I love a change of season. It always feels exciting to me, like a fresh slate, a mini new year. An opportunity to reflect on the season past and think about what you want from the season ahead.
Autumn, for me, holds even stronger associations to a new year. Despite leaving formal education nearly 10 years ago, I still connect it to the start of a new academic year. Excited to get a new pencil case and school shoes, start new classes and learn new things.
My summer this year was very busy and indulgent. It’s left me feeling like my body is 50% wine and 50% cheese. So this autumn I’m feeling motivated to get back to good health. I want to re-boot my running routine and start eating healthy nourishing meals.
I also want this season to feel slower and calmer, a switching down of gears. My summer was a sprint, and I want this autumn to be a leisurely stroll. My summer was a sequin dress, and I want autumn to be a cosy jumper. My summer was a pina colada, and I want autumn to be a lovely cup of herbal tea.
With that in mind, here are 10 things I’m looking forward to that will hopefully amount to a healthy, cosy and restful autumn.
Sober October. After a summer full of pints in beer gardens, bottomless prosecco weddings and too many Aperol Spritz to count, I’ve landed in October feeling SO ready for a break from booze. Sober October has become a bit of a yearly ritual of mine. This will be the third year in a row that I’ve taken part. It can be tough, watching all your friends drink lovely pints of Guinness around a cosy pub fire. But my body always thanks me for it, plus alcohol free Guinness is amazing, I’ve stocked up on it, alongside my other faves: Tanquery 0 and Botivo.
Silver Jewellery making class. Another autumn ritual of mine is enrolling in a creative evening class. Last year I did oil painting, the year before life drawing, and the year before that upholstery. As the days get darker and the nights draw in, it’s lovely to have something to look forward to that gets you out of the house and creating. This year I picked a 6 week silver jewellery making course. It starts in November and I can’t wait.
Loose leaf teas. I love my tea, I start every day with an english breakfast and end most evenings with a cup of peppermint and liquorice. I’ve only ever dabbled in the humble tea bag, but this year I’ve decided to up my tea game and experiment with loose leaf teas. I jumped into the deep end and signed up to a Bird and Blend tea subscription. They send you a selection of 3 loose leaf tea blends to try every month. The first one arrived a week ago and included a Chilli Chocolate Chai which was insane! I’m already a loose leaf convert, I don’t know what took me so long.
Morning walks with audio books. I usually start each morning with my cup of tea and my book in bed. It’s a habit that began in lockdown when the switch to working from home suddenly afforded room for a slow morning. But recently I’ve tested a new version; putting my tea in a thermos, sliding on my crocs and a cosy coat and plugging into an audio book as I walk around the local park. It’s such a lovely and energising way to start the day. Although I’m an avid reader, and keen podcast listener- I’m totally new to audio books. Like loose leaf teas, I don’t know what took me so long! It’s so calming having some reading to you, and I can download them for free from my local library’s app, BorrowBox.
Half marathon training. I used to be a pretty keen runner, and in 2017 ran a full marathon in Iceland! Ever since then I’ve been trying and struggling to properly get back into running. I was a one and done marathon person, not one of those who got the bug. But this May I did the Battersea half marathon. I found booking and training for it the perfect way to bring structure to getting fit. I’d planned to keep up the running over summer and maintain my hard earned fittness, but guess what? It didn’t happen. I barely ran at all. So when my friend mentioned she was doing the Salisbury half marathon in December I quickly signed up.
Essential oils, burning sage and candles. This is the perfect time of year to get all the witchey smelly things out of the cupboard. I love burning dried sage, lighting a few candles and adding some drops of essential oils to my baths. I recently made a lovely body oil by mixing jojoba oil with lavender, grapefruit and bergamot essential oils. It’s such an amazing smelling treat to put on after a bath or shower and is pretty cheap to make.
A seasonal veg box. I’ve experimented with veg boxes a few times, I enjoy them for a while but usually end up cancelling after receiving yet another box of potatoes and cabbage, (we’re so accustomed to getting any veg we want at any time of year from supermarkets!) However, I do think the veg tastes noticeably better than in supermarkets and gets me experimenting with new recipes. I recently signed up to a bi-weekly veg box from the local farm, and have been making tasty veg filled soups and stews. Let’s see how long it takes before I get bored again!
Painting in the studio. In spring I started renting a desk in a local arts studio. I love getting in there and painting when I can, but my busy summer meant it sat unused for the last 3 months. This month I’ve made my return to the studio and have fallen back in love. I can’t wait to do more painting this autumn.
Massage/ accupucture. Since autumn is much more low key for me, I’m hopefully going to have more disposable income to spend on a treat for myself like a massage or accupuncture session, or both! The Bristol Lido is my favourite place to get a massage and go for a lovely swim and sauna afterwards.
Cinema dates. Autumn is the perfect time for a cosy evening at the cinema. I’ve already been to see two films: The Substance (maybe awful, maybe great?) and The Outrun (so moving!). I don’t think they could be two more different films, but both were very enjoyable. To be honest, it doesn’t matter too much what the film is, I just love going to the local independent cinema and getting a box of popcorn. It’s such a nice way to spend an evening.
So those are 10 things I’m looking forward to this autumn. What do you want from your Autumn?
You had me at the seasonal veg box. Over the years I have tried some of the big names in veg boxes but then got bored/tired of a veg draw filled with potatoes and carrots! However you have reminded me that there is a local farm now doing a veg box and I have been meaning to sign up. The volume of plastic wrapped veg in my current shop is reason enough!
A great list, I love the idea of autumn being for a creative course. Do keep us updated with how you get on with your silver workshop!
Love this list! I strongly align with 7/10 of those. We've been going to the cinema a lot more recently because a new Picturehouse opened near us and we became members. I thought The Outrun was wonderful and had me thinking about it for days afterwards. Autumn and tea do seem like good companions, I agree. I don't have a loose leaf pot either but we were in a cafe a week or so ago and I ordered an earl grey which came in a loose leaf pot and it tasted so good. I'm tempted to buy one.
I love lighting the log burner and getting cosy without it being too freezing cold, so autumn is the perfect season in that respect! Also there are so many lovely natural colours everywhere.