With the leaves changing color and the temperatures dipping below eighty degrees, fall is finally in the air. And that can mean only one thing: Gilmore Girls season is officially among us.
As November approaches, the semester is in full-swing, and sometimes I feel like I spend every waking moment doing or thinking about homework. Apart from my annual Gilmore Girls rewatch, I haven’t always taken the time to enjoy fall. I get so caught up in schoolwork that by the time I’m able to relax, the trees are bare and winter coats are a must. This year, I’ve made sure it’s different.
Inspired by the fictional residents of Stars Hollow, I’ve decided to figure out how to make time for myself and fully embrace the autumn season while I still can.
Studying Like Rory
In order to properly enjoy the fall season, I need to have time to do so. Influenced by Rory Gilmore herself, I’ve gone full-force with my studies — my calendar is fuller than ever with the extracurriculars I’ve taken on in addition to my normal coursework. I’ve struggled with procrastination in the past, but in order to have time to embrace the season, I’ve had to make some adjustments.
For starters, I’ve made plenty of to-do lists this semester, and I’ve begun starting my assignments right after class. I’ve found myself feeling more confident about assignments by completing them while the material’s still fresh in my mind, and getting them done sooner rather than later has lowered my stress levels a lot. By budgeting my time, I’ve been able to relax on the weekends without worrying about catching up on homework. And with school out of the way early, I can do things I enjoy, like listening to music.
Listening To Music
While I don’t have a musical repertoire like Lorelai Gilmore or Lane Kim, I do find that listening to music can either help me to relax or feel energized- which is very necessary in the second half of the semester.
Some of my favorite fall tunes come from none other than Taylor Swift. “All Too Well (10 Minute Version) [Taylor’s Version] [From The Vault]” is a must for feeling the fall vibes. I’ve also made time to play the newly-released 1989 (Taylor’s Version) nonstop, which has allowed me to sing and dance out any stress I have in between assignments. And listening to music while taking a walk makes everything so much better.
Autumn Walks
The citizens of Stars Hollow seem to walk everywhere, but sometimes I struggle with making time for a walk or run. During the semester, I occasionally become so focused on getting homework and errands done that exercise falls to the bottom of my list of priorities.
This fall, I’ve made it a point to change that. On days that I’m on campus, I take my time walking to classes, and on days that I’m home, I make sure to start my mornings with a short walk on a trail by my house. Seeing the leaves changing colors is an instant boost to my mood, and feeling a slight chill in the air is a welcome change. I’ve also tried to walk more around my neighborhood. Why not walk a mile to get a smoothie instead of driving? It’s made my mind feel clearer, and I feel much less like I’m missing out on the season’s beauty.
Fallish Movies
Fall is one of the best times to get cozy and watch a movie with plenty of snacks to go around, as Lorelai and Rory have made clear with their famous movie nights. Apart from my Gilmore Girls rewatch, I love watching some traditional fall films and shows while in my comfiest sweats (with lots of ice cream and popcorn, of course).
Some of my favorites are Halloweentown, Twitches, Anne of Green Gables (and its tv adaptation, Anne with an E), and Little Women. I believe these movies are classics with their autumn themes. One watch will immediately make me feel like fall is truly here and will have me itching to carve a pumpkin or go apple picking.
Books, Books, And More Books
Reading is one of my passions, and it is one that I haven’t made enough time for this past semester. Like Rory, I tend to always have a book with me, just in case. By adjusting how I do my homework, I’ve now been able to read more, which has been great for my mental health.
Some of my favorite recent reads include When in Rome by Sarah Adams, Begin Again by Emma Lord, and Solitaire by Alice Oseman.These books have let me forget about school for a bit and become fully engrossed in fictional worlds. Making some time for reading this fall has already done wonders for my mental health, as it helps me to unwind and breathe after a stressful day. I’ll definitely be carrying this strategy over to winter and spring, but for now, reading has made this fall so much better than previous ones.
I’m going to try my best to stick with these objectives this season, and I’m sure my mental health will thank me for it. And if I stumble in my goals to have an amazing fall, I’ll at least be wearing a comfy sweater when doing so.