Everyone has their favorite season of the year. Mine is fall.
The reasons have changed throughout the years, such as getting back to school, the start of football season, the vibrancy of leaf changes, or carving Halloween pumpkins.
There are many other reasons to embrace this lovely time. As we age, these may include enjoying woodland walks, mulled wine, hot chocolate, and long bubble baths.
According to several polls, most American respondents chose the fall season as their favorite. We get respite from the summer heat, and to the delight of many, Starbucks brings back its delicious pumpkin spice lattes. But there’s also a science to explain why we love this particular season.
Lower temperatures and chilly, fresh-air mornings give us time for reflection and permission to slow down our pace of life. Goldilocks must love the fall season as much as I do because it’s “not too hot, not too cold—it’s just right!”
Sitting by the fireplace allows us to enjoy the warmth of hearth and home. Bonfires accompanied by cozy, chunky sweaters and the smell of burning embers often bring back fond childhood memories. However, we can further tap into this autumn aesthetic to boost our well-being.
Let Autumn Be a Fresh Start
New Year’s isn’t the only time for new beginnings. Long-held associations of returning to school each fall can carry on to our adult lives. A travel writing seminar in the fall of 2014 transitioned me from nursing to travel journalism. Autumn is a great time to sign up for a photography class or golf lessons or to learn a new skill or hobby.
Connect with Nature
Cooler temperatures benefit mental health by encouraging us to spend more time outdoors. Whether walking through a forest of falling leaves exploding in magnificent autumn hues or taking a long beach stroll, these relaxing moments elevate the oxygen levels in our brain, releasing more serotonin— a neurotransmitter that promotes happiness. There’s no better time than fall to savor the moment.
Focus your senses to notice your surroundings. Feel the coolness of a breeze or the sun’s warmth streaming down from the trees. Lis ten to the crunch of leaves beneath your feet and squirrels scurrying about as acorns fall around you.
Celebrate the Holidays
There’s something about fall that inspires creativity. Halloween and Thanksgiving are the two big autumn holidays. But if you really want to enjoy them, immerse yourself in the season. Celebrate the harvest. Go out to a pumpkin patch to pick your own instead of getting them at a grocery store. Add in an enjoyable hayride and a steaming cup of apple cider. Pick your own apples. We did that last year in an orchard across from a vineyard in a small mountain town. Then, to celebrate our bounty, we enjoyed a glass of wine.
• Halloween fun
Go to a haunted house with friends. Remember doing that when you were a kid? You still can, and it’s still fun. You’re never more alive than when you’re nearly scared to death.
• Decorate your home for the holidays.
You don’t have to go all out unless you want to. It can be as simple as decorating pumpkins, buying a wreath, or getting creative and making your own. For ideas, check out Pinterest or visit your local craft store.
It’s back to the comfort food
Autumn permits us to embrace some of the comfort foods of our childhood without feeling guilty. After all, we’re well past the bikini or bathing suit season, right?
The cooler temperatures prompt us to dig out Grandma’s recipe for chicken and dumplings, beef stew, or pot pie. There’s a strong link between scents and emotional memory. Our learning history predisposes us to enjoy certain foods. Therefore, their smells improve mood and produce feelings of a warm social connection.
Get into the autumn fashion mode
As a kid, my grandparents bought me new clothes before school started each fall. It was fun to pick out a new sweater, skirt, shoes, and maybe even a new purse.
Fall offers some of the best fashions, representing a drastic shift from the carefree and casual summer wardrobe. Autumn ushers in new looks like jackets, sweaters, and boots. Treat yourself to some new garb this fall. You’ll be glad you did.
After the intense heat of summer, autumn brings new potential. The crisp weather and vibrant colors encourage us to embrace new possibilities. Miracles will unfurl as we navigate uncertainty with hope. What miracles will you discover this autumn?
