There are countless things to love about this time of year - the changing leaves, the cute sweaters, all of the holidays to look forward to, and pumpkin-flavored everything.
But fall is also a time of shorter days and time with loved ones we perhaps haven’t seen in a while. Between seasonal depression, colder weather, and not seeing the sun as much it is so important to have a daily self-care practice set in place to continue to take care of what matters most - you!
As a Life and Mindset Coach, I’m always working with my clients on creating and sticking with their self-care routines (and of course, I work on maintaining my own self-care practices).
I used to spend my days feeling lost, unmotivated, and frankly - depressed.
A HUGE part of changing my mindset and my life was establishing a daily self-care practice. Every moment you spend with yourself checking in, journaling, and doing activities that fill your cup adds up to help you heal and thrive in all aspects of your life.
That’s why today I felt inspired to sit down and show you how to create a cup-filling and restorative Fall Morning Routine that is Life and Mindset Coach-approved! After you’ve read the blog, don’t forget to check out all of the self-care goodies I’ve made just for women like you (pssst - one of them is totally free!).
Sample Fall Morning Routine for Self-Care
#1 Wake up your mind without scrolling.
I know it’s hard to resist, but when you first wake up in the morning, simply notice your surroundings, take a deep breath, and ease into your day without overwhelming your mind and body with all of the chatter. I recommend going at least the first 30 minutes and ideally the first hour of your day without checking your phone. Many of us use our phones as our alarm clocks so after you turn yours off, put your phone to the side for a bit.
#2 Wake up your physical body with gentle movement.
After you’ve gone to the bathroom, drank water, and taken care of any other urgent physical needs, engage in some gentle stretching. Following a 10-15 minute gentle yoga routine or doing some mindful, self-guided stretching is an awesome way to build that mind-body connection first thing in the morning.
#3 Make your favorite hot drink and spend at least 15 minutes in a quiet, reflective self-care practice.
Grab your pumpkin-spiced coffee, tea, or hot cider, and get cozy!
Remember that prioritizing quiet time in a reflective self-care practice before tackling any other task on your to-do list is what will best set you up for an amazing day. This can include one or more of the following activities…
- reciting daily affirmations
- meditating (there are so many incredible (and free) guided meditations out there if you’re not sure where to start!)
- journaling (I personally find journaling to be especially restorative. This can include gratitude journaling, setting a self-care goal for the day, or doing a physical check in - need more ideas? My “Daily Self-Care Journal Prompts Workbook” has 50 prompts intended for self-care!!)
#4 Choose an activity for later that day that will be sure to fill your cup.
Referring back to a self-care checklist and choosing one activity to do each day is a great way to prioritize doing something that you love.
Some examples of self-care activities that are perfect for this fall season are…
- take a long walk, breathing in the crisp air
- invite a loved one over to carve pumpkins with
- bake something yummy
- curl up inside and watch a light-hearted movie
Want more ideas? My “Self-Care Workbook” includes a self-care checklist with bonus health and wellness activities to try as well as loads of journaling prompts!
There’s a saying I love: where your attention goes, energy flows. I know it feels like there is never enough time, but the more time you carve out for self-care practices and doing things that you love, the more space your life will magically open up for you to continue doing those things.
I know it doesn’t sound entirely logical, but I’ve found that it works. Your mind and every small decision you make and habit you have affects your overall quality of life more than you realize, so it’s time to start prioritizing self-care today.