Fall is a lot of people's favorite season, with its colorful leaves, its crisp air and its many opportunities for play and make believe.
But if you're feeling anxious about making the most of it, why not take a simpler, more mindful approach?
We've rounded up a few low-effort ways to make the lead-up to Halloween feel cozy and festive, whether that's becoming a pro at reheating frozen soup, creating a small ritual to mark the season (like switching from iced coffee to hot coffee), or giving yourself permission to go minimal with the fall decor this year.
. "Prepare your nest" as the days shorten and the weather cools, says Kari Leibowitz, author of . "Light candles. Switch from a cold breakfast to a warm breakfast. Switch from iced coffee to hot coffee."
馃巸 鈥� like taking down all those cobwebs, bats and jack-o'-lantern garlands. "What goes up must go down," says interior designer Elaine Griffin, author of . So "think about your level of commitment to" putting away that decor.
. In many cultures, fall is a symbol of death and rebirth. Plants shed their leaves and prepare for winter dormancy, giving way to new life. Use your next nature walk as a way to reflect on the natural order of things. This is a particularly cathartic practice if you are grieving, says Gary Evans, director of the ,
馃崕 It can be a lot of pressure to come up with a clever pop culture reference or decide on the movie character who you most admire. Why not try something fun, unexpected and irreverent instead? Be an inanimate object, like an apple or a baked potato, or heck, even "a bottle of Windex," says Los Angeles-based stylist .
. Fall is a time for and comfort TV shows. , editor of Film Comment Magazine, explains what you'll need to mimic the immersive experience of a movie theater at home. Watch the film on the biggest screen available to you (if you can, get a projector). Get some blankets. And fix yourself some snacks. Girish particularly loves munching on crisped chickpeas and popcorn and sipping a hot cup of cider while watching movies.
. Author and chef shares her advice: "Throw the frozen soup into a pot with a splash of water to get a little steam going at the bottom. Go for a low heat at first to get everything melted, then once it's melted, bring it up to a boil," she says. "Then give it a taste and see if you need to re-season it with salt. Oftentimes, it can fall a little flat, and you might need a squeeze of lemon to brighten everything up."
"It's not as time-intensive or technical as a pie," says Lauren Ko, a baker and the author of . And many can be made without pastry dough. "Blend up some speculoos cookies with some melted butter and you have a shell. Or toast up coconut and pecans and add butter for another shell."
馃毇. When you find yourself thinking the leaves are more colorful on the other side, remind yourself that the ones in front of you are pretty great too. "Maybe [you chose to stay in] because you had a long week and you need to recharge with some alone time. Or maybe you have an early start the next day. Whatever the reason might be, it's important to remember that as humans, we live by making a series of trade-offs," says, clinical director at TherapyNest in Palo Alto, Calif.
This story was edited by Marielle Segarra. The visual editor is Beck Harlan. We'd love to hear from you. Leave us a voicemail at 202-216-9823, or email us at LifeKit@npr.org.
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