Who’s in need of some self-care this Fall?
I’d better see all of your hands up, because I don’t know a single person who couldn’t use a little something for herself.
The internet buzzes with self-care ideas, but yet we are all still in desperate need. I suspect that this is because the overwhelming majority of self-care lists focus on grand gestures that are largely unattainable for most of us. As a full-time mom with a full-time job, I need small bites of self-care to make it realistic. So, taking a page out of the Lazy Genius’ book (literally), let’s start small.
To make the cut, I needed Fall self-care options that met the following criteria:
- Accomplished within 30 minutes
- Done at home
- Gives the Fall feels (this is Sara in Season after all!)
These criteria led me to a list of 6 Fall self-care activities. Just like with my Realistic Fall Bucket List (with Kids!), I urge you to keep your expectations in check. Don’t expect perfection, just try them!
Fall Self-Care Ideas
1. Hot Apple Cider
I am a sucker for hot apple cider. I love it in tea, and I wouldn’t judge you if you snuck a little rum or bourbon into yours. So go ahead – put the kids to bed and pour yourself a glass of hot apple cider.
What to Expect
Enjoy those first hot sips. Then you’ll put your drink down to fold the load of laundry that just finished drying, which will lead to changing over your closet to your Fall wardrobe. 45 minutes later you’ll remember you made yourself a hot beverage and come back to tepid apple cider. But hey – it was hot to begin with, so it totally counts!
2. Curl up with a Good Book
One of the best ways to practice a little self-care is to escape into a good book. This is especially true when the weather gets a little cooler and you can curl up and read under a comfy blanket. Even better if you have a dog who will deign to snuggle with you.
What to Expect
You’ll be lucky to get 5 pages read before you fall asleep. You will wake up 90 minutes later unsure who you are or what millennium it is. Try again tomorrow.
3. Paint Your Nails a Fall Color
I was never a nail girl. I went to Catholic school where nail polish was a no no. Then I went to college and majored in chemistry and my hands were in daily contact with acetone. After my first kid was born, though, having pretty nails was a little thing I could do to make me feel like a human (rather than a dairy cow). I’ve kept it up, and fully suggest you give it a go. I use Dashing Diva Gloss strips so they have at least a chance to stay on for longer than 2 hours. Pick a nice warm, deep color to give yourself a shot of Fall every time you look at your hands.
What to Expect
Especially if you choose regular polish, keep your expectations very low for the longevity of this one. You wash way too many dishes to get 2 weeks out of a manicure.
4. Take a Solo Walk
Pop on your favorite comfy sweatshirt, stick those earbuds in your ears, and hit the pavement!
What to Expect
Taking a walk around the block alone can honestly feel like a vacation. You will not take the solitude for granted. Enjoy not having to push your 30-pound toddler up a hill while chasing your preschooler as he scouts out the best sticks to whack you with and having to stop 3 times to clean up after your dog. This is you time!
5. Make a Pot of Soup
Who doesn’t love a good bowl of soup on a chilly evening? Pick your favorite, any soup will do. I’m partial to something like this Fire Roasted Chicken Tortellini Soup from How Sweet Eats. My kids have a pretty good track record with her recipes, which means I’m her biggest fan.
What to Expect
The first step is to find the things you need to make your soup. Check the cabinets of your kids’ play kitchen, the warming drawer of your oven, and the under-seat storage of the play buggy. If you aren’t lucky enough to ship your kids off with your partner so you can chop in peace, get some child safe knives and put those kids to work! When it’s time to serve your soup for dinner, brace yourself for the clean-up. Not only do you have the pot to clean, but also the floor because there is some unwritten rule that kids must get more soup on the floor than in their mouths. But it was tasty, so worth it!
6. Take a Bath
I used to take baths regularly until my kids overtook my bathtub. Now it’s a real treat to remove all the toys from the tub and draw myself a bath. I mean, could you get any more Fall self-care?
What to Expect
Grab your favorite bubble bath or bath soak, pour yourself a glass of wine or a pumpkin beer, and get prune-y!
I seriously hope you pick at least 2 or 3 of these small Fall self-care activities this season. We deserve it!