Self-Care Tips For Autumn

As the seasons’ change, so must our approach to self-care. The days are now beginning to get shorter, resulting in dark evenings and even darker mornings. For many, autumn is the time of year when things can start to get challenging. The shorter days can create a cycle of low mood and lead us to feel unmotivated and lethargic. The change in the weather conditions can cause havoc with our skin, and as we start to approach the most expensive time of the year, financial stress can take its toll. 

But worry not, because I am here to help. The real trick to surviving the change in seasons is to start looking into self-care tips for autumn. There’s lots of self-care that can be done throughout autumn that will help to keep you motivated and ready to seize the day, so let’s take a closer look at some of them.

Start A Journal

When it comes to self-care tips for autumn, my biggest piece of advice would be to look after your mental health. Even the most bubbly of people can start to feel things beginning to drag as the seasons’ change and the days get shorter. SADs affect around 2 million in the UK each year which is why it’s imperative that you make your mental health your priority this autumn. 

One of the best methods I have found to help me to keep track of my mental health and self-care journey is journaling. Having a space available for you to freely express yourself without the fear of judgment is liberating, and being able to reflect and analyse your behaviour can lead you to see the world in a whole new light.

Decorate Your Home

Bring the outside in by decorating your home with autumn’s natural goodies! From pine cones and conkers to autumnal wreaths, there are lots that you can do to incorporate nature into your home during autumn. Decorating your home for the season helps many to see the positives and remember what they love about the time of year, rather than focusing solely on the drawbacks and problems that the change in season can present.

Get Your Skincare In Check

As the air gets crisper and the humidity drops, your skin often takes the brunt of autumn’s harsher conditions. It’s the perfect time to revisit your skincare routine: swap out lightweight moisturisers for richer creams and balms that lock in moisture and help repair your skin barrier. If you’re prone to dry patches or flare-ups, using a gentle cleanser (free of strong fragrances or alcohol) can prevent irritation, while an eczema cream can be a lifesaver for soothing itchy or inflamed areas. Don’t forget to protect your lips and hands too, little details like applying a thick hand cream before bed or using a balm with SPF on windy days make a big difference.

Take Yourself On A Coffee Date

One of my favourite things about autumn is the abundance of sweet flavoured hot drinks. For a lot of coffee fans, there’s nothing more autumnal than grabbing a friend and heading out for a Pumpkin Spiced Latte. However, with busy schedules and plenty of people struggling to make the time to juggle life, parenting, money, and socialising, sometimes you’ve just got to treat yourself. One of my best self-care tips for autumn is to take yourself on a date – it doesn’t have to be a coffee or hot chocolate date, you can go anywhere you want and do whatever makes you happy – but those flavoured warm drinks really do call to me! 

Set Boundaries & Stick To Them

Tis the season for invitation after invitation, from work outings to family get togethers. It can seem like you have no choice but to attend all the functions you’ve been invited to and pull out all the stops in order to help organise events and contribute to them somehow. But, the fact of the matter is this: if you say “yes” to everyone, you’re saying “no” to yourself every time.

Learning to say “no” and setting boundaries is a huge part of my self-care tips for autumn, and it’s something that you need to get into the habit of doing before the Christmas party period starts. I’m not suggesting you shun all your friends and family, but what I am saying is that if you often find yourself feeling overwhelmed and stretched too thin around this time of year, learning how to set boundaries (and stick to them) could save you from feeling stressed and anxious.