5 Self-Care Activities for Fall
Fall is my favorite time of year. I have no shame indulging in pumpkin spiced anything, planning days at the pumpkin patch and cozying up to themed movies. Fall is the world's embodiment of change, slowing down, and finding balance. Days become increasingly shorter and cooler. These months beg for our preparation and care.
1. Practice setting boundaries with your loved ones.
““no
is a necessary magic
no
draws a circle around you
with chalk
and says
i have given enough
—boundaries””
As many holidays and reasonings for gathering approach, I encourage to explore your boundaries and limits. Practice the magic that is saying "no," and "I won't be doing that." Practice not overly explaining why you are setting a boundary or making up excuses for why you can't do something. I highly recommend social worker and author Nedra Tawwab's work around boundary setting.
2. Practice gratitude.
Most of us have heard it a number of times, gratitude is important. However, generally being thankful each days becomes monotonous and begins to feel less and less genuine if each day we are just listing the same things. Try mixing up your gratitude practice to increase your creativity, spirituality, and sense of happiness.
Try utilizing these principles:
Use active language.
Instead of writing "Gratitudes: Home, family, dog", try writing "Thank you (feel free to insert your specific spiritual power) for..." or "I am grateful for..."
Be specific
Instead of, "I am grateful for my dog." Try "I have so much gratitude for the way my dog greets me with so much enthusiasm when I come home each day from work. I feel so thankful to be so loved."
Write something new each time
Instead of falling into a pattern by expressing gratitude for the same things each time, try to come up with unique things you are grateful for on that day.
3. Create an intentional and nourishing meal
Spend some time looking up what foods are in season, especially locally. This could include: apples, pears, beets, tomatoes, etc. Select a meal that you can build with at least 3 of these seasonal fruits and vegetables. Focus on how eating this meal will make your body feel, use a "food as medicine" mindset. Practice utilizing whole ingredients such as fresh herbs and produce. You could even make a whole activity of this by visiting a farmer's market or U-Pick farm.
4. Try a new craft
Creativity is amazing for our overall wellbeing. It taps into our desire to play, create, and explore. You could try a seasonal activity such as painting or carving pumpkins. You could also try something you've been wanting to get into but have not set aside the time or energy, such as learning how to knit, crochet, or painting. You could try signing up for a ceramics or rug tufting class. Whatever it is, commit to doing it at least 3 times this season and encourage yourself to try even when your final product doesn't turn out like you expected. Craft for the process not the end goal.
5. Take a self-care inventory
As we approach the year's end and begin spending more time inside, this can be the perfect time to reevaluate our routines and needs. Try taking a self-care inventory to appreciate what areas you're doing really well at taking care of yourself in and what areas could use some more growth.
Here are couple of options:
The Healthy Mind Platter by Dr. Dan Siegel
Self-Care Inventory by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)
Self-Care Inventory and Planning Worksheet by Michigan's Stay Well project
Practice gentleness and kindness to yourself this season. We can put so much emphasis on giving without acknowledging our own sense of depletion.
This Fall,
I remind myself that change is a necessary part of life.
I am leaning into the change instead of resisting.
I am filling my own cup.
I am taking more time for the things that make me feel like me.
I am grounded.
I am deeply relaxed.
I am balanced.
I am abundant.