Beat the Autumn Blues with These Fall Self-Care Practices

“Fall has always been my favorite season. The time when everything bursts with its last beauty as if nature had been saving up all year for the grand finale.” – Lauren DeStefano

Autumn is here, with its crisp air, warm colors, and vibrant hues. It is truly my favorite season because it brings with it the time when I can just wrap myself in cozy blankets, curled up on my comfortable couch, with a hot cup of tea to warm me up. But, while fall might be my favorite season, there are some to whom this season brings the case of “Autumn Blues”. As the days become shorter, and the temperatures drop, it can bring forth feelings of gloom. 

But, you have nothing to fear, because we’ve got some cozy fall self-care tips for you that you can try to make this season the coziest. 

Before I take you to the self-care practices for fall, let’s take a peek into what are autumn blues. 

What Are Autumn Blues?

Autumn blues also known as autumn anxiety, better understood as seasonal affective disorder (SAD), is a condition that causes low energy, irritability, and low mood. It’s like your mood is diving into the piles of raked leaves instead of you doing the deed. The reduced daylight and cool temperatures can also throw your internal clock out of whack and mess with your hormones. 

So, how to know you have autumn blues? Here are the signs you can watch out for; 

• You feel moodier than usual and irritable than usual 
• You feel no energy to get out of bed 
• You feel fatigued for no reason 
• You crave comfort food such as hot chocolate, soups, or pumpkin cookies 
• You feel like isolating yourself rather than going out socializing  
• You cannot concentrate on your tasks and your brain feels foggy 

So, how do you take care of yourself when autumn blues hit? Let’s take a look at the fall self-care practices you can engage in for your mental health. 

10 Fall Self-Care Practices For Mental Health

1. Go Out to Parks  

The best way to connect with nature and take care of yourself at the same time is to go out for nature walks. You can pick a park near your house or a nearby forest to take a walk and soak up the cozy autumn vibes, colors, sights and sounds, and of course, the alluring smells of pumpkin and spices. 

2. Invest in Light Therapy 

You can also invest in light therapy lamps to help regulate your inner body clock and feel better instead of being gloomy in the fall. Because of shorter days and cooler temperatures, you might not always get the sun exposure your body needs, so these light lamps might come in handy to help boost your mood and regulate the production of melatonin. 

3. Pamper Yourself 

Try your hand at cooking or try new drink recipes, anything that helps you change your taste buds. Sometimes, for me, the simple act of cooking can feel therapeutic and make me feel like I did something to care for myself. After all, by trying new recipes and pampering yourself with new foods, you’re taking care of your physical health, right? 

4. Cozy Up 

If you haven’t tried it yet, then this is your signal to try Hygge. Hygge is a concept that allows you to create your living environment into a cozy sanctuary. Add some soft blankets, scented candles, and warm socks to complete the Hygge feel and experience the coziest hug you can ever experience. 

5. Exercise As Much As You Can 

I can understand that it’s almost impossible to get up and go out for exercise when fall arrives because who wants to do exercise when you can cozy up? But trust me, it’ll be a good self-care practice if you exercise some. You can do gentle exercising such as yoga or do dancing inside where no one’s watching. Anything to keep those endorphins flowing. 

6. Connect with Your Loved Ones 

When autumn blues seem to drag you down, reach out to your loved ones. You can visit them with some pumpkin pie or cookies or you can plan a cozy movie night, host a book club, or host a game night with your loved ones. Anything, where you’re surrounded by your loved ones, makes a good self-care practice for fall. 

7. Try Some Mindfulness 

This is another fall self-care practice that you can add to your self-care routine. Practicing mindfulness will allow you to stay grounded in the present moment and reduce the low mood and feelings that silently creep into your life when fall arrives. Allow the season to serve as a calming point in your life. 

8. Plan a Fall Adventure 

How? Well instead of dreading the fall weather, try to keep yourself excited by planning fall activities with your loved ones in advance. You can decide on taking a road trip or go apple-picking. I love to invite my friends and family over to do some baking and cooking so you can try that as well. 

9. Celebrate Fall

If you spend your time before fall dreading the weather, then take this as a sign to acknowledge and celebrate the success you’ve achieved and the goals you’ve met – no matter how small they have been. Treat yourself to something special as a reward for your hard work and dedication so far this year. 

10. Try Autumn Aromatherapy 

As a fall self-care practice, you can also try some aromatherapy for relaxation. You can use essential oils and aromas that are associated with fall such as cinnamon, citrus, clove, eucalyptus, and pumpkin spice. You can use aromatherapy diffusers to create a calming and cozy environment to lift your spirits and soothe your frayed nerves. 

Autumn blues might not be a stranger to you and you might need some encouraging tips to feel calm and soothed this season. With these 10 fall self-care practices, you can embrace the beauty and warmth of fall and keep your spirits high. 

So, go ahead and grab your favorite sweater, make some hot cocoa, and let the season wave its magic. These self-care tips for fall will help you stay happy and healthy this season, so do give them a try! 

If you found these fall self-care tips helpful, then let me know in the comments below. 

Happy Fall!