Feeling Good About Fall: 10 Activities for Self-Care
Feeling Good About Fall: 10 Activities for Self-Care
Ah, fall — the changing colours, cozy sweaters, warming soups, harvest time. I love this time of year. I know…for many people, it can be hard to say goodbye to the hot, lazy days of summer. But whether you’re looking forward to cooler days — or dreading it — there are lots of feel-good activities to enjoy. Here are a few ideas to get you outside and into the vibe of this colourful season.
1. Visit a Pumpkin Patch
Image via Unsplash
Nothing says fall and the lead-up to Halloween like hunting for giant-sized pumpkins. Or, for less heavy lifting, squash is just as tasty. Bring home your bounty and warm up with a simple soup recipe, or get ready for Halloween with one of these simple or fancy jack-o’-lantern ideas.
2. Go for a Train Ride
Image via Unsplash
Sit back and let someone else do the driving. The Agawa Canyon Tour Train route is a breathtaking way to experience the fall scenery of Northern Ontario. Hop on board and take in the sights during this 114-mile trip through the forests, lakes, and rivers of the Canadian Shield.
3. Visit a Fall Fair
Image via Unsplash
Time for a hayride! There are tons of fairs running throughout the fall months bringing communities together with food, music, crafts, and attractions for kids. Check out this link to find one near you.
4. Apple Picking
Image via Unsplash
Get outside and spend a day apple picking with family or friends. Downey’s is just one of many farms offering fresh pick-your-own goodies throughout the summer and fall (their strawberries are delicious). Check out other great spots here.
5. Organize a Fall Colours Outing
Image via Unsplash
There’s no better way to enjoy the beautiful fall colours than with a hike or a nice long drive. Choose your park or road trip route, pack a picnic lunch, a good book, and get ready to enjoy the scenery.
6. Go on a Family-Friendly Scavenger Hunt
Image via Unsplash
Spend a fun, few hours on a family quest hunting for clues and solving riddles — in your Halloween costumes! Run by Cystic Fibrosis Canada, it’s all for a good cause. Prizes to be won.
7. Make Spiced Edibles & Drinkables
Image via Unsplash
There’s no pressure to put pumpkin spice on everything, but who doesn’t love a good, fall-inspired treat? Try out apple brownies or iced pumpkin cookies to take on a fall hike with friends. Or if drinks are your thing, give one of these mixed concoctions a go for your next book club meetup.
8. Volunteer in Your Community
Image via Unsplash
This is a great time to help out a neighbour and feel good in the process. From shoreline cleanups to raking leaves for seniors to food bank packing, there’s lots to choose from (including virtual volunteering options). Check out these links below for ideas.
Shoreline Cleanups
Environmental opportunities
Additional Canadian opportunities
U.S. opportunities
9. Make Fall-Inspired Knitwear
Image via Unsplash
How about picking up a new hobby? Knitting can be therapeutic and rewarding, and you can take it with you anywhere (to the park, to the waterfront, etc). It’s also something you can do at your own pace, picking up and leaving off whenever you feel like it. Check out these kits to get you started.
10. Cozy up at a Drive-in Theatre
Image via Unsplash
Why Netflix and chill at home when you can catch a flick on the big screen? Grab your favourite snacks and drinks and take in a movie at a local drive-in. Bring extra blankets and settle in for an evening under the stars.
Sweet Seasonal Tips
Skin Care
Moisturize! Fall time means the air is colder and dryer and that goes for skin too. Make sure you’re ready with a lip balm, face moisturizer, and body butter to keep your skin supple and cared for.
Home Scents
As we get ready to spend more time indoors heading into winter, fall is the perfect time to clear out junk and make room for a clean and cozy home space.
What scents make you feel good? After clearing out the old, bring in some new candles and incense to fill your home with the scents of the season.
We hope you’re looking forward to making the most of this season as much as we are. What are your favourite fall activities? Let us know here. Or if you’re curious about hosting your own Brookie event, get all the details here.
Keisha Paterson is a lifetime writer of sticky-note poetry who enjoys comfort foods, self-care holidays, and Hawaiian dance. A prolific wanderer, she loves to discover and take home old orphaned books and eclectic records. She is an office manager, private yoga instructor, and freelance editor in Toronto.
Favourite Book: Wouldn’t Take Nothing for My Journey Now by Maya Angelou
Favourite brunch spot: Sisters and Co.
