October is truly a season of transition. The temperatures are shifting, the nights are lingering, and the leaves are finally turning to gold and brown. If you’re a romantic at heart, or one who tends to romanticize life, October is definitely a welcome transition. We put away the pool towels, we stack the firewood, and we snuggle in for a good long rest. Since I believe whole heartedly in the benefits of monthly resolutions, I look to October for respite. I hope you, too, can find inspiration in October’s beauty to calm yourself and discover a seasonal reset.
Be Intentional
Once summer things have been packed away and the familiarity of autumn transcends upon us, it’s time to think about those extra hours we are allowed to recapture in the fall. October is the month where I focus on calming myself and resetting my home for the upcoming months spent inside. Holiday seasons bring the opportunity to share our hearts and homes, and October becomes the calm before the festive storm. Don’t get me wrong! I love the holidays. I love hosting and practicing hospitality, I love the holiday parties and the proverbial feasts, I love every decoration and every twinkling light. But I also love the calm easy moments October affords.
If you are looking for ways to calm yourself and practice a seasonal reset, intentionality is the name of the game. When you’re able, be intentional about your days. Here are a few ways you can practice inentionality and mindfully foster the art of calming yourself this season.
Take a walk outdoors: Try to spend at least fifteen minutes outdoors in the morning before your day begins. The fresh air and crisp temperatures will invigorate you and start your day on the right foot.
Try a new coffee or tea: Seasonal beverages, especially warm ones, can have a soothing effect. Take a break and give yourself the gift of time.
Watch the sunrise – or catch the sunset. These stolen moments are beautiful ways to bookend your day. They don’t last long, but wow, what an impact.
Air out your house: Open the windows while you make the bed, wash the dishes, or finish a chore. Even five minutes will make your home feel fresh and clean.
Remember Slow Practices
It’s no secret we live in a fast-paced world that lives and dies by instant gratification. We click a link and a purchased item arrives in our mailbox within 24 hours. We text a friend and connect instantly, but only for the moment. Even fast rood restaurants have incorporated kiosks so we have less and less human interaction.
If you are looking for ways to calm yourself and discover a seasonal reset, remember the slow practices that foster real connection. Try one of these and I bet you’ll find the results to be astounding.
Write a handwritten card: Studies show that receiving a hand-written note in the mail has the same emotional effect as receiving a gift. Why not surprise someone today with a card or letter in their mailbox?
Invite someone over for dinner: Practicing hospitality doesn’t have to be daunting. Remember that simpler is better. A warm soup, chili, or casserole is all you need. It doesn’t have to be fancy. It just has to be heart-felt.
Spend time with a friend: Even if you can only spare thirty minutes to an hour, scheduling a coffee break, an afternoon walk, dropping by with fresh flowers will give you a real human connection that calms and resets your mood.
Give Yourself Permission
There is an overwhelming push to do more, see more, be more. Whereas productivity was the name of the game in the early 2000’s, I’m sensing an ever-growing lean to slowing down and being present. In order to calm yourself and experience a seasonal reset, you must give yourself permission to enjoy the moment you are in. What does that look like? Here are some easy examples:
Eat a meal by candlelight: Candle lit dinners aren’t just for lovers. Let your children experience the ambiance of a slower, calmer meal time. Allow yourself permission to linger over dessert before clearing the table. Engage in conversation. Savor every moment.
Pick out a new book: Reading even ten minutes a day can reset our nervous system from a frantic, hectic, chaotic response, to one that is noticeably calmer and more relaxed. Find a topic that holds you captive and give yourself permission to indulge.
Unplug: While I would love to qualify this with “unplug the TV,” I’m going a step further and encourage you to simply unplug for an evening. Turn off your laptops, silence your phones, and say no to Netflix for the night. Spend time in your new book, rekindle an old hobby, or simply listen to some soothing music. The point is to calm yourself and reset. Give yourself permission to do nothing.
Calm Yourself with A Seasonal Reset
As October brings beauty and change, remember to be intentional, practice hospitality, and give your self permission to rest! The holidays are fast approaching. Capture a few stolen moments so you can enjoy the seasons to come.
Wherever this season takes you, remember to be gentle with yourself, embrace change with a grateful heart, and don’t forget to Forward Your Mail.
Cheers, everybody!
Additional Resources:
Monthly Resolutions: FREE Printable
