Five Ways to Make the Best Out of Autumn

“Autumn carries more gold in its pocket than all other seasons.”
~ Jim Bishop.

Breezing in with crunchy gold leaves and the aroma of cinnamon buns, autumn arrives at our doorsteps on the 23rd day of September each year. All of a sudden the air turns cooler, and the trees are ablaze in fiery shades of red, yellow, and orange. The transformative season then cloaks us in its gentle rust-colored embrace till 22nd December, before transitioning to winter.

Lessons from Autumn: 5 Ways to Fully Enjoy This Autumn

Like all other seasons, autumn carries its unique lessons from nature. The dying earth and the crinkled autumn leaves falling like pieces into place, as Taylor Swift so hauntingly sings, invite reflection on the inevitability of demise and the promise of transformation. While pondering over such ephemerality one is forced to confront the importance of making the most out of the present. Accepting impermanence becomes much easier when one has savored each passing moment.

In this spirit of seizing the day and making sure that this autumn is one you wholeheartedly embrace, here are five ways you can fully enjoy this autumn:

1. Ready Your Space

The best way to get into that snug fall mood is to prepare your personal space for the season. Replace those light airy summer sheets with thicker ones in autumnal shades like brown, mustard yellow, and hunter green. Layering them with fluffy pillows and soft blankets for warmth can make your bed a tempting spot to jump onto after a long tiring day. To top it all off, you can hang orange or yellow fairy lights to give your room a warm glow, perfectly in contrast with the chilly winds outside. If you wish to take it a step further, adding DIY decor and lighting scented candles can give your room the quintessential autumn touch that will satisfy all your cravings for those fall feels.

2. Enjoy the Outdoors

“Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away;
Lengthen night and shorten day;
Every leaf speaks bliss to me
Fluttering from the autumn tree.”
~ Emily Brontë

Nothing grounds you back into the present as a relaxing stroll taking in nature’s various sights and sounds. As the air turns crisp and the rustling leaves dance in symphony to a backdrop of red, orange, and yellow, reconnecting with nature might be just what you need to rejuvenate yourself.

Whether you celebrate the shortening days and blushing evening skies through a picnic with your loved ones, a hiking trip, camping, or simply by daily walks, autumn can nourish your soul. Not only will these trips help rekindle your relationship with nature, but they can also give you the perfect opportunity to collect fall foliage for DIY craft projects that will brighten up your space. As you pass through the palette of autumnal hues and the last whispering breaths of leaves, remember that no activity is complete without a soundtrack - so we've got you covered. Check out some of the best autumnal songs here!

3. Fall Media to Set the Mood

Even though the outdoors can offer you a front-row seat to the transforming and dynamic fall landscape, it's not for everyone. If you're a homebody or someone simply in search of the best fall media to take in the season's warm, mystical, and magical mood then there's plenty to choose from.

Best Autumn Films

1. Beetlejuice (1988)
2. Jennifer's Body (2009)
3. Get Out (2017)
4. Dead Poets Society (1989)
5. Little Women (2019)

As autumn rolls around, so does Halloween season meaning that you are once again craving those spooky, eerie, supernatural elements that make the season so exciting. If you're on the hunt for a movie that satisfies that, look no further than this list. If, on the other hand, you are someone who's in a more reflective autumn mood and would prefer something more heartfelt with stunning fall shots, Dead Poets Society and Little Women are the perfect watch for you.

Best Autumn Series

1. Wednesday (2022-present)
2. The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
3. Only Murders in the Building (2021-present)
4. Gilmore Girls (2000-2007)
5. Anne with an E (2017-2019)

If movies aren't your thing and you'd rather be snuggled up in your blanket binge-watching shows then Wednesday is perfect for a Halloween week watch with all its gothic glory. The Haunting of Hill House gives you all the supernatural thrills, Only Murders in the Building has beautiful NYC views and comedic mystery while Gilmore Girls (a quintessential autumn watch) and Anne with an E bring you the perfect fall palette and cozy autumn visuals.

Best Autumn Animations

1. The Corpse Bride (2005)
2. Over the Garden Wall (2014)
3. Wolfwalkers (2020)
4. The Book of Life (2014)
5. Kiki's Delivery Service (1989)

These visually stunning animations with themes of death, rebirth, found family, and self-discovery fit the perfect balance between creepy and captivating befitting for autumn. The Corpse Bride and The Book of Life dive into the notions of death and love, while delivering gorgeous gothic visuals. The warm, snug, and cozy vibes of Over The Garden Wall, Wolfwalkers, and Kiki’s Delivery Service, alternatively, are the perfect watches for a cold and crisp autumn day.

Best Autumn Books

Click the title to read the book on Amazon

1. In the Company of Witches - Auralee Wallace
2. The Pumpkin Spice Café - Laurie Gilmore
3. The Secret History - Donna Tartt
4. The Very Secret Society of Irregular Witches - Sangu Mandanna
5. Something Wicked This Way Comes - Ray Bradbury

These bewitching fantasy reads are the perfect companion for your autumn walk, whether you read them on a park bench or let them accompany you as audiobooks. They dive into stories that revolve around witches, charming small towns, death, and horror. From the swoon-worthy romance in The Pumpkin Spice Café to the spooks and suspense in Something Wicked This Way Comes, this list has something everyone can enjoy.

Autumn YouTube Playlists

1. By Darling Desi
2. By Our Cottage Life
3. By Haley Post

These YouTube playlists offer the perfect autumn starter pack for all fall fans. Whether you're in search of a Halloween vlog, breathtaking fall-related visuals, or cozy morning rituals to adopt—these playlists are the ones for you. Leave the videos to play as you grab a coffee and enjoy the crisp and chilly autumn air.

4. Try Fall Recipes

Cooking and baking seasonal foods is a great way to indulge in the fall spirit. Whether you’re craving something sweet and desi like pumpkin halwa or baked western treats like cinnamon rolls and pumpkin bread, it's never a bad idea to get into the kitchen and hand-bake some for yourself. For more savory options, cooking mixed vegetables and roasted root vegetables is a great way to honor the humble bounty of autumn, and tea sandwiches are the perfect addition to any fall picnic you plan to have. You can also try your hand at the classic pumpkin spice latte, a cliché but comforting autumnal drink that will add a touch of magic to your days.

Give these fall recipes a try and let us know in the comments how they turned out for you!

5. Let Go

Autumn is the season of dying and letting go. Paradoxically, it is also the season of hope - it is the promise of rebirth and resurgence that makes the sight of dying leaves and withering flowers so bearable. Embody the fall spirit by letting something go: a bad habit, a toxic friend, or maybe just the tabs on your browser that have been open for too long. Let the hope that what you release will be replaced by something better and more meaningful guide your choices and embrace the uncertainty that comes with our brief lives on this earth, with autumn as your mentor.

Embrace Autumn's Magic

Now that we’re deep in autumn, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the season's magic and how you can embrace it. What are some fall activities and rituals that you enjoy? Do you have your own go-to comfort fall media? Is there anything from the list that you do or would like to try? Let us know in the comments, we’d love to hear from you!

~ Your Asfa Eman

Here are some of the sources I have referred to that might help you dig deeper:

• Goodreads Quote: Autumn Carries More Gold
• Poets.org: Fall, Leaves, Fall
• Goodreads Autumn Book List