well as getting inspired by the different ideas that they have displayed for the season.
Enjoy Soup Sundays
As the temperature starts to make its most noticeable decline this time of year, it creates the perfect opportunity to cook something cozier in the kitchen. This is the time of year where I implement cozy Soup Sundays. I will make soups that are familiar favorites as well as try a few new recipes too. I savor the experience of the chopping, sautéing, cooking, and the aromas of the soup as it simmers on the stovetop. I am able to put on my autumn playlist to slow down and be present in the moment as I create a dish that will be comforting and thoroughly enjoyed.
Take An Early Morning Walk
Whether in a park, a garden, an arboretum or simply around the block, plan to keep an early morning open for the opportunity to take an autumn walk. I will purposefully wait for a foggy or cloudy morning too because these are my favorite kinds of mornings to enjoy an early morning walk. You get to savor the crisp air and the smell of the fallen leaves. It will create a quiet and gentle atmosphere to calm the senses and an opportunity to simply slow down. Make a hot drink to take with you, maybe even invite someone to keep you company, but try carving out some time to be able to simply wake up, bundle up in a cozy sweater and scarf and take a walk.
Plan A Cozy Homebody Weekend
While being out and about is a nice way to experience the season, it’s also nice to simply stay home and be cozy for the weekend as well. To plan a cozy homebody weekend is to also create a loose agenda of what you would like to experience during this time. Try not to plan to stay home with no agenda and then accidently find yourself scrolling the phone all weekend. This is about intentional time to be cozy and enjoy home comforts and hobbies. A homebody weekend for me may look like coffee in bed then a simple breakfast with jazz music playing in the background followed by curling up under a blanket to read a book, then a nutritious lunch, afterwards taking a walk around the neighborhood to enjoy the fall colors, afterwards enjoying a jigsaw puzzle with a fun snack like pumpkin spice popcorn. Then, time to start making a cozy dinner followed by an evening teatime and more reading or flipping through a coffee table book. This is time set aside to enjoy a more digital free relaxation, to enjoy hobbies that are enriching to us and it also helps us to slow down. Some other hobbies that can be enjoyed are knitting, painting, crafting, scrapbooking, baking, coloring, or even taking a mid-afternoon nap. Use this time to enjoy cozying up at home and savoring some seasonal themed activities.
Visit The Seasonal Farmer’s Market
Pumpkins, mums, fresh apples, root vegetables, and homemade baked goods simply make the farmer’s market feel like a seasonal treasure hunt. Is there anything cozier than putting on a soft sweater, wrapping up in a scarf, grabbing your market bag, getting a hot coffee, and walking around a seasonal market? Especially now that the mornings are cool and the leaves are gracing us with their changing colors. Visit the local farmer’s market and savor this simple moment of pleasure and maybe even pick a seasonal item or two to take home and cook or bake with.
Savor a Seasonal Hobby
Whether it’s doing a jigsaw puzzle, scrapbooking, embroidery, knitting, or coloring/painting a seasonal picture, time seems to just slow down and becomes peaceful when doing a cozy hobby. It is such a small investment too as you can get things like puzzles, embroidery kits, coloring books and markers from Amazon for a budget friendly price. A hobby is simply a lovely way to savor the moment as you get to be as creative and colorful as you like and to savor a moment of seasonal joy in the quiet and comfort of your home.
Plan an Autumn Movie Night
I love watching movies, especially those that take place in Autumn. There are so many movies out there that can be enjoyed, so why not plan a cozy movie night to enjoy some seasonal films before the season ends? Bake a batch of seasonal cookies, pop some popcorn, make a seasonal drink or simply bring in your favorite movie snacks. Light the fall scented candles and put on a cozy movie. Some of my seasonal favorites are You’ve Got Mail, Practical Magic, Knives Out, The Fantastic Mr. Fox, Coraline, and The Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown. Pick a movie or two this season and plan to have a cozy movie night on a cool, autumn evening.
Cozy Reading Sessions
If you are an avid reader like myself, then this is the perfect time to enjoy some cozy reading. At home I love to bring pleasantries into my reading nook with seasonal delights such as throw blankets, hot tea, a scented candle, books stacks, and even a pumpkin or two for autumn. I also like to get out and enjoy reading in cafes or outdoors in the park. I very much enjoy reading seasonal books too whether its contemporary romances such as The Ex Hex or The Pumpkin Spice Cafe, or even a seasonal non-fiction book like Cosy: The British Art of Comfort. Regardless of the genre you prefer, take some time to plan cozy reading sessions with intention to slow down and really savor the season.
Visit A New Town
You may be already familiar with all that your town has to offer during autumn, so why not visit a new town during this time of year as well? Find something that you enjoy doing such as visiting a park, a museum, an antique shop, a cafe or restaurant. Plan a day where you take a small road trip to visit a new place and let it delight you in all they have to offer for this time of year. Take your time and meander and notice all of the details and enjoy discovering someplace new that may become a favorite spot to visit.
