How to Slow Down and Feel More Peaceful This Fall
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Welcome to October, my friends. We made it! October feels like such a significant month this year for a multitude of reasons. First, it’s my favorite month of the year. Second, my husband is currently deployed to South Korea and October is the halfway point until his return. YAY!!! Third, I get to go home to Pennsylvania to truly experience fall and I am beyond excited. Fall just feels magical in so many ways, from the crisper air to the beautiful colors. It is such an amazing time of year. However, fall can also feel rushed. It goes by so quickly, almost like if we blink, we’ll miss it.
This year, my goal is to really slow down and enjoy the season, and I hope you have the same goal in mind. It feels like the holiday season sneaks up on us so quickly, especially while we’re trying to celebrate the current season. Corporations push the next holiday sooner and sooner and consumerism gets the best of many of us. Social media makes this even worse because we’re highly suggested to purchase things that influencers and companies tell us we need. I want to break that idea, though. You don’t need to involve yourself in consumerism to have a great fall season.
In this week’s post, I’m going to give you some great ideas that will help you slow down and feel more peaceful this fall. While some of them may cost a little money, none of these ideas will have you in the trenches of consumerism, leading to more junk piling up in your house. I really hope you enjoy these tips and find peace in them!
If you love this post, consider checking out some of my other content:
PRACTICAL TIPS TO BE A BETTER HOMEMAKER THIS FALL
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FAVORITE REASONS TO LOVE FALL (2025)
USEFUL HOSTING TIPS FOR THE FALL SEASON
EASY WAYS TO MAKE YOUR HOME FEEL COZY DURING THE FALL
Stay away from social media.
I think I have touted this tip at least four or five times in other posts. Why so many? Because it needs to be said. Honestly, you don’t need to use social media. For every excuse you will tell me as to why you think you need it, I can counter it with a reason why you don’t, namely because I am not on any social media platforms and I haven’t been for years. I am perfectly content without it. I’ve noticed a few things about my life since leaving social media: I’m much less anxious, I don’t get FOMO, and I don’t play comparison games.
Please don’t think I am rebuking you for using social media. Many users are very content and joyful people. There are plenty who don’t compare their lives to others or get FOMO. BUT, there are plenty of others who do. If you are one of these people, consider getting off social media. You don’t need TikTok influencers showing you their $500 Home Goods “fall haul,” trying to get you to purchase every item in the store just so they can make a few bucks. And you certainly don’t need to see someone’s beautiful house filled to the brim with fall decorations. You also don’t need to spend a fortune on fall-scented self-care products or new clothes. Social media can cause a lot of envy and discontentment. If it does this in you, you have full permission to say goodbye, at least temporarily.
Be content with what you already own.
This next tip is a great segue from our last one. Instead of being influenced by others to purchase items you don’t need or even want, deinfluence yourself and be content with what you already have. In the Bible, Paul talks about being content, even in prison. If Paul can be content with literally nothing except the Holy Spirit and clothes on his back, we can be content with what we already own. If you want to decorate, find ways to refresh what you already have before purchasing a new item. Create a capsule wardrobe with the clothes in your closet. Read books on your shelves that have been sitting and waiting to be read. Before purchasing something new, try to use what you already own.
Find one way to enjoy the fall season each day.
Our next way to slow down and feel more peaceful this fall is to enjoy fall every day in some small way. It doesn’t have to be a big to do item, but since it’s fall, I recommend soaking it up as much as you can. It could be as simple as burning a cozy fall candle, drinking some coffee with pumpkin spice creamer, or watching a fall-themed movie. One way I do this is by listening to my autumn playlist I created. It’s full of acoustic tunes that will get you in the mood for fall and have you feeling at peace.
Create a fall bucket list.
To help you decide which fun fall activities you will do, I suggest purchasing or creating a fall bucket list. You might be wondering how this will help you slow down and feel more peaceful this fall if you are adding activities to your plate. Well, for one thing, you aren’t necessarily adding activities to your plate; you are creating a list of things you might enjoy doing. If making a bucket list isn’t appealing to you, you can write ideas on pieces of paper, put them in a jar, and pull one out at random. Creating a list ahead of time can take the guesswork out of what you will do. This is especially helpful if you have children who have a hard time making decisions.
Read a cozy fall novel.
I love a cozy fall read and it’s the perfect way to slow down and feel more peaceful this fall. Some books I read for information and education, but a fall novel is purely for escapism and entertainment. I want to experience the beautiful landscapes, small towns, and quirky characters. However, I don’t enjoy reading “spicy” books. I love romance, but as a happily married woman who is a Christ follower, it is of utmost importance that I am picking books that don’t include sex scenes. Ladies, I’ll be honest, it’s hard to find cute fall romances that don’t include them. They do exist, though! Here are some recommendations for you. I’ve only read Harvest Season, so if any of these do have spicy scenes in them, I apologize in advance!
The Secret, Book, & Scone Society by Ellery Adams
Pumpkin Everything by Beth Labonte (It’s now a Hallmark movie!)
Apple of Discord by Maisy Marple
The Bookshop on the Corner by Jenny Colgan
Harvest Season by Melanie Lageschulte
Find a fun fall hobby.
Fall is a great time to start new hobbies. If you need a refresh come fall, this is one of the best times to try something new. You can do them at home or on the go. There are so many options. It’s also a perfect time to learn something new and create something, because then you have homemade Christmas gifts! They are also a great way to help you slow down and enjoy the season peacefully. Here are some hobbies worth trying this fall.
Learn to play piano, guitar, or violin
Bake or cook
Go hiking or start running
Start a sourdough starter
Read or write
Start an indoor herb garden
Learning to make candles
Visit a farm or pumpkin patch.
