When it hits the lower 60s, leaves start falling from trees, and half of your 8 am class has a coffee cup sitting on their desk, you know it’s time for the shortest yet longest season of all: Autumn.
Perhaps what’s special to you about autumn is the recognisable scent of a pumpkin spice candle, a seasonal drink from Starbucks’ predictable fall menu, or an aesthetic Instagram story that is sure to excite your loyal Instagram likers. If any of those are correct, you’re not alone: many students at JWU likely feel the same way.
Autumn is my favourite season by far. As soon as September hits, I start crafting my outfits. They are ripe with layering and colours, with a bit of handy assistance from Pinterest. I’ll pick up a chai latte with pumpkin cream cold foam from Starbucks, and start my annual rewatch of Gilmore Girls (my friends would probably say that I make it my entire personality, and they’d be right).
But it’s not just these recognisable traditions that contribute to the season’s popularity. It’s a short but refreshing gap between the extremes of summer’s chronic sweat and winter’s seasonal depression, and if you’re a regular scroller on Instagram or TikTok, perhaps you have seen the videos that pin autumn as the season in which ‘everything happens’. Glowups and breakups, major life changes, everything for better or worse. It’s safe to say that you can leave autumn feeling either rejuvenated or completely lost.
But if you’re in need of a new fall routine, I’ve got some ideas for you.
Healthy habits to start this Autumn
- Consistent activity
Every year, I struggle to remain consistent with my physical activity. But being active doesn’t just affect your physical health, it impacts your mental health as well. This autumn, upgrade your weekly routine by adding a new workout exercise into the mix. Get a home pilates kit, go to a new gym with a friend, or practice yoga in your dorm room when your roommates are in class. Be consistent with it! Even thirty minutes a day can improve your physical and mental health, especially if you lose motivation during those colder months of the year.
- Balance what you eat, and hydrate
I don’t know about you, but my sweet tooth takes over as soon as I see anything pumpkin spice flavoured. New coffee combos, tasty apple treats, and easy meals are all great, but try to balance it out with something from each food group. What’s equally important is staying hydrated. You’d be surprised how bad a sugar drop can be when your body is also dealing with low water intake.
- Refine your sleep routine
When the colder months hit, it can be tempting to stay in bed past your alarm. Being consistent with your sleep schedule can make your days feel more predictable, and your mood swings less catastrophic. As the daylight seems to disappear earlier every day, it may be tempting to cut your routines short, but it’s important to stick to it even if you’re feeling thrown off by the darkness.
- Practice meditation
If you’ve seen Kung Fu Panda, perhaps this one won’t be a new idea for you. But it really helps! Even five to ten minutes a day of simple meditation can help declutter your mind and get yourself out of the mindless loop of scrolling TikTok or Instagram. If you’re feeling confused on where to start, it can be as simple as sitting down and doing a few targeted minutes of mindful breathing techniques. Yikes, now I’m getting flashbacks to P.E. class warmups. You could do those, but in a more peaceful location. …And far away from any airborne equipment.
- Get outside
Perhaps what has helped me the most in autumn is spending time outside, whether it be on a bench near campus, on a hike with your friends, or just driving through the countryside with your car windows down, listening to the gentle rhythm of the road and feeling the crisp autumn breeze can ground you in no time.
Of course, the best part of autumn for most people is the plethora of fun activities sprinkled throughout the months. From Halloweekend activities to a Gilmore Girls rewatch, here’s five different activities you and your friends can do during the fall season without breaking the bank.
Autumnal activities to do with your friends
- Pumpkin patch photoshoot
Chances are you’ve seen the pumpkin-patch photoshoot aesthetic on social media more than a few times. With cowgirl boots, a layered outfit, and a cute hairstyle, you can elevate a fun moment into a full-blown photoshoot. Invite a few friends, get dressed up, grab autumn-themed drinks, and take cute pictures in a pumpkin patch. By the time you leave, I guarantee you’ll have some Instagram-worthy pictures, along with a few funny ones.
- Go on a haunted trail tour
One of the best memories from my childhood was going on a haunted trail tour with my friends. There’s just something so enthralling about dressing up in spooky outfits, taking pictures, and getting scared out of your skin with your friends. It’s the kind of experience that your friend group will probably want to do again next year. If you really enjoy the thrill of Halloween, there’s also tons of other spooky opportunities you can pursue with your friends, including local ghost tours that run regularly and the Jack-O-Lantern Spectacular at Roger Williams Park Zoo.
- Explore Providence’s autumn activity scene with friends
Autumn is the perfect time to get off of campus for a day and explore the city with friends. Providence is packed with exciting activities and a surprisingly impressive and diverse food scene. There’s Halloween-themed pottery nights, stand up comedy shows, drag performances, corn mazes, and much more. There’s also a bunch of locally owned cafes and food trucks that will surely delight your taste buds and tempt you for seconds. If you let the city create an itinerary for you and your friends, I promise that you’ll return to your dorm room after a long day out with cute pictures, a full stomach, and your daily steps in (and perhaps a few dollars spent, too).
- Make your own halloween costumes and trick-or-treat
As someone who is very artistic, this is something I’ve always wanted to do. You can invite a few friends over, pick a fun costume theme, and get to work! Make a whole night out of it with spooky desserts, a horror movie rewatch, and Halloween themed decorations. Whether you decide to start from scratch or take fabric from clothes you already have, you’ll get to experience making and wearing something you normally wouldn’t. Not to mention, if you and your friends go trick-or-treating, someone is sure to compliment your outfit and you can say you made it yourself!
- Go apple picking and bake a dessert with the apples
You don’t need to be an experienced baker to have fun with this one. Apple picking is one of the most memorable activities of autumn and there are so many ways to elevate the day. After gathering the last few apples and heading home with your friends, pick a new dessert recipe to bake with them. Personally, the beloved smells of cinnamon and apple coming from the kitchen are always a favorite
part of the autumn season for me. Taking pictures, setting the table with fall-themed napkins, and eating the finished result is sure to make for fun memories.
Although autumn feels short, you don’t have to let it pass by this year without making it memorable. Whether you decide to work on new habits, spend time with your friends and family, or spend some peaceful time by yourself, you can make the most of it. So before the mid-temperatures give way to freezing walks to morning classes and falling leaves give way to the first frost, get your favorite sweater, make plans with your friends, and hit the town. There’s moments to capture and coffee to drink!