Fall Coping Skills
I’m not sure what the seasons are like where you live, but, in Kansas, we often only get a quick glimpse of fall weather before we either head back into a heat wave or jump into winter chill. Nonetheless, when those cool, crisp, colorful fall days arrive, I take full advantage of them. Below are some of my favorite coping skills to engage with during this season.
Sensory walk: head outside with the only intention of engaging with your 5 senses. Don’t worry about how fast you walk, how far you walk, and maybe even head out without a destination in mind. Look up while you soak in the captivating colors of the fall season. Slow down your pace, close your eyes, and listen to the crunching of the leaves beneath your feet. Tune into the different scents around you, is someone having a bonfire? Do you smell the fallen leaves all around you? Maybe you have on a warm jacket, how does that feel against your skin? How do your shoes and socks feel as you are walking?
Fall-scented candles: Nothing solidifies having a clean house like lighting a candle. In the fall, you bet I have the fall-scented candles going. Don’t fret if you don’t have a clean house, that is just a quirk of mine, you can light your candle no matter the state of your house. As you light the candle, take time to sit for a few minutes and breath in the fall aroma. What comes to mind as you breathe the candle?
Cozy blankets: Sunshine does wonders for my soul, but a day is truly a fall day to me if it involves some overcast. When the grey skies settle in, I love to sit by a big window, wrap up in a cozy blanket, and whip out a good book.
Soups and chili: I have to pace myself before I start incorporating these staples into our weekly meals because I want to have them the first day there’s a chill in the air, but I have to remind myself we have a long few months of cooler weather and I can’t burn myself out of these tasty meals by having them too early in the season.
Bonfires: We have a running joke in my house because my husband loves bonfires, too, but he loves to just sit and play with the fire whereas I like to try and have conversations while sitting around the fire. Nonetheless, whether you choose to sit or sit and talk throwing in some smores is bound to make this a relaxing and fun time.
Reading: I mentioned this with the cozy blankets, but it deserves its own space, too. I love reading any season, but there’s something extra calming about snuggling up with a good book on chilly days.
Watching Football: College, NFL, high school. It doesn’t matter, I love watching football. Kansas teams are who you’ll find me rooting for, but I enjoy watching almost any game (unless it’s watching Mizzou or the Raiders win).
Leaf picking: I’ve enjoyed looking at the fall leaves in the past, but I’m really leaning into this one as my son is more alert this fall season and enjoys pointing at all the different colors of leaves. We like picking up leaves that are all sorts of colors, sizes, and shapes and comparing all of them.
What are some fall coping skills you like to engage in?
