Every year as Autumn approaches I always start to feel down. The nights draw in, I start to worry about energy costs, and I don’t get out in nature as much as I want to because of the wet weather. I comfort eat stodgy food and this has a negative impact on my health and my mood. This year I have decided that Autumn is going to be different and I am going to embrace it by making an Autumn bucket list.
I am going to treat Autumn as a fresh start. I will shed some of my bad habits and attitudes in the same way that the trees shed their leaves. I will try to see the season as a chance to slow down and reflect.
Here are some of the ideas that I have written on my Autumn bucket list.
- Take pictures of Autumn scenery so that I can capture all of the beautiful colours that nature has to offer. I can do this on my drives or on my walks.
- Make some kind of Autumn craft. It might be a decoration like a wreath, or something useful.
- Light my wood burning stove and sit and watch the flames dance. If you do not have a fire or a wood burning stove you can get videos on YouTube of a burning fire. It is suprising how cosy it makes you feel.
- Try some new Autumn recipes with pumpkins, apples and spices and make a seasonal soup.
- Host a Halloween or Bonfire gathering with family.
- Plan an Autumn themed outing. I might take my grandson to a pumpkin farm or to see the Autumn themed decorations at the local garden centre.
- Make a corn dolly or a harvest plaited loaf
- Roast some pumpkin seeds with spices for a healthy snack.
- Get out all of my warmer clothes and put together an Autumn wardrobe of things that I haven’t worn for a while.
- Light an Autumn scented candle. I don’t often burn scented candles in my house as I know that they are not good for you due to the chemicals, but I do have an apple spiced one and a gingerbread one that I just light a couple of times a year. If you don’t want to burn candles you could cook some slices of apple and some spices in water on the stove top and let the smell waft through the house.
- Sit outside and drink a hot chocolate with all the trimmings. This may be in the garden or in a nice cafe some where.
- Take lots of nature walks and kick the leaves with my grandson, and collect conkers to make washing detergent and scare away the spiders.
- Collect acorns to try making some flour.
- Put a nice blanket on my rocking chair and decorate my hearth with pumpkins and other Autumnal objects.
- Sit outside in the garden with a blanket on when it is a sunny, crisp day.
- Cook a treat outside on the BBQ or camp stove. In 2020, when it was lockdown, we made seaside doughnuts on a frosty day as we were usually on holiday at that time of year.
- Light the fire pit and sit outside chatting with friends whilst roasting marshmallows or drinking wine or hot chocolate.
- Watch a sunset or a dawn. Trees with out leaves look gorgeous silhouetted against the sky.
- Cuddle up and watch a feel good film or read a good book.
- Walk on a beach with my favourite bobble hat on whilst being barefoot in order to do some grounding.
What would be on your Autumn bucket list?
food for thought …. so easy to feel negative and down in Autumn but actually changing the mindset and celebrating the change of season is the way forward! Thank you for the reminder!
No worries. A lot of the reason that I write my blogs is to give myself a nudge and inspire others. Thanks for commenting
Great ideas!
Thanks
These are great ideas Toni you now have me looking forward to Autumn & adopting some of your ideas together with my own thank you x
That is good. Thanks for the lovely feedback. It is nice to know that I am inspiring others
What a fabulous blog, really thought provoking. I still walk lots as we have a pooch, but I love done of the other ideas. I’m definitely going to sit outdoors with a blanket and the fire pit, I stead of puddle jumping in going to skip through all the fallen leaves, thank you Toni so I’m now looking forward to autumn 🍁🍂
Brilliant. Thanks for the lovely feedback
I adore autumn I love all things in the shops autumn, I treat myself to a couple of little autumn ornaments, then put them away at Xmas for the next year. And always buy myself a new autumn themed mug. I love walks with the dogs when it’s cold and drizzling I could go on but won’t bore you. Xx
I am starting to see Autumn in a new light! I just found a small light up pumpkin in a charity shop and looking forward to putting that out for the grand children to see. Thanks for sharing
Autumn winter is my favourite seasons so I’ll tell you what I do to prepare, I find a daily thing to feel happy about, a daily affirmation to myself to think about. I homeschool my 5 children so we all love watching the seasons appear before us. We love woodland walks looking at the incredible colours and breezy days flying kites in the fields near our home x
Flying a kite is a good one. I shall add that to my list. I bet that you get so much satisfaction from home schooling and teaching your children the values that you hold dear. Thanks for sharing. It sounds as if your children have a wonderful childhood
What a super list of great ideas… self-care in action! I shall need to think about a list of my own soon
Good idea. Thanks for sharing
Great blog Toni I really love autumn it’s my favourite time of year. I actually had my battery fairy lights on in the caravan last night and a spiced soy candle bought locally at a craft fayre. I’ve recently bought my raw cacoa chocolate powder on line to start having my mocha in my flasks for my weekend walks . I like making soup all year round but always seem to enjoy it more during the winter months. Yesterday on our walk with the walking I took pictures of several different types of fungi, love this time of year for them. I like to collect some foliage and put in a vase with the autumnal colours. Definitely lots of great tips on your blog ❤️x
I still don’t feel confident in foraging fungi but you do get some beautiful ones at this time of year. Thanks for sharing
Lovely post. I like autumn the best out of all the seasons. I’ve already got my autumn decorations and cups out. Xx
Aww that is nice. I bet they look lovely. thanks for sharing
A great idea, I actually love Autumn – my fave time of year (probably because I already make sure I do most of what’s on your list) but I’m not keen on Summer so next year I am going to do a summer bucket list. 😜💜x
Great idea. Thanks for sharing
Loved all of these ideas I must take time to sit down and think about what I would like to do xx
Thanks. Good idea. I enjoyed making my list. Thanks for commenting
I love Autumn too, and we always take a holiday in the Autumn. Having dogs I’m out in all weathers and really appreciate the change of the seasons. I don’t enjoy Jan, Feb or March though so I may have to so a list for then xx
Yes those always do seem hard months. I often try to book a break away in those months as something to look forward to. Thanks for sharing
Great bucket list . I want to gather some natural twigs and stuff and make some wreaths . I love using items what don’t cost anything. I love collecting pinecones ,acorns and conkers to craft with .
