As the smell of autumn fills the air, AKA the season of new beginnings, I find myself reflecting on ways I can grow and improve myself. Usually, when this season approaches, I often catch myself daydreaming about fresh wardrobe choices and experimenting with different makeup. But deep down, I think we all know that a new outfit won’t make you feel any less lost as the season sneaks up on us. Reflecting on this, I’ve curated some of the best ways to flourish that are not focused directly on physical appearance. These are some simple yet meaningful investments to start nurturing yourself this autumn.
Read literally everything
If you’re reading this, you’re probably the last person who needs to hear it. But this is your sign to pick up a book and start reading! And I can’t stress this enough, you have to read books. Not Instagram captions, not TikTok videos, not product recommendations. Our lives are so short, and the closest thing we get to understanding life from another perspective is through reading books. Ultimately, reading more will open your mind up to new ways of looking at life. It paves the way for richer conversations, a deeper connection to your passions, and a quiet confidence that sets you apart intellectually. I understand that with the pressure of school, the desire to read starts feeling more like a chore than a genuine hobby. That’s the importance of finding a good read. If you’re struggling to get through it, it’s simply not the right fit for you. So keep looking and pick up that book this fall!
Keep a record of yourself
One of the best things I started doing for myself was journaling. It was one of those things I kept promising myself I’d do, yet somehow never managed to make time for. This summer, I finally went to the dollar store and picked up a little black notebook for two dollars. I felt a little silly at first writing my thoughts on paper. However, I quickly realized how amazing it felt to make sense of my mind, and how valuable it is to analyze my thoughts. Writing everything down feels like detangling wires in my brain that I didn’t even know existed. It’s brought me closer to myself in ways I didn’t know were even possible. It also provides me with a physical keepsake of my life, which makes me feel like I can hold onto memories forever. And if you think journaling might not be for you, that’s okay. You can keep a record of yourself in other ways. Maybe that’s through recording voice notes, saving little moments in photo albums, or even capturing fleeting thoughts in the Notes app. Self-expression doesn’t have to be perfect; it just has to be honest.
When it comes to beauty, accentuate your own unique features
I know this one is related to physical appearance, but I felt it was necessary to touch on it. I can’t stress this enough; everyone looks better with their natural features. We are each a unique genetic blueprint that sets us apart from everyone else. So why are we trying to avoid parts about ourselves that make us so unique? More so, why are we wasting so much of our energy hating ourselves for it? I wish I could take back all the time I spent studying Madison Beer’s makeup routine. What looks good on a sun-kissed brunette is surely not going to look as good on me (a pale ginger). So learn to accentuate your natural features. If you’re lost on how to do this, start by choosing a couple of features of yourself you like. For example, I love my eyes, so I’ll often wear mascara and eyeliner that makes my eyes pop. Remember to highlight instead of hide! It’s also important to focus on self-care and not self-fixing. You were never meant to be ‘fixed’, you were created with purpose and intention to be exactly as you are. And if this is something that you struggle with, ask yourself why you feel this way. Maybe you’re comparing yourself to an influencer on TikTok. Try distancing yourself from content that fuels insecurity or comparison. Try following creators with similar features to yours who celebrate them. It may feel daunting at first, but embracing our differences is the first step toward true self-acceptance and confidence.
Romanticize your life to the fullest
When I used to hear someone say, “romanticize your life,” it always felt a little cliché. I constantly found myself stuck in the mindset of, ‘Let’s just get this over with,’ rushing through moments instead of experiencing them. My mindset shifted when I started finding joy in every day. It can begin by looking forward to your morning coffee or feeling a spark of joy when you turn on your favourite song in the morning. We live in a world that glorifies hustling, comparing, and perfection. The phrase “romanticize your life” doesn’t necessarily mean feeling like a main character all the time. It’s a way of reclaiming meaning, presence, and beauty in our everyday lives. Adopting this mindset can be simpler than you may think. Start by turning ordinary habits into meaningful rituals: light that candle when you journal, play soft music while you cook, and drink your morning coffee slowly. These may seem like minuscule practices, but I promise once you start doing them, you’ll see change. You’ll begin treating yourself like someone worthy of beauty, care, and attention. This will make you fall deeply in love with your life.
Pay attention to how you feel, rather than what you want
This last one is more of a piece of advice, but when you take on this notion, life feels a little less heavy. I find that I let my desires cloud my brain. Then I often act on these desires in haste. When I slow down and really listen to how I feel, not just what I want, my mind becomes clearer. This simple practice has allowed me to move through life with intention. I’ve found myself leaving situations feeling calmer and grounded. Desires are often loud, urgent, and tied to the ego and external validation. Feelings, on the other hand, sit more quietly. When you learn to sit with them, even the uncomfortable ones, they can guide you to a place of honesty. This season, I want whoever may be reading this to start really paying attention to their feelings. Sit down with them. Feel them out. Before chasing the next thing that will make you happy, think about what you are actually feeling in that moment. Maybe you’re trying to escape or seeking something more. With this, you might find that your actions may not be aligning with what’s best for you. It’s not always easy, but it’s grounding. And with practice, you’ll start moving through life with more clarity, intention, and a lot more peace.
As autumn settles in with cool mornings and warm arrays of colours, let there be more than just a change in the weather. Let there be a change in how you show up for yourself. Change doesn’t necessarily mean reinvention; sometimes it just calls for reconnection. You don’t need a whole new version of yourself to feel whole. With time, these simple shifts will deepen your gratitude for the you that’s been here all along. This autumn, we’re investing in ourselves, cheers to that!