Fall is usually the time when we start to hibernate a bit, settle in as night approaches, and spend more time indoors. After all of last year’s lockdowns, thankfully made bearable by gorgeous weather, many of us dreadfully anticipate dark fall nights and the prospect of more lockdowns.
How can we improve our autumn mood?
– What are your expectations for autumn, What factors have shaped your current mindset? For some it is their favorite season; the idea of bundling up, kicking the falling leaves on a walk in the woods, cups of hot chocolate, board games around the fire. For others, it is a sad and miserable season full of dark days with nothing to look forward to. How you feel? Remember that your childhood memories and experiences do not need to be replicated as you move into adulthood. You can now make your own decisions and use your ability to take control of your environment. Why not choose to improve your autumn mood?
– As the days get shorter our melatonin and serotonin levels are affected. This is where dog walkers have a distinct advantage, as they often take their dogs for walks on a regular basis, regardless of the weather. Try to emulate the dog walker and go outside, even for short breaks, so that he experiences some daylight, improves his serotonin levels and therefore his mood.
– Stay in touch with close friends and family. so you can speak up if you’re feeling down, need some light relief, or need a little human contact in your life. Share your fears and concerns, especially in this current climate, and agree to support each other. It often helps to know that you are not alone and that others are thinking of you.
– Commit to a positive experience, success or achievement every day, even if it’s just washing your hair, tidying the sock drawer, going to the corner store. Only you know how significant each result is! Share your good news and congratulate each other.
– Our diet changes often as the winter months approach. People like the idea of a salad less when it’s cold and dark, often preferring more comfort foods like soups, stews, and casseroles. Try to maintain a healthy diet and include all the fall colors, vegetables, and berries that are in season this time of year. You could prepare something slow-cooked, snuggle up in a warm coat, and go for a walk, knowing you’ll come home with a delicious meal.
– Focus on making the home more welcoming. and comforting than perhaps it has been during the summer months. Warm fabrics, colors, and fragrances can enhance your fall mood by adding brightness to your home. Red, gold, bronze, and silver used for cushions, throws, and prints can brighten up a room. Unique items can often be sourced locally at markets and craft fairs. Scented candles can enhance the atmosphere and add a pleasant fragrance to a room.
– Lighting is important during the darkest months. Ceiling lighting can be pretty harsh, so think about wall lights or smaller lamps that offer mood-enhancing ways to illuminate your room. Or candles, used safely, can add an attractive glow.
– Socializing often requires more thought, especially right now, with so many changing restrictions. Socializing online is a lifesaver for those with access to the Internet, providing invaluable ways to keep in touch with friends and family. Groups of friends have found inventive ways to entertain one another, through quiz nights, book clubs, recipe samples, all online. And it’s nice to have something to look forward to.
– Online classes and training could be a good use of your time during the fall, enhancing your education, giving you something extra to add to your CV, and improving your job opportunities if you’re looking for a new career in the market.
– Fall is a great time to plan ahead for Christmas, making your Christmas cakes and desserts. Or you could spend hours handcrafting personalized Christmas cards and gifts, using your skills in crafts, painting, knitting, manual work. Children often love to get involved with glitter and glue!
– Working from home it’s an increasingly familiar choice, but fall can become a time when you start to feel like a pit pony, walking into your home office and hardly ever coming out in daylight; there is often little else to do! Boost your fall mood by scheduling regular breaks, to eat, to call a friend for a nice chat, to go outside and stretch your legs. Your work will thank you, as breaks have been found to improve productivity when you return.
– Add some homemade treats, things you might not do during the typical summer months. Make time for a thirty-minute bath with candles, lots of bubbles, and hot towels, flip through your photos or music catalog, and laugh or cry at the memories they evoke.
A little planning can help boost your fall mood and ensure you stay healthy, take good care of yourself, and have positive things in your life that support you and your loved ones, both mentally and physically.