Autumn is coming

Can you feel it?

Hi, I’m Sophie and I write about how to slow down and live a simple more calm life. I’m passionate about slow living and I truly believe that we don’t have to live busy stressful lives. I’d love it if you could subscribe and join my community, it really is a beautiful space to be.

Autumn is coming, can you feel it?

The summer is almost gone. The heat is no longer suffocating. Rain falls. There’s a chill in the air. The days are getting shorter, and I can’t wait. 

I’m coming out of my summer hibernation. When everyone else seems to bloom in the summer, I flourish in the cooler months. This is my time. 

I can feel my energy rising, my mood lifting, the brain fog is lessening. I’m enthused about what lays ahead. Excitement that I haven’t felt for a while is building. My shoulders are beginning to relax, my lungs are filling up, and I’m taking fuller, deeper, more effortless breaths. 

Summer, to me, is stifling. It drains my energy, and the heat makes my mood and tolerance low. This feeling is known as SAD, and I’ve written more about that here). Autumn is my favourite time of year. It’s still warm(ish) enough to enjoy the evenings after work and school, but it feels so good to put a lamp on and get a throw to snuggle under on the sofa. 

Let’s get lost in a world made of books, coffee and rainy days

Autumn gives me all the feels (I think that’s what the cool kids say?). The cosiness that I long for is given to me in droves during this time. The simple act of lighting a candle, switching on some fairy lights, grabbing a book, hot coffee in hand and listening to the sound of the rain on window, gosh, I don’t know if there is a better feeling. 

It’s also a time for fresh start. School reopens, there’s less chaos and noise at home, the familiarity of our daily routines return and bring with it a clear defined working day, and relaxed family time on an evening. The guilt of trying to juggle working and childcare in the holidays is no more. Our time spent together now is precious and savoured. 

Nature is beautiful during the autumn. The different colours of the leaves, the crunch they make when walked over, the fresh morning dew, the refreshing chill in the air - everything about the months ahead excite me. I’ve already noticed a few leaves beginning to turn a more golden colour, it’s like seeing Christmas lights appear in windows as a child. The anticipation of what’s to come. 

There’s no surprise then, that I spend more time outdoors in the cooler months, than I do in the summer. The drop in temperature is an invitation for me to pull on an extra layer, snuggle up warm and head out into the fresh air. Being outside has an endless amount of benefits for our health, so there’s no wonder that I feel a hundred times better from September onwards. 

I notice that autumn is more the season of the soul than of nature - Friedrich Nietzsche

I’m finding myself itching to declutter and organised the house. I’m not sure why, but it feels like nesting. Perhaps it’s to do with the fresh start a new term brings, to tidy up the overwhelming children’s ‘stuff’ that’s been the norm for the last 6 weeks, or maybe it’s in preparation for all of the added blankets, candles and cushions that’s about to come out of the cupboard. Whatever it is, I’m ready and embracing it. 

Oh, I’m ready for quiet days, the freedom that comes from not having to entertain a small person, or worrying that they’ve had too much time on a device. So I’m going to take it slow for a moment. I’m going to enjoy the quiet that I’ve so desperately craved. I’m going to potter around the house, tidying and organising. I’m going to get the candles and the throws out of the cupboard, and put fresh batteries in the fairy lights. I’m going to sigh and let out all of the stress and juggle of the summer holidays. I’ll play my favourite playlist, and drink a hot coffee whilst staring out of the window at the changing colours of the trees. 

Autumn, I’m so ready for you. You’re just what I need.

Are you ready for autumn? I feel like there’s quite a few of us here on Substack that are about to come to life. I can’t wait to read all of your cosy posts over the coming months!

Until next time,