I walked out to the garden a few days ago and my heart sank. Changes that signaled the end of the growing season were everywhere. I had been out of town for about 3 days and in that short time it was evident that the seasons are changing. Autumn can be a wonderful time of year with all it’s colors and crispness. But I don’t like losing the garden. And I know that as the garden declines and the days grow shorter a little bit of sadness will creep in. For some people the autumn months can even pose a risk of depression.
So I have tried to come up with ideas over the years to celebrate the changing season. To not focus as much on the losses of summer, but instead on the pleasures of the new season. Here are some of my favorite ways to embrace the changing seasons and boost your mood. These steps can help you to feel less sorrow and more joy in the coming days.
7 ways to Boost your Mood this Autumn…
Plan an autumn party or picnic
Celebrate the changing season with a get-together. You could host a backyard BBQ or have a Friday game night. Take your family on a picnic even if it’s to your garden shed. Find out if your local high school is going to have a tailgate night and plan to join in. Even if your kids are grown and gone you can go and cheer for the local team. An autumn season gathering gives you something to plan. This can help us move forward instead of looking back.
Use your firepit frequently
Now is one of the best times to enjoy your outdoor firepit. The evenings are crisper and you’ll have a little more time to relax around the fire. Invite your friends over to enjoy the fire with you. Be prepared with a smore kit or maybe create a special hot autumn drink or cocktail to share. There is something so cozy about gathering around the fire.
Set up lights in your yard and patio
There is no doubt that lights in the dark can make you feel better. So hang up strands of lights around your deck and garden shed. Put out hurricane lanterns on your patio. Use solar lights along garden pathways. There is just something magical when you see the glow of all those lights around your yard.
Incorporate changes in your routine that will energize you
As we move into the fall season there are things you can do in your routine to get encouraged. Here are a few ideas that can get you excited for the new season.
- Light a fragrant candle when you get up in the morning
- Hang some twinkle lights in your home that you turn on at night
- Have some special seasonal meals that you just prepare in the fall
- Splurge on a new flavor of coffee or tea
- Make a list of all of the blessings in your life right now
- Turn on music throughout the day
Reach out to friends and family who might need some encouragement
One of the best ways to reduce the sadness in our lives, is to reach out to others. When we are looking outside of ourselves we are less likely to focus on our own problems. The older members of your family might need some assistance winterizing their homes. Or maybe they could just use some company as the days grow shorter. Pack up a loaf of zucchini bread and go for a visit. Your younger neighbor with 4 kids, might need a break. You could have the kids over for an afternoon and give her a few hours of quiet. These are simple things to do, yet when we help others we see an improvement in our mood.
Add fragrance to your home
The sense of smell has a powerful impact on our lives. Adding in wonderful fragrances to your home has been shown to improve mood. In the fall, fill your home with the smells of the season. I frequently put apple cider in my crockpot and let it simmer to fill my home. Or find a candle or 2 that invokes the smells of baking…apple pie, pumpkin bread and cinnamon rolls are some favorites. You can make a dry potpourri to distribute in different rooms. Or make a simmering potpourri to infuse cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves throughout your home.
Pamper yourself
When we start to feel down then we need to focus on ourselves a little more. Take some time to pamper yourself. Most of us are always doing for others and we rarely take the time for us. So do something that makes you feel special. When we take time to fill us up, we will have more to give to others. Here are some ideas to get you started.
- Get a manicure
- Take a long, relaxing bath
- Try a new hairstyle
- Buy a fun book or magazine
- Meet a friend for lunch
- Go see a light-hearted movie
- Take a nap
- Treat yourself to a pumpkin spice latte
These 7 ideas are not a cure for seasonal depression that some might experience. However, when we take a few steps to improve our mood we can become more hopeful and joyful. That can rub off on our friends and family members who also might be struggling with these seasonal changes as well. We can’t stop the change in seasons. No matter how I try to extend my garden, eventually the cold temperatures will get to it. But we can try to focus our attention on things that we can do to lessen the internal discouragement that we sometimes feel when fall comes our way.
Related topic: 8 Ways to Cope with the Winter Blues