As the crisp air rolls in and the leaves begin to fall, autumn presents a perfect opportunity to shift your self-care routines to align with the season’s natural rhythm. Fall symbolizes change and preparation for winter, making it essential to nourish your body, mind, and spirit with practices that support this transition. Embracing holistic health in the form of diet adjustments, skincare routines, and mindfulness exercises can help you stay balanced, energized, and grounded throughout the season. Here are some seasonal self-care tips tailored for fall to keep you feeling your best.
ADJUST YOUR DIET: WARMTH & NOURISHMENT
In Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda, fall is viewed as a time to focus on grounding, warming, and nourishing foods to help the body adapt to cooler weather. As the season changes, it's essential to shift from the light, cooling foods of summer to heartier, more warming meals.
Seasonal Fall Foods
Root Vegetables: Carrots, sweet potatoes, beets, and other root vegetables are perfect for fall. They’re rich in vitamins and minerals that support immune health while also providing grounding energy. Roasting them with warming spices like cinnamon, ginger, and rosemary makes for a cozy side dish.
Squashes & Pumpkins: These seasonal stars are loaded with beta-carotene and antioxidants, which are crucial for keeping your immune system strong during the colder months.
Whole Grains & Legumes: Adding whole grains like quinoa, farro, and brown rice, as well as lentils and beans, helps provide sustained energy. These foods are hearty and nourishing, supporting your body through the seasonal transition.
Warming Teas & Broths
Herbal Teas: Warming teas like ginger, cinnamon, and turmeric help to increase circulation and boost immunity.
Ginger tea is particularly beneficial for digestion and keeping your body warm.
Bone Broth: Rich in minerals, collagen, and amino acids,
bone broth is a fantastic way to support your gut health, which is critical for immunity as we head into flu season.
TAILOR YOUR SKINCARE ROUTINE FOR THE SEASON
The drop in temperature and humidity during fall can leave your skin feeling dry and depleted. It’s essential to transition your skincare routine to provide extra hydration and protection as you prepare for winter.
Hydration is Key
Moisturize Daily: Switch from lighter summer lotions to richer, more hydrating creams that lock in moisture. Cocoa seed butter is a nutrient-rich emollient that helps keep skin hydrated.
Use a Hydrating Serum: Incorporating advanced plant-based technology to support optimal lipid balance can help achieve smoother, healthier-looking skin. Look for products with natural oils like jojoba, almond, or argan oil to keep your skin soft and hydrated.
Don’t Forget Your Body: often times we think about our face and hands, but the rest of your body needs hydration too. Yarrow root is a natural herb known for its hydrating and soothing properties, making it a great addition to skincare routines. Rich in antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds, it helps to lock in moisture, calm irritated skin, and promote a healthy, radiant complexion.
These
three products are great for daily hydration for your face, body and beyond.
Exfoliate Gently
Natural Exfoliation: As your skin adjusts to the cooler air, gently exfoliating with a
natural scrub once or twice a week will help remove dead skin cells and allow your moisturizers to penetrate more deeply. Use ingredients like oats or sugar mixed with honey for a simple DIY exfoliating mask.
Nourish from Within
Eat Healthy Fats: Omega-3-rich foods like salmon, flaxseeds, and chia seeds help to maintain your skin’s moisture barrier from the inside out. Including these in your diet can enhance your skin’s glow and elasticity.
PRACTICE MINDFULNESS FOR EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING
Fall often brings a sense of winding down, making it a perfect time to slow your pace and practice mindfulness. Engaging in grounding exercises can help reduce stress and improve mental clarity as you transition into a more introspective season.
Gratitude Practice
Fall invites reflection and appreciation for the year’s harvest, both literally and figuratively. Start a daily gratitude practice by journaling and least one thing you’re thankful for each day. This simple exercise can shift your mindset towards positivity and help you stay grounded.
Breathing Exercises
Incorporate breathing exercises into your daily routine to calm your nervous system and relieve stress. Try this simple technique:
Box Breathing: A simple yet powerful breathing technique used to calm the mind and reduce stress. It involves four equal parts: inhaling, holding, exhaling, and holding again, each for the same count. Here’s how it works:
- Inhale: Breathe in deeply through your nose for a count of 4.
- Hold: Hold your breath for 4 seconds.
- Exhale: Slowly exhale through your mouth for 4 seconds.
- Hold: Pause and hold your breath for another 4 seconds.
This process can be repeated for several cycles. Box breathing helps regulate your breath, slow your heart rate, and promote a sense of calm, making it a great tool for managing anxiety or stress.
Outdoor Meditation
Fall is the perfect time to embrace the changing landscape. Bundle up and take your meditation practice outside. Find a quiet spot among the trees, take in the sights and sounds of nature, and focus on your breath. The cool, crisp air can invigorate your senses, making it easier to stay present.
CREATE A COZY FALL ATMOSPHERE AT HOME
As the days grow shorter, creating a warm and inviting atmosphere at home can contribute to your overall sense of well-being. Fall is all about feeling cozy, and your living space should reflect that.
Incorporate Aromatherapy
Essential Oils: Scents like Cinnamon, Clove, Wild Orange, and Frankincense are warming, grounding and perfect for fall. Use a diffuser to fill your space with warm, soothing aromas that help reduce stress and promote relaxation. Here’s a link to
25% off three of my favorite fall blends: Harvest Spice, Hygge and On Guard®. Hurry though both Harvest Spice and Hygge are limited time offers.
Candles: Opt for
toxin-free candles using coconut, soy or beeswax that are infused with essential oils to create a calming atmosphere. The flicker of candlelight paired with a cozy blanket can enhance feelings of warmth and comfort.
By the way, the best option is to make your own, that way you know exactly what’s in it!
3 Tbsp Soy Wax, 1 Tbsp Beeswax, 1 Tbsp Coconut Oil, 35 drops of your favorite essential oil, 1 Wick, and a 2-3 oz jar or similar container. Melt solids (soy wax, beeswax, and solid coconut oil) in a double boiler. When mixture has fully melted, remove from the heat. Stir in essential oils and blend for 30 seconds. Dip the bottom of the candle wick into the melted wax and use this to stick the wick to the bottom of the container. Prop wick upright and pour wax into the container. Allow candle to cool completely, then trim wick to ¼” height above the wax. Light and enjoy!
Declutter & Simplify
Fall is an ideal time to clear out any lingering clutter from summer and transition your home into a peaceful retreat. Decluttering your space can have a calming effect on your mind, allowing for a smoother mental transition into the slower pace of the season.
Transitioning into fall is about more than just swapping your wardrobe; it’s a time to nourish your body, mind, and spirit in alignment with the season. By adjusting your diet to include warming, seasonal foods, updating your skincare routine for extra hydration, practicing mindfulness, and creating a cozy environment at home, you can enter autumn feeling balanced, grounded, and healthy. Embrace the change of season as an opportunity for renewal and self-care, and you’ll find yourself thriving through the cooler months ahead.
xoDanette