The signs of fall begin long before the autumnal equinox. There are physical shifts, as the light dims and the air cools (depending on where you live). And the cultural shifts, as stores  fill with fall decor and we collectively anticipate pumpkin spice and cozy fall activities.

Photo by Sarolta Balog-Major on Unsplash

For many of us, fall offers a fresh start. Something about this time of year inspires us to revamp our lives.

Part of it is that autumn is a time to go inward and be intentional about how we want to feel. And, establishing seasonal rituals is a great way to cultivate a life you love and feel excited about.

The Beauty of Seasonal Rituals

 A ritual is “a way of doing something in which the same actions are done in the same way every time.”

A ritual can be making the same coffee, putting it in your favorite mug, and sipping it in your most luxurious chair to start your day calmly. A ritual can be watching your favorite comfort show every evening to quiet your mind. A ritual can be returning to the same books, shows, movies, and songs during certain seasons and appreciating their familiarity.

“Repetition is what makes a ritual. And rituals are what make a season feel like your own.”

Rituals do not have to be elaborate. Rituals don’t even have to cost money.  

Often, the best rituals are simple daily tasks that you give a little extra attention to.

I love creating rituals by living seasonally and savoring my favorite aspects of each season. Savoring encourages us to pay attention to what is happening around us.

Living Seasonally

Put simply, living seasonally looks like planning your lifestyle and habits to match the season. I switch up my book choices, creative projects, meals, snacks, beverages, leisure activities, and anything else I can to align with each season’s vibes.

One way to approach seasonal living is to learn about each season’s significance in nature.

Mirror Nature

Fall is when nature slows down to prepare for winter hibernation.

This is the season to go inward and to rest.

Fall brings an invitation to reflect and re-establish your priorities. In case you need to learn this, as I did, it is okay (and natural) for your priorities to shift over time! What you value now, might differ from what you valued this summer and even from what you valued last fall. That doesn’t mean you’re inconsistent. It means you’re growing and evolving as you move through life.

Despite spending most of my life in Southern California and never getting to experience true fall in all of its glory, it is still my favorite season. 

I live to be cozy, and fall is the season for coziness.

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Reasons to Crave Coziness

Coziness isn’t just a fad. There is a reason so many of us crave coziness. Slowing down and forming rituals is calming. It makes our brains feel safe.

Details we associate with coziness tend to be gentler, like warm lighting and soft music. These elements offer a soothing contrast to life’s more overstimulating moments.

Coziness is essential to me. It’s more than soft blankets and warm drinks. It’s life-giving.

So lean into the benefits of coziness by planning a cozy seasonal itinerary.

Create a Seasonal Itinerary

Unfortunately, if I don’t commit to an activity, add it to my calendar, and put effort into planning, it isn’t going to happen. I know I’m not the only one who needs an intentional plan if I want to do something.

I loved this creator’s idea to make a seasonal itinerary, which is essentially a bucket list of all the things you want to do throughout the season.

So this fall, let’s put together our seasonal itineraries and set aside time to act on them. 

Items to include in your fall itinerary:

Recipes to try

Beverages to enjoy (at home or at a cafe/bar/restaurant)

Crafts to make

Movies/shows to watch

Books to read

Adventures to partake in

Please don’t turn your seasonal itinerary into an overwhelming project. A seasonal itinerary is for fun, and there is no need to put pressure on yourself or beat yourself up if you don’t do everything on your itinerary.

The goal is simply to spark a little whimsy and to find the simple activities that make you feel your best. Start with just a few and go from there.

In addition to your entertainment and recreation choices, you can infuse autumnal vibes throughout your daily routines.

These are the daily habits that ground and energize me throughout the fall.

Photo by Debby Hudson on Unsplash

Fall Morning Rituals

Prioritize calm mornings

Create a morning routine that allows you to start the day in a peaceful way. A morning routine does not mean waking up at 5 am or going through an extensive lineup of wellness products (but if that’s your thing, go for it!). 

The goal is to incorporate small habits that bring you joy, so you feel excited to get up and start your day.