One of my favorite ways to slow down and feel more peaceful this fall is to visit a farm or pumpkin patch. If you do this with young children, it might not feel peaceful, but hear me out. As a country girl who is now living in a very urbanized area, getting to go to a farm feels like coming home. It’s (mostly) quiet and you are surrounded by nature and animals. It gives you time away from the busyness of life and to be reminded of the beauty of God’s creation. To me, it doesn’t get much more peaceful than that.
Make your mornings slow and intentional.
One of the absolute best ways to slow down and feel more peaceful this fall is to have slow mornings. I’ve talked about slow mornings before and the power behind them. It is an incredible way to start your day. Especially if you work a full-time job outside of the home, having a slow morning is a great way to start your day peacefully. When I worked full-time in an office building, I could tell a difference between the days I got to have a slow and peaceful morning versus the days I rushed out of the house.
For me personally, I love to sit on my porch with a cup of coffee while I read my Bible. It’s peaceful and calm before I dive into my tasks and schedule for the day. Yours doesn’t have to look like this, though. Maybe it’s getting in a five-minute devotional or eating breakfast before your kids get up. It could be going for a walk around your neighborhood. Or, you might enjoy getting some of your chores started. It can look however you want it to, but I recommend keeping your eyes away from screens, as it defeats the purpose of slow and peaceful.
Open up your windows and let the air flow.
This is definitely the easiest and cheapest idea on the list. Fall gives us cool nights and mornings, yet the days are still somewhat warm. Opening the windows in the morning adds to the crispness in the air. It also allows your house to get some air flow and air out dust and allergens. There’s nothing more fall-like than feeling the cool breeze move through your house during a chilly morning.
Bake some delicious treats.
My favorite way to slow down and feel more peaceful this fall is to bake! I’ve been baking since I was very young, and it’s something that is so natural to me now. For many, including myself, baking is very therapeutic. Plus, you get a delicious treat at the end and your house will smell amazing. You don’t have to go crazy with baking. Heck, you don’t even need to make something from scratch (although I highly recommend it). A tradition my mom, sister, and I have almost every year is buying the Pillsbury cookie dough that has the little Halloween figures on it and is pre-cut. We bake them and then decorate with frosting and sprinkles. It brings back such fond memories of my childhood. Here are some ideas for delicious fall treats to bake.
Toffee apple pie with vanilla custard
Pumpkin donuts with brown sugar glaze
Pumpkin bars with brown sugar frosting
Get fresh air and spend time in nature.
While opening your windows is a great idea to bring in air to your house, it just doesn’t compare to being in nature. Being is nature has to be the best way to slow down and feel more peaceful this fall. When we are in nature (i.e., the woods, a farm, meadow, park), we are usually away from a lot of hustle and bustle, so it’s quiet. It also helps reduce stress and anxiety, improves mood and other functions within your body, and provides you with vitamin D. One of my favorite outdoor activities in the fall is hiking. It allows me to have nothing but nature nearby and a bonus is that I get to see the leaves. However, if you don’t have hiking spots nearby, a walk or even sitting outside will work just fine.
Go leaf peeping.
Leaf peeping is a favorite of many individuals during the fall. In fact, out here in Colorado, it’s become so popular in more well-known areas, that authorities have had to shut down roads! If you are going leaf peeping in an area that is new to you, PLEASE learn to be respectful and travel well. Anyway, now that I’ve given my two-cents, let me just say that leaf peeping is a spectacular activity. I know many people go to take pictures, but consider just taking a drive and seeing what you can find. Not everything needs to be captured through a screen. Sometimes, the best memories are the ones that aren’t on camera. Again, if you do choose to take pictures, please be respectful of where, when, and how you do it.
Start or attend a book club.
A few of my friends and I started a book club at the beginning of 2025. I’d never been in a book club before, but it’s been so much fun! I have enjoyed starting it with my friends versus joining one that’s already been started. However, joining an established one is great, too. Most book clubs will theme their books around the seasons and/or months, making it even more fun. You can add to the fun by dressing up or making treats themed around the books you read.
Practice hospitality and invite friends or family over.
If hospitality is new to you, I recommend reading some of my other homemaking posts. Hospitality is one of those things that just comes with time and practice. You won’t be perfect or even good at it when you start. However, it’s an incredible way to show others you value them. Inviting friends and family over is a great way to slow down and more peaceful this fall. Plus, the sooner you get started, the more practice time you’ll have!
You don’t have to provide a four-course dinner, plus dessert and drinks. Instead, keep it simple. Brew some coffee and serve a pie you bought at a local bakery. Pick up bagels from Panera. Serve pre-cut fruit and iced tea. They won’t care about the food (although it’s good to provide some!); they will care more that you took the time to host them in your home. It’s a great way to sit down and chat while enjoying a little time away from busy obligations.
Thank God for His blessings.
The most important way to slow down and feel more peaceful this fall is to thank God for His blessings. This is the time of year when things speed up and slow down at the same time. I host more during this time of year, and always seem to have more obligations. However, it’s imperative to remind ourselves that we are nothing without God. He is the reason we get to live these beautiful lives. Also, with Thanksgiving approaching in about two months, it’s a great idea to get into the habit now of practicing thankfulness and gratitude.
Friends, I hope this post has given you some things to think about over this next week. While the world spins madly on, take some time to figure out what ways you will choose to slow down and feel more peaceful this fall. Until next time, Kayla.
If you love this post, consider checking out some of my other content:
PRACTICAL TIPS TO BE A BETTER HOMEMAKER THIS FALL
INEXPENSIVE WAYS TO MAKE FALL FEEL EXTRA COZY
FAVORITE REASONS TO LOVE FALL (2025)
