Fall is my favorite time of the year. Everything about it makes me so happy. Being back at school, wearing cozy sweaters, trying out all the fall-themed snacks from Trader Joe’s… I look forward to it all. But that doesn’t mean it’s stress-free. Schoolwork piles up, and life swings back into action after a relaxed summer. There are pros and cons to it all. So this is what I’m doing to make myself a priority over the next couple of months.
- Taking myself on solo dates
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In the chaos of the school year, it can be hard to find time to be on your own. That’s why I’m going to pour into myself at least once or twice a week by doing something alone. It could be as simple as going to the grocery store or taking myself out for coffee on a crisp fall morning. I’ve really been enjoying morning walks around my Brookline apartment recently. I stroll through Coolidge Corner, people-watching and taking in the autumn air. Fall makes me feel at peace. The cozy weather here on the East Coast has me pretending I’m in an episode of Gilmore Girls.
- Carving out dedicated study time
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My schoolwork has always been incredibly important to me. Even when I’m in a difficult season of life, I refuse to let it affect my grades. I’ve become good at finding dedicated time to sit down and complete my work for the week. That way, I can enjoy my weekends and moments with friends more, knowing I was productive during the week. I like to press play on my fall study playlist, then sit down at my desk and get to work. I’m a proponent of a distraction-free environment, so I use my phone only for music and to take occasional study breaks to chat with my roommate. This has been a productive way for me to succeed academically!
- Planning activities with friends
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I love being around people who always want to make new plans, and I’ve definitely found that here at college. I love getting a text from a friend asking if I want to do a little sidequesting over the weekend, whether it’s a day trip to Rhode Island or even just going over to Newbury Street for some shopping. As important as academics are to me, so is filling my social cup. I do this by spending time with my friends, even for just an hour a day. We plan study dates, go out to dinner for Korean food in Allston, and have picnics in the Boston Common! Doing this in the fall is especially important, knowing that when the Boston winter arrives, we’ll be mostly stuck inside.
- General self-care
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We often ignore the importance of taking time to complete little tasks for ourselves. Personally, I love making myself a cup of mint tea before bedtime and watching Dawson’s Creek (I’m currently on season three). I also dedicate time throughout the week to journal about my life updates, and I always prioritize calling my parents to check in about my day. Whatever you need to do that feels like “self-care time,” do it. It might be putting on a face mask and painting your nails, or maybe it’s going for a run. Find what puts you at peace and do it!
- Moving my body
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A busy life can make it difficult to go to the gym consistently or attend weekly yoga classes. I’ve been easier on myself the past few weeks as I adjust back to being on campus by prioritizing getting my steps in. And when you go to a school in a city, that goal isn’t too difficult. If I get around 10,000 steps every day, I immediately feel better about myself because it means I spent time outside at some point during the day, even if it was literally an hour-long walk I took to get a coffee with my friend. Movement is movement!
While some of these ideas might seem small, they add up and help me maintain good mental health and habits throughout the fall season.
I plan to carry these into the next months of winter, and I hope you’ll take some inspiration from them!
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