We’ve turned back the clocks and officially entered a darker and hopefully, slower time of year. If I had to pick between the time changes, turning back the clock easily beats turning the clock forward. I love gaining an hour of sleep and I’ve learned embrace the early darkening of the sky.
This time of year isn’t always easy, especially if you live in a colder climate or if you’re more north, where it darkens even earlier. I’m super lucky to live where it stays fairly warm all year, but we do still get the dark evenings and every now and then we get some cold! But rather than fight it, I’ve learned to take the darker days as a sign to slow down and decompress.
Slowing down is another thing that isn’t always easy. I’m very type A and I love checking off a to-do list. I often try to rush to finish tasks as quickly as I can and find myself multi tasking (or attempting to do so). “Slowing down” doesn’t come naturally to me so I’ve had to be very intentional about it.
When trying to make a change or an adjustment, I do best with “action steps” rather than vague tips, so I’ve compiled some of my favorites below – 5 actionable ways to slow down and keep your peace this fall season:
1) Turn your phone off or put it in a different room for one hour. Nothing slows you down like being in the moment. Your phone, as magical as it is, takes you out of the current moment! See what kinds of things you can do or get done without having your phone nearby to check every 10 minutes. Maybe you’ve been meaning to get some reading done, or to clean your room. Or maybe you just need some time to sit with yourself, with no possibility of hearing a ping or going for a quick scroll.
2) Wake up 10 minutes earlier. The luxury of a slow morning is unmatched! I used to feel like it was impossible to have a slow morning on a weekday. The only thing on my mind was work, and getting ready for work, and feeling tired. I’ve completely shifted my mindset around mornings and now it’s one of my favorite times of day, even with the workday ahead. I highly recommend that you start to slow down your mornings by getting up 10 minutes earlier. It sounds counterintuitive but this will be the start of you liking your morning just a little more. You can keep your same exact morning routine, but a little bit slower. Take your time eating, and getting ready.
3) Eat at least one meal a day with zero distractions. Breakfast, lunch, or dinner: Pick one meal and eat with no distractions. More specifically, no screens. It can be all too tempting to eat in front of the tv or to scroll, or to eat while we work (so guilty). But you absolutely deserve peace while you’re eating, from all of these things. Whether you’re by yourself or with a loved one, try just enjoying your food and your company, without the presence of screens.
4) Keep at least one “no plans” night. And I do mean no plans. No plans to clean the kitchen, to make that return, to stay late at work to help with a fundraiser, to do laundry, anything. Adult life seems to be filled with a never ending list of tasks (and we can talk about how to romanticize those later), so try to take just one night of rest and be home. This doesn’t mean don’t talk to anyone – only people who will fill your cup!
5) Notice and note the little things. Every single day is filled with beautiful moments. You’ll notice them more and more once you start looking for them. I saw a TikTok once that suggested texting yourself every time something good happened, or every time you noticed something wonderful. You don’t have to do this, but it’s great practice for getting into the habit of noticing the little moments.
However you choose to slow down this season, I hope it helps you to enjoy life just a little bit more during these dark days. If the fall and winter months are hard for you, know that this too comes to an end, and the light will come again. Try to make the most of the season and know you are never alone. <3
