Feel Good This Season 

 Autumn is a natural time for gratitude and reflection. It’s also the perfect time to remember to be kind—kind to others and kind to oneself. This might mean picking up a grande pumpkin spice latte at the local Starbucks as a special treat, which in moderation is fine. But, it’s probably not wise to do this all the time. Instead, try some seasonal self-care practices. My fall self-care bucket list can be just the thing we need to help us feel calmer, healthier and happier this season. 

Self-care is important to help us maintain a healthy relationship with ourselves. It’s a nice reminder that our needs matter, too. And it’s something we need year-round, even in the fall. Go ahead and take a look at ideas to keep our mind, body, and soul happy in the coming months. 

SELF-CARE ACTIVITY 1:  

Take a nature walk 

Fall temperatures are perfect for outdoor activities. And surrounding yourself with nature is good for our spirit and well-being. Whether choosing rolling hills, find a steep rocky climb or something in between, a nature walk amongst the season’s stunning fall colors will delight us. 

Try a bike ride. Rides on sunny autumn days can be relaxing and fun. Go on a planned route or simply bike around the neighborhood. Then marvel at the beautiful fall colors all around us. 

SELF-CARE ACTIVITY 2:  

Savor a warm drink 

So many people treasure a cup of pumpkin spice latte every fall. One reason may be how amazingly comforting it can be to enjoy your favorite hot beverage. Holding a warm drink in our favorite mug on a chilly morning is soothing. But as I mentioned, we can’t live on the store-bought version all the time. 

There are plenty of other options that can give us all the good feelings we get from sipping on a warm drink. A cup of tea with a touch of honey, chai made from almond milk, or a mug of bulletproof coffee with grass-fed butter might do the trick. Or try this simple yet beneficial drink: hot lemon water. Starting our day with a cup can kickstart your metabolism, boost our immune system and balance our pH levels. 

No matter what we choose, maximize this self-care activity by taking the time to truly savor the drink. 

SELF-CARE ACTIVITY 3:  

Find a yummy fall recipe  

One way to practice self-care is to put on our chef hat and try a fun new recipe. And what better way to do that than with a tasty recipe using the season’s best fruits and vegetables. 

This time of year, farmers markets and our local grocery stores abound with fresh apples, pears, pumpkins, squash and so much more. Go ahead and try a new recipe that incorporates a favorite seasonal pick or try a new one. 

Make a big batch and store some in the freezer for a quick meal on those crazy busy days or enjoy your home-cooked dish for lunch and dinner over a couple of days. Consider sharing some with a friend or neighbor for a rewarding act of kindness. 

SELF-CARE ACTIVITY 4:  

Cuddle up with a cozy blanket and watch a good movie 

Watching a feel-good movie could be just what our body and mind need this fall. Sometimes, the world can feel like it’s a little too much at the moment. Or every so often, the stresses of daily life become overbearing. A good hour or so under a cozy blanket watching an uplifting movie can help soothe your soul. 

Here are a few such good self-care ways to lift our mood:  

Pick one or two, grab a buddy or family member to cuddle with and enjoy. 

SELF-CARE ACTIVITY 5:  

Curl up with a good book 

For those that are more of a book lover than a movie fan, curling up with a good book can be just as good, maybe even better for the soul. And with the air getting colder out, autumn is the best season to snuggle up with a good book. 

Here are a few feel-good favorites: 

So, put on those soft, fuzzy pants and warm, knit socks, get comfy in our favorite chair and grab that book you’ve been meaning to read. Forget all the worries and stress of the day and get lost in a good story.  

SELF-CARE ACTIVITY 6:  

Relax with a calming essential oil 

Many have heard the recommendation to light an aromatic candle to relax. But some scented candles can actually be harmful. Candles contain lead, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and paraffin wax with particulate matter.  

Instead, this fall, relax with a calming essential oil, such as chamomile. It has long been associated with relaxation and has a mild, calming scent. Lavender is another oil well-known for its relaxing properties and can help with sleep and anxiety. Another good option is copaiba essential oil. Its balmy scent can leave us feeling relaxed and more Zen-like. 

Consider using an essential oil diffuser to scent the surrounding air or an oil roller to dab it onto the skin. As we consider our options, make sure to get quality oil. 

SELF-CARE ACTIVITY 7:  

Treat the skin to a moisturizing face mask  

Here’s one that helps our physical well-being. The cooler fall air can dry out our skin, making it feel dry and scaly. Our lips can start to flake and peel. Neither of these is any fun. If this happens every year, treat the skin to a moisturizing face mask. It will not only make us feel pampered, but our skin will feel great afterward. 

Look for natural face masks made without harsh chemicals, or DIY it and make a soothing blend. Our skin will be thankful. 

SELF-CARE ACTIVITY 8:  

Write down what we want to get rid of 

A total declutter can be overwhelming and add to our stress which defeats the purpose of this fall self-care bucket list suggestion. So, rather than doing a full-on, Marie Kondo, week-long purging campaign, start with a more realistic, less stressful approach. 

Grab a piece of paper and write down what to want to get rid of. Keep that list handy, and over the next few days, jot down things as they come to mind. Maybe it’s the clothes you didn’t end up wearing this summer. Or the winter clothes that no longer fit. Then, commit to setting aside 15 to 30 minutes each weekend to tackle the list. By the end of the season, be amazed at how much has been accomplished. 

We can either choose the ones that are easiest to do for quick, feel-good wins or work on a larger one and spread the task over a few weekends. Either way, we’ll enjoy the sense of peace of having newfound space. 

SELF-CARE ACTIVITY 9:  

MAKE A GRATITUDE PAGE IN OUR JOURNAL 

Setting aside a page or two in our journal to acknowledge the things we’re grateful for can help bring a smile and a sense of warmth to our soul. If one doesn’t have a journal, simply grab a notebook or a notepad and jot down thoughts. Ask oneself, “What makes me feel grateful?” When finished, read it back and reflect on all the good things we have. 

Make a daily habit of starting each day by thinking about one or two things we’re grateful for or end our day the same way. We’ll find we have a more positive and thankful attitude. 

SELF-CARE ACTIVITY 10:  

Rest and allow for a break 

My final recommendation is one we often don’t do enough. I hope it will become one of our favorites and something we remember to do any time of the year, no matter the season: rest and allow oneself to take a break. We may think this is too much of a challenge or feel guilty just thinking of doing something like this for us. If so, ease into this self-care activity. 

Start by slowing down and savoring the day. Leave a post-it on the bathroom mirror as a gentle reminder. Then as we get into the habit of doing this mindfulness habit, go ahead and set a regular time to take a break each day to rest and relax. 

CREATE YOUR OWN FALL SELF-CARE BUCKET LIST 

There are plenty of different ways to practice self-care. I hope my bucket list of self-care activities to feel good this fall has inspired us and made us excited to try out new, seasonal ways to make our heart happy. 

Let me know which ones you decide to add to your own fall self-care bucket list. Drop them in the comments below or send me a message. I can’t wait to hear them. 

Be well and thrive. 

Sarah Outlaw, MH, MSACN, is with the Natural Health Improvement Center of South Jersey, South Carolina and Des Moines. They offer root cause nutrition, nutritional coaching, nutrition response testing, functional nutrition, herbal medicine, flower essence therapy and homeopathy. They also provide detox services including with an infrared sauna, pulsed electromagnetic field therapy mat and foot bath. For more information, visit nhiccenters.com.