It’s that time of year, when the temperature drops, the leaves fall, and the sun fades. I love Thanksgiving and Christmas, but let’s be real… my mood does not always stay in a cheerful mood during this season.

As I continue to get older, I begin to value my self-care days a lot more. They allow me to take a step back, breathe, de-stress, and check up on how I’m feeling. If I have a recommendation for others like me, it’s to prioritize your self-care days.

Here are a few activities that I would recommend for you this season:

1. Comfort Shows

   • During the fall/winter time, I always fall back to my comfort show ‘Gilmore Girls’. I typically watch about two episodes at the end of the day, while snuggled in a blanket, and it does its job.

2. Meditation

   • Over the past few years, I have been noticing a rise in Holistic practices implemented into self-care, and I think it’s a wonderful way to care for yourself. Meditation, specifically, allows for 5-20 minutes (depending on how much you’d like to do it for) of focusing on your body’s balance mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. The wonderful thing about meditation is that it’s personal, meaning that you are in control of how you want to meditate.

3. Morning, Afternoon, or Night Time Walks

   • Taking a walk at any of these times with a family member, friend, or even pet, will allow you to get moving and breathe some fresh air. During this time, you can listen to music that eases you or if you are with someone, you can debrief on your day.

4. Journaling

   • Journaling is an effective way to write down all your thoughts and feelings that you may not have noticed you had throughout the day. By taking this time, you allow yourself to release any stress or emotions that you may have at the end of the day, as well as take time to write about your goals, gratifications, and more.

5. Cooking and/or Baking

   • For some people, cooking or baking can be a relaxing activity. I enjoy baking while listening to jazz and Christmas music during the fall/winter seasons. As I mentioned before, I also enjoy watching my comfort show, so I typically do both of these at the same time.

These are just a few little activities for you to participate in, but the important thing to take away from this isn’t the activities themselves, but rather prioritizing yourself. I hope you all take care of your physical, mental, and spiritual health this fall and winter season!