Everyone seems to feel different about the change of seasons. Some mourn about the end of summer, others look forward to a hot cup of tea and their favorite series on the coach. Even though I absolutely love fall for various reasons, I’m not completely immune to fall depression especially because of the decrease of sunshine hours. This is why I decided to gather a few activities that will lighten up your day (along with my fall playlist for creative inspiration).
1. Creativity & Learning
Meanwhile the end of summer and the early dark can make you feel sad, it’s also the perfect season for learning new things and being creative. How about putting together a list with small projects to tackle until November? I want to start practicing bass guitar again and also have a few creative projects in mind.
If you need a little guidance with your learning schedule you might want to check out Udemy. The platform contains many high quality and fair prized courses. For those of you interested in programming, codecademy is worth trying out. All courses are free and you have a really active community that always helps you out when struggling to find a solution.
Looking for motivation? Some of us had negative experiences with discipline in our childhoods doing things we didn’t like to do. I encourage you to not pressure yourself and start small. Only pick one or two things that really make your heart jump. Suddenly, discipline can become something we look forward to. Here are some of my hacks to do more of what I love.
Habitica
A new tool recommended to me by a friend is the app habitica, that gamifies your daily tasks, habits and to-dos. Everytime you fulfill a daily task you tick it off and your avatar gains health and levels with time. You can join different guilds to talk to other users looking for motivation and you can battle your friends. To make it more demanding you can adjust the severity code of your to-dos and earn rewards after completing, like special weapons or eggs to hatch. Long story short, it’s a fun app to improve your productivity without being toxic.
Starting a Bullet Journal
You’re tired of yet another app? If you’re rather oldschool, I can recommend keeping a bullet journal. It helps to organize all your thoughts just the way you prefer it without any space limits or other restrictions.
2. Redecorating the Inside ♥
With the days getting colder, the temptation to stay inside grows stronger. Without any guilt we’re binge-watching series and films or spend a whole afternoon reading; there is no guilt in not socializing when it’s rainy outside. Which better time to appreciate a cozy interior? Instead of just changing up things while spring-cleaning, why not rearrange your rooms in fall as well? This helps you to practice the art of letting go (of summer). You could buy some new pillows for your bed and decorate the living room with light chains. Or hang pictures in warm autumn shades.
3. Exploring the Outside 🍂 🐿🍁
Staying inside is easy, but fall can be pretty outdoors as well. Hiking or taking a stroll through the forest always brightens my day with all the colorful leaves or spooky wafts of mist hanging over the valleys. Especially when exploring nature alone, I find it easiest to refuel and find new inspiration. Another fun activity is picking mushrooms, if you know about the different kinds or have an expert to go with. So put on your rain boots and don’t let the greyish haze mislead you.
4. #sweaterweather – Investing in comfy clothes
I am actually not a big sweater fan to be quite honest. Nevertheless, I always feel like I have more stuff to wear in fall time. I love wearing my favorite skirts and long-sleeve dresses with tights, for instance. I like their soft fabric much better on my skin than jeans as it avoids sensory triggers. Cute socks and high knees are also must-haves for me in fall to keep my feet warm. But my number one tip is to invest in nice, waterproof boots and a warm coat in colors that match your wardrobe to be prepared for all situations.
5. Replenishing in the Kitchen 🍵🍽
Ahh, food.. On days where rain is pouring, I love to bake something while listening to good music. How about a simple carrot cake for you and a good friend? A good piece of cake with loved ones will surely brighten a dull day. Of course you can also enjoy them alone :).
You like cooking better? Check out my vegan recipe for Hokkaido soup with coconut milk. Hokkaido is full of nutrients and will prep your immune system for rainy days.
6. Accepting the Blues & Having a Hot Drink
Who doesn’t want to just sit on the coach and watch a series with a huge mug of [insert your favorite drink]? Sometimes we simply have to accept a bad day and realize that it’s part of the game called life. Everyone has them; it’s not a shame! Treat yourself and don’t force a good mood upon yourself. This is sometimes the best help to move on the next day.
Buying a reusable mug
We all have to go to work, school or university so sometimes a couch and a huge mug are not an option. In this case and for travelling in general, it is useful to invest in a reusable cup such as a bamboo cup. Brewing your own coffee or tea is not only cheaper (imagine, a coffee-to-go for 2 euros every day could finance a vacation within a year), it also produces less waste and many cafes let you fill your own cup.
My Fall Playlist 🎧
Last but not least, here’s a screenshot of my Spotify fall playlist! I listen to it whenever I need a boost of motivation or creative input. Unfortunately not on Spotify, but on Youtube: Patterns In the Ivy II by Opeth, it gives me fall vibes right away.
I encourage you to compile your own set of songs for this purpose. Choose any song that puts you in a desired feeling state? Music has an undeniable influence on our mental and emotional constitution so why not use it to our benefits!
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