Something about the transition from summer into fall, and conversely winter into spring, seems to make time stand still and guides me to immerse myself in the beauty of change. A memory triggered by the increasingly chilly mornings we’ve been having that keeps coming to mind this season are the lazy Saturday mornings I used to share with my siblings growing up during the fall. We would eagerly relocate after waking from our beds straight to the living room couch, all curled up watching Looney Tunes while eating Eggo pancakes and grits before our mom made us change the channel to the SEC Network so she could watch Georgia football. This memory has stayed dormant within me for years, and I see this resurfacing as a reminder to lean back into the little practices that bring moments of slowness, whether they’re productive or not. At this time, some of the most refreshing things I’ve found myself recently doing have been tapping back into the lighthearted and less serious side of life, because at the end of the day life is supposed to be enjoyed!

Harry Potter

My roommates and I have resolved to watch all eight movies in the Harry Potter series and I couldn’t be more excited. Harry Potter has always reminded me of the fall season because of how often it’s aired on TV channels during October throughout the years. My all-time favorite is Deathly Hallow’s Part I because of the way it builds suspense into the next installment while providing closure on many parts of the overarching plot.

Smelling Like a Flower

Maybe it’s nostalgia for the blooms synonymous with the warmer months or Libra season. Nonetheless, I’ve found myself reaching for floral-scented products now more than ever. My go-to’s have been the Native Deoderant in Lilac and White Tea, a discontinued jasmine de-stress spray from Intelligent Nutrients and a hand cream that smells like it was extracted straight from a lavender bush. This combination has made me feel oh so luxurious even if I’m just going to class for the day.

Sleep Affirmation

This is about to sound absurd, but I’ve transformed my sleep by starting to tell myself three Rs while I’m dozing off. Rest. Release. Revive. I’ve found that on the nights I remember to do this practice, my body is able to reach a deep REM sleep that used to be hard to come by because of how stressed out I would be from the prior events of the day. Although you don’t have to do exactly this, having an aspect of your night where you’re able to disconnect and relax makes a world of difference with sleep quality.

Funk & Lana del Rey

There are two types of people in the world: the ones that listen to Taylor Swift when the leaves start changing or the ones who opt for Lana del Rey, and there’s no in-between. Lana del Rey has been a focal point of autumn since I discovered “Blue Jeans” in the 7th grade. A new addition to the fall music lineup has been funk music thanks to my little sister Emma. She created an awesome playlist full of funk classics and modern twists on the music genre that I’ve played non-stop to keep myself motivated when studying and doing schoolwork.

I can’t wait to hear what some of your fall rituals are and hope you have a great week ahead!

💘 Hanna