A Slower Fall: 20 Simple Ways to Enjoy the Season More
There is just something about fall that makes me want to slow down.
The cooler mornings, the changing leaves, cozy blankets, candles burning in the evening, and that first cup of coffee when you actually want something warm.
But if you’re a mom, you know that fall doesn’t always feel slow.
Between school, homework, sports, appointments, laundry, dinner, and everything else that seems to fill our days, it’s easy for the season to pass by before we’ve really had a chance to enjoy it.
This year, I’m trying something a little different.
Instead of feeling like I have to do all the fall things, I’m focusing on the small things.
Because sometimes the simple moments end up being the ones we remember most.
- Drink Your Morning Coffee Slowly
Instead of grabbing your coffee and immediately starting your to-do list, give yourself 10 minutes.
Sit outside. Sit by a window. Enjoy the quiet.
You don’t have to accomplish anything during those 10 minutes.
- Take a Walk Just to Look at the Leaves
You don’t need to turn it into a workout.
Take a slow walk around your neighborhood or somewhere nearby and actually notice the trees, the colors, and the cooler air.
Leave your phone in your pocket and just enjoy it.
- Light a Fall Candle
This is such a simple thing, but it can completely change the feeling of a room.
Apple, pumpkin, cinnamon, vanilla-whatever makes your home smell like fall to you.
Light it while you’re cleaning, cooking dinner, or relaxing in the evening.
- Read for 15 Minutes
You don’t have to finish a book.
You don’t even have to read every night.
Just find 15 minutes to sit somewhere comfortably and read without checking your phone every five seconds.
- Bake Something Simple
You don’t need to make an elaborate recipe.
Bake cookies. Make muffins. Make apple bread.
Even a boxed cake mix counts.
The point isn’t making something Pinterest-perfect.
It’s enjoying the process.
- Have a Cozy Drink
Make yourself something you really enjoy.
Coffee, tea, hot chocolate, apple cider-whatever feels like fall to you.
And for just a few minutes, don’t multitask while you drink it.
- Take a Scenic Drive
One afternoon, take the long way home.
Roll the windows down if it’s cool enough, put on some music, and look at the changing leaves.
Sometimes you don’t need an actual destination.
- Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Make an afternoon out of it.
Take pictures, let the kids pick a pumpkin, grab something yummy, and don’t worry about making the day perfect.
Let the kids enjoy being kids.
- Have a Phone-Free Evening
Put your phone down for an hour.
Watch a movie, play a game. Talk with your family. Read.
It’s amazing how much more peaceful an evening can feel when we’re not constantly checking what’s happening on our screens.
- Have a Cozy Blanket Night
Gather the family, grab the blankets, make some popcorn, and watch a favorite movie.
It doesn’t have to be a special occasion.
Sometimes an ordinary Friday night can become one of your favorite memories.
- Make Homemade Apple Cider
This can be as simple as warming apple cider and adding a little cinnamon.
Let the house smell amazing while you enjoy a warm cup.
Bonus points if you drink it while sitting outside.
- Watch the Sunset
Fall sunsets can be beautiful.
Find a comfortable spot and give yourself a few quiet minutes to watch the sky change.
No pictures required.
Just watch.
- Start a Fall Gratitude List
I'm working on a Gratitude Journal that will be available to buy soon. In it will include prompts throughout the day. You'll be able to take a quiet moment to pause, reflect, and appreciate meaningful times in your day.
Every night, write down one thing you’re grateful for.
It doesn’t have to be something huge.
Maybe it was your child’s laugh.
A good cup of coffee.
A quiet morning.
A beautiful sunset.
Those little things count.
- Make One Fall Tradition
You don’t need ten new family traditions.
Pick one.
Maybe it’s:
- Pumpkin pancakes on Saturday mornings
- A yearly pumpkin patch trip
- A fall movie night
- Baking cookies together
- A family walk to see the leaves
Do it every year, and eventually it becomes something your family looks forward to.
- Make One Corner of Your Home Cozy
You don’t need to redecorate your entire house.
Add a blanket and pillow to your favorite chair.
Put a candle on the table.
Add a little fall décor.
Create a spot where you can sit and relax.
Sometimes one cozy corner is all you need.
- Make a Fall Playlist
Add songs that make you feel happy and relaxed.
Play it while you’re cooking dinner, cleaning the house, driving around, or having a cozy evening.
Music can make an ordinary day feel a little more special.
- Wear Your Favorite Fall Outfit
Pull out that sweater you love.
Put on your favorite jeans and boots.
Add a scarf.
You don’t need somewhere fancy to wear an outfit you feel good in.
Sometimes feeling put together can change your entire mood.
- Spend More Time Outside
Even if it’s only for 10 minutes.
Sit on the porch.
Let the kids play.
Take the dog outside.
Drink your coffee.
Enjoy the cooler temperatures before winter arrives.
- Take Pictures of the Ordinary Moments
Not just the big family events.
Take a picture of your messy kitchen after baking.
The kids playing outside.
Your coffee sitting beside a book.
The leaves in your yard.
The little moments that you might forget someday are often the ones you’ll wish you could go back to.
- Give Yourself Permission to Slow Down
This might be the most important one.
You don’t have to do everything.
You don’t have to visit every pumpkin patch, make every recipe, decorate every room, or create the perfect fall memories.
You are allowed to simply enjoy the season.
Put down the to-do list.
Take a breath.
Look around.
Enjoy your people.
Enjoy your home.
Enjoy the little things.
A Little Reminder for This Fall
I think sometimes we put so much pressure on ourselves to make every season special that we forget to actually experience it.
Fall doesn’t have to be perfect.
Your house doesn’t have to look like a magazine.
Your kids don’t need a packed schedule of activities.
And you definitely don’t have to accomplish everything on your Pinterest board.
Maybe this fall can simply be about noticing the little things.
A warm cup of coffee.
A beautiful tree.
A cozy blanket.
A good book.
A child’s laugh.
A quiet evening.
A sunset.
Those are the simple joys.
And sometimes, those are more than enough.
~Jaye
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