When you hear the word “health”, what comes to mind? Diet? Exercise? Nutrition? Sure, all of these things relate to our physical health, but there’s another very important component to health that people often overlook – mental health. Being healthy doesn’t just revolve around eating right or staying active; it also involves taking care of yourself and doing more of what makes you happy.
For some people that might mean taking a day off from the gym to spend time with family, or for others it could mean ordering pizza for dinner simply because you’re craving it. Whatever it is that makes you happy, I encourage to do more of it. After all, good health starts on the inside. When we feel happy internally, then we’re more likely to be physically healthy, as well.
Growing up in Michigan, I never truly appreciated the season of fall. I’m a summer girl at heart, so every year when September 22nd rolled around, I immediately began my countdown until summer would be back again. For the past few years, I’ve lived in South Carolina and Georgia during the fall months, and let’s just set the record straight – fall in The South is completely different than the fall in the midwest. Don’t get me wrong – I loved the fact that we had temperatures in the 80’s well into November, and that I could walk around in short-sleeves until the early part of December. But this year, I’m back home in Michigan for the fall, and it made me really appreciate this season that I had been missing out on over the past several years.
And yes, I know that it’s December 13th, which is practically winter. But technically, it’s still fall, so that means it’s still totally acceptable for me to post this now!
So with that being said, here are a few of my favorite fall things:
Saturdays filled with college football:
I’m a huge fan of college football. Actually, huge doesn’t even begin to describe it – I’m a massive fan of college football, meaning that I’m constantly paying attention to rankings or watching games on TV. If you want to find me at any given Saturday between September and January, you’ll most likely find me on my couch watching the Michigan State game (GO GREEN!) or any college football game, for that matter. And now that I’m a graduate student at The University of Alabama, I can confidently say… ROLL TIDE!
Cozy sweaters and scarves:
With the fall weather comes all of the fall fashion trends: cozy, oversized sweaters, warm boots, and comfy scarves! At the end of a long day of work, my favorite thing to do is change out of my dress clothes and into sweatpants and my comfiest sweatshirt. There is truly no better feeling than getting all comfy cozy in your warm, relaxing clothes.
Pumpkin-flavored foods:
‘Tis the season for all things pumpkin-related! When you head to the grocery store, you can probably find hundreds of pumpkin-spice products lining the shelves: cream cheese, cereals, ice cream, waffles, bagels, pasta sauces, cookies, nut butters, yogurts, hummus… the list goes on and on. I’ll be the first to admit that I was never a big fan of pumpkin foods; I thought it was just some crazy trend that never deserved all of the hype it was getting. That is, until last year when I branched out and tried some new pumpkin-flavored foods. Now, I totally see what the big deal is! There’s just something so comforting about eating pumpkin-flavored foods during the fall! On a side note, Trader Joe’s has some of the best pumpkin products on the market – I highly suggest checking them out (especially the fall harvest salsa, pumpkin butter, harvest blend herbal tea, and pumpkin bagels!)
Scented candles:
Okay, I have a confession to make: I am 100% guilty of being obsessed with candles-just take one look around my bedroom and this can be confirmed. I can’t help myself, though, because there is just something so soothing and relaxing about candles! After a long day, lighting a candle and cozying up on the couch helps me relax and forget about everything that might be bothering me at the time.
Baking:
Bread, muffins, and pies, oh my! To me, fall is all about the baking. And to be perfectly honest, you’ll probably find me baking something every weekend, whether it’s for myself to enjoy or to share with friends and family. I find a great deal of comfort and relaxation in baking, and sharing my baked goods with others brings me so much joy. Plus, as an added bonus, it always makes my apartment smell so good! Just don’t ask me to tell you my favorite fall recipe, because even I can’t answer that one – there are just too many good ones to choose from!
Getting all warm and cozy:
When it’s cold and windy outside, I love curling up on my couch under a warm blanket, wearing slippers around my place, or having an excuse to stay in my warm, fuzzy pajamas all day. It doesn’t get much better than that! After all, weekends are made for relaxation, right?!
Fantastic food:
Squash. Sweet potatoes. Apples. Warm oatmeal. Brussels sprouts. Chili. Casseroles. Pumpkin pie. Shall I continue? Fall is the season for so many delicious, comforting foods, and just thinking about all of these foods is making my mouth water! Almost every single week (not joking) I roast a big batch of fall veggies, lots of sweet potatoes, and several different varieties of squash to have on hand for the week. Do I ever get sick of them? No. Do I wish these foods were in-season all year long? YES! If only…
Reading:
When summer ends and fall arrives, I usually don’t spend as much time outside – mainly due to the cooler temperatures. As a result, I have a lot of free time on my hands. One of my favorite ways to pass time is by spending the afternoon curled up on the couch with a good book and a cup of tea in hand – there’s just something so relaxing about putting all of your thoughts aside and getting lost in a good book.
Changing leaves and beautiful colors:
When the leaves start to change colors, I love looking around at all of the trees and admiring the beautiful landscape. What’s even better is when the leaves all start to fall to the ground and you’re left with a sidewalk covered in different-colored leaves. Personally, I just think this is such a pretty sight to see, and it reminds me of my time at Michigan State University, walking on those leaf-lined sidewalks every day. Living in The South for the past few years, I didn’t get to experience the changing colors, and I realize that this is something I often took for granted when I lived in Michigan. In reality, something as simple as the changing leaves on the trees truly is a sight to see, and it reminds me all over again how lucky I am to be living in this beautiful world!
Thanksgiving and spending time with family:
I saved this one for last, because it’s probably one of my absolute favorite things about fall. Family is my everything, and I’m grateful for them every single day. However, every year at Thanksgiving, I’m reminded all over again just how important my family is to me. I seriously could not survive without them, and I’m so lucky to have my family. In my book, there truly is nothing better than spending a whole day filled with loved ones, good food, and football, of course!
Whether I want to admit it or not, fall has so many great things going for it: fun activities, amazing foods, and most importantly, time with family and friends. So even though the temperatures may be dropping and the days are getting shorter, I encourage you to get out there and enjoy this amazing season and all that it has to offer. What are a few of your favorite things about fall?