Yes they do make lovely decorations and it is a motivation to go for a walk and collect them. Thanks for sharing
Wonderful ideas and suggestions to embrace the new season Toni, thank you!
No worries. Thanks for the feedback
I love autumn, the colours and crisp air. It’s my favourite time of year for open water swimming, especially if it’s sunny.
That sounds a bit cold for me but I have always wanted to go open water swimming. I know it is really good for you. I hope that you have fun and enjoy ‘your; season as it fast approaches
I love Autumn – the cooler temps make me feel more alive after an extremely hot and humid Summer! Sept. will be up and down but today was definitely a jacket day with a wonderful stiff wind blowing! I have already started to look out my Fall/Winter clothes and have made a list of a few needed items. I have made my first pot of soup in months – carrot, red pepper, pumpkin and red lentil.
On my Autumn to do list is to get back to walking more – during the Summer a lot of my walking is done in our underground walking path as it is air=conditioned and much more comfortable. I live close to a river and about a 15 minute bus ride from the lake so I plan on making quite a few visits over the next couple of months. Our Fall colours are usually quite spectacular and some of the trees are starting to turn already – a beautiful time of year!
That sounds lovely. I am glad that you have somewhere nice to visit over the next few months. Thanks for sharing
Great list Toni. Autumn is my favourite season by far. Don’t mind winter and the cold. No rain for me though. Not nice trying to dry off. I’m crocheting yet another blanket at the moment. It keeps me warm as it grows. Enjoy a new way of thinking in the months ahead. You’ll have to keep us updated with how you get on. Best of luck. Xx
I will. Enjoy making your blanket and thanks for sharing
Autumn is my favourite season. I love walking through the woods with the leaves falling like confetti in so many beautiful colours. In the garden it’s time to declutter, prune trees and sweep leaves. Gathering around bonfires eating parking , toffee, and pumpkin soup. I love coming home and sitting round the wood burner with candles for light. Autumn is definitely my favourite season.
You are definitely making it seem more attractive to me! Thanks for sharing
I love Autumn , I do like winter too but it tends to drag on a bit in Uk doesnt it. I really look forward to the colder months , I feel its part of life’s natural cycle , its a time for rest & reflection , snuggles and yes a little comfort eating of nice warm treats too.
Autumn though is lovely, still lots to do outside , like clearing the garden ready for winter, I tend to make a six monthly plan in my journal of things I’d like to achieve and ideas of things to do.
This year so far in no special order I have :
Hot chocolate evenings around the firepit
Stock up on some new charity shop books.
Make some homemade candied peel .
Try at least one new meat-free recipe every month.
Spend more time by the sea with my OH, regardless of the weather.
Walk more.
I always try to have one room thats cozy and welcoming, so when we come in from outside its enjoyable .
Embrace Autumn ❤️
You are persuading me to like it more! Thanks for commenting.
Lovely post, Toni. I can understand how people don’t like Autumn as the nights draw in quickly but I love it. The colours are gorgeous, walking through the woods & kicking up the golden leaves, the smell of a bonfire or a lovely frosty morning. I bought a few small decorations last year to put on our mantelpiece & hearth & love to light the candles & be all cosy with a hot chocolate. A nice bowl of roasted pumpkin soup is delicious with homemade bread. I hope your blog inspires other people to embrace the joy that Autumn can bring.
It is beginning to feel more appealing! Thanks for sharing
I love how we all see the different seasons differently. I adore September and the start of autumn. I swear it stems from a childhood connection of new books, pens and pencil cases. Even now I see it very much as my new year and an annual reset on life.
I love the fact the slow cooker makes its return, treacle sponge puddings are “allowed” and the wardrobe gets swapped for snuggly clothes. I dig out the candles, blankets and books ready for cosy evenings. Autumn for me is a calmer, more peaceful, reflective part of the year and typically my cheapest months also as I steady myself for the ramp up of noise, busyness and cost of winter (December). Love the blogs you do as they really do give such valuable food for thought. You’re a star Toni..x
Aww thank you. You are so kind. You are definitely persuading me to see Autumn in another light. Thanks for sharing