Summer is well and truly over, and whilst some of us love the warm colours of Autumn and the excitement of Halloween, others see it as a dreaded cold, rainy, coursework laden month. So I’ve decided to run up my top 10 Autumn products which help manage your uni stress, as well as make the season that wee bit more warm and cosy.
1. Candles.
Candles are undoubtedly my best friend around this time of year. As well as generally brightening up your room as the nights get darker, there are tons of specialists out there who argue that the presence of a candle can calm you down and help relieve stress. If you don’t mind being branded as ‘basic’, you can pick up a 6 pack of Chesapeake Bay Candle Co’s Pumpkin Spice candles for a bargain at TK Maxx. Yankee Candle also have a great range of seasonal scents, including my personal favourite Candy Corn, as well as a good range of Halloween themed holders if you want to spook things up a bit.
2. Innocent’s Defence super smoothie
Although this one is actually available all year round, the colouring and inclusion of Pumpkin give it a seasonal touch. As well as tasting amazing, the combination of vitamins and nutrients are really good for your attention span and immune system around this time of year. It can be easy to neglect good nutrition and binge on junk food when the weather is grim/ you’re stressed out with work, but containing 2 of your five a day in one glass, this is a good way to give yourself a health kick too.
3. Hot water bottles/ electric blankets
Widely available at this time of year, these are essential for staying warm especially if you’re trying to save on the central heating bills. Electric blankets are great for eliminating that horrible chill you can get in bed after a cold day (Note: always remember to turn it off before you sleep or you wake up with slightly burnt feet, ahem). Mini ‘hotties’ are another great idea (notonthehighstreet.com have a great selection), as you can fit them into jumper pockets and keep yourself warm as you move about the house, or just to hold onto when you’re sitting reading or watching a film.
4. Seasonal make-up
Although I don’t generally wear a ton of make-up and my ‘look’ tends to be whatever I’ve had time to do whilst running late for my bus, I do really enjoy the warmer tones that companies bring out around this time of year. Smashbox’s Disco Rose and Superstar lip glosses last for ages, and Benefit’s Most Glamorous Neutrals eyeshadow set is great for those of us who don’t like to go too heavy with eye make-up.
5. New TV shows
So although this isn’t technically a product, this season means that there are new series for some of our favourite shows, and we all need something to keep us going through study breaks. Once Upon a Time Season 5 has recently started airing again, and zombie fest The Walking Dead starts up in the UK on 11/10. Additionally, ‘Scream Queens’ is soon going to be one of our new faves – you can hear all about it in our review coming up this week!
6. Lush’s Christmas range
A bit of TLC never goes amiss, especially when it’s getting cold out and stress levels are high. I love Lush’s range of Christmas products, as well as looking and smelling great, Lush are one of the most ethically driven companies out there, so you’re doing your bit as well as having some much deserved me time. ‘Yog Nog’ soap and the ‘Dashing Santa’ bath fizzer are some of my yearly favourites!
7. Macs and scarves
As someone who feels the cold, I could quite happily wear a wooly scarf all year round in Aberdeen. As well as adding a nice touch to every outfit, they’re vital for keeping cosy as you travel about. I’ve always struggled to find a good autumn jacket that isn’t too hot or too cold, and this year discovered the wonder of a Mac- they make any outfit instantly classy and are also waterproof! I got my one at a good price from ASOS, and wish that I’d invested in one a long time ago.
8. Tea and coffee
This one might seem obvious, but for me both of these are almost necessary. Coffee gets you going on cold days when the thought of leaving bed is unpleasant, and you can’t beat cosying up with a good cup of tea at the end of a long day. Teapigs have a great range of teas, including caffeine free options, to keep you cosy such as their ‘super Christmas cheeky’ set (don’t be put off by the ‘C’ word, only one flavour is specifically Christmas themed!).
These are just some of the many things out there to keep you going during Autumn, but my main advice would be keep warm (no silly skimpy dresses during rainstorms- you’ll regret it later), and try and not get too stressed out with the quick pace of semester one; take it one step at a time, and you’ll be fine!
HCXO