My autumn morning habits

Opening my blinds to see the sky

Making my bed

Practicing yoga

Packing a yummy breakfast for work

Mixing cinnamon into my coffee grounds

Photo by Ksenia Makagonova on Unsplash

Fall Evening Rituals

Prioritize sleep and get ready for bed earlier than you normally would

Getting enough quality sleep has been an ongoing journey and something I will continue working on this fall. I’m finding that starting my evening routine earlier is key to going to bed earlier and getting more sleep. 

So ritualize getting ready before you’re tired. On nights I don’t have plans, my evening routine begins immediately after work. I get in the shower as soon as I get home. Then, I put on comfy pajamas and relax for the rest of the night.

Embrace the early sunsets

Daylight savings is a controversial topic. Trust me, I love sunshine. But I also love romanticizing the early evenings.  I find that leaning into the shorter days and romanticizing them through cozy rituals makes a huge difference.

Find a good book or show to get you through the dark evenings. Having a cozy activity to look forward to makes the darkness more bearable. I like to turn on my lamp, maybe light a candle, and cozy up with a soft blanket, a bowl of soup, and a book.

I am aware that Seasonal Depression is a very real struggle for some people. I don’t want to diminish that, I just want to share what helps me.

Soft lighting

Opt for warm, soft lighting over harsh, bright lights. I use lamps to light my apartment and avoid turning on the overhead light whenever possible. Using soft lights at night can help you set your circadian rhythm and prepare your body for sleep. It also creates a much cozier and calmer environment.

Photo by Craig Pattenaude on Unsplash

Fall Weekend Rituals

Many of us with traditional work schedules look forward to weekends, when we get a little more time to slow down and engage with our favorite restorative past-times.

These are some of my current beloved fall weekend activities.

Spend time on creative hobbies

Creativity is beneficial for your mental health, and craft time makes me feel so content.

Fall is a great season to lean into creative hobbies. I’ve decided I want to dedicate this fall to working on some seasonal crochet projects, while I’m in the cozy mood.

Just remember to allow yourself to create without pressure. You don’t have to be “good” at your creative hobbies. All that matters is that you enjoy them.

Bake/Cook

There is something so calming about baking and cooking.

I discovered that I love spending time in the kitchen baking bread, experimenting with sourdough discard recipes, and meal prepping for the week.

Now is a great time to try different autumnal inspired dishes.

These are the fall rituals that work for me, but you get to experiment with the habits that make you feel your best. And, a good place to start is by leaning into your five senses.

Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash

Focus on Your Five Senses

Sensory experiences make fall feel like fall.

Taste

Incorporate seasonal flavors: cook with fall produce and spices.

Scent

Now is the time to light those fall candles. If you’re like me and have a neglected candle collection, make a point to start burning them. Candles make your space feel so cozy and home-y.

Also, pick a go-to fall perfume. I have a few that I rotate through. As soon as I smell them, I’m in the fall mood.

Touch

Fall is the season for soft textures. Even if the 90-degree heatwave is preventing me from wearing my cashmere sweaters, I can still enjoy soft, cozy fabrics.

Sound

Listen to jazz. I keep autumn ambiance YouTube videos playing almost all day at work.

Sight

Go outside and take time to notice. Paying attention to the coziness around me feels so good.

Noticing is part of what makes seasonal moments feel special.

Give Yourself Things to Look Forward to

Having something to look forward to makes life so much more fun. As I’m writing this, I’m preparing to go roller skating with friends, which is just one of many fall activities we have planned for the next couple of months. I’m grateful for connection and fun plans. 

I love my cozy alone time. But cozy time with my favorite people also feels good.

So, plan things to look forward to, on your own or with loved ones.

Creating Your Seasonal Rituals is an Art

Creating seasonal rituals isn’t about copying what you see online. This post is  meant to inspire you to embrace the season, but the seasonal rituals that bring me joy might not work for you. The beauty is that you get to experiment, determine the seasonal habits that make life feel special, and return to them year after year. I still incorporate rituals that I started as a teenager, which helps me reconnect with myself.

Remember, your seasonal rituals do not have to be extravagant. These can be simple and creative ways to bring novelty into your life.

I hope this post brought you all the warm fall feelings. I’d love to know what your favorite fall rituals are. Leave a comment to inspire other fall enthusiasts!

Make sure to connect with me on social media (links below) for more inspiration to create an intentional life you love!