10 Ways To Enjoy Autumn At Home

Although I may have some mixed feelings about Autumn, it is a beautiful and wonderful season, and I certainly look forward to it. But honestly, who doesn't (at least somewhat) look forward to the Fall time? Even as a Summertime girl, I look forward to all of the marvelous things that Autumn has to offer; the aesthetic, the sweaters, the food, the hot drinks, the festivities, just to name a few things. Summer might be my favorite season, but I love Autumn too, especially as an introvert who (mostly) prefers to stay home, even under normal, non-2020, types of circumstances. It seems to be a lot more socially acceptable to stay in during the Fall than it is during the Summer. Or at least, it seems that way to me. I don't even know how many times I've heard some version of "get outside and enjoy the lovely weather" during the Summertime in pre-2020 years. Plus, many people tend to associate Summer with going to theme parks, beaches, festivals, parties, or purely getting out of the house more, in general. Autumn, however, typically offers a lot for both introverts and extroverts alike.

I'm not going to lie to you; I was looking forward to stepping outside of my comfort zone partaking in some Autumnal activities outside the house this year. I sincerely wanted to visit my local apple orchard and check out their Autumnal festival, as I have never really checked it out, even though it's within easy walking distance of where I live, but 2020 is proving to not be the year for that. Even if the government does give the thumbs up for Autumnal festivals to go on, I wouldn't feel great about going this year, even though Fall festivals are primarily outdoor events. It just doesn't seem necessary (or responsible) to go to any type of event this year, indoor or outdoor, even if I wore a mask. So needless to say, I'll once again be enjoying the Fall time from home this year.

I know that most people, myself included, don't want to literally be cooped up in the house 24/7, so while this isn't exactly an "at home" activity, it can be nice to get out in nature from time to time. Seriously, even as an "indoorsy" person, I have to get some fresh air every now and then. Let me be honest for a second, I actually did spend the first few months of quarantine literally staying home and primarily staying inside, seldom even going for walks, and my mental health suffered from doing so. But then, when I decided to start going for walks whenever the weather permitted, I felt immensely better, even with all of the other stuff I was dealing with at that time. So with that said, if you feel as if you're going stir crazy, or you need to get some fresh air, allow yourself to go for a walk, even if you won't be walking very far from home. And given the fact that Autumn is undeniably a beautiful, colorful, and aesthetically pleasing season, there's no better time of year to go for a nature walk than when the leaves are beginning to fall from the trees. 

Just don't forget to at least bring a mask with you on your walk, and practice social distancing if there are other people out enjoying nature. I am sure that you know the drill on that by now. Personally, I prefer to go for my walks in the morning, when I know that there won't be very many people out. Although let's be honest, even pre-quarantine, I had a preference to avoid people while on my walks, as I like to either listen to music, brainstorm ideas, or focus on nature while I'm walking.

Honestly, is there a better time of year for taking nature photos than the Fall time? Even if you know absolutely nothing about photography, it's relatively easy to get some beautiful Autumnal photos by merely snapping a photo of almost anything you find appealing outdoors while you're on a nature walk; or while standing on your porch. Seriously though, if you're feeling a little extra creative during the Fall time, Autumn is the perfect time of year to go for a walk with your camera and practice your photography. Have some fun taking some photos for your Instagram, your personal photo album, or even just for fun; don't stress over whether they are super professional quality or not, just have some fun. Take some pictures of the leaves on the trees and on the ground. Take some selfies in your favorite sweater. Snap a photo of a lovely house or cabin near the woods. Just have some fun, and don't be afraid to get creative with your Fall photography. By the way, you don't need a fancy DSLR camera to get some fantastic Autumnal shots; you can get some photos that are just as gorgeous using your phone.

Let me be real, I absolutely despise raking and leaf blowing, and I hate having to basically give up an entire Friday or Saturday to do so. Raking and leaf blowing are tiring, they make my upper body ache, and they are just not fun, but unfortunately, there's no avoiding these tasks. Ugh, this whole adulting thing really blows; no pun intended. But on that note, if you find yourself having to rake the leaves this Autumn, why not take a moment to, well, take a momentary break from adulting, get in touch with your inner child, and jump into the leaves? Seriously, if you enjoyed jumping into the leaves as a child, there is absolutely no harm in allowing yourself to have a little bit of fun on raking or leaf blowing day. I know that it may seem silly, but if it brings even a little bit of joy to an otherwise tedious and tiring task, it's worth it. Even if your neighbors are watching, who cares; why not encourage them to let loose and have a little bit of fun as well? Life shouldn't be all work and no play, after all.

However, if you have pets, I highly recommend doing this in an area where they don't typically do their business, just to avoid any gross surprises. And don't forget to shower as soon as you can when you get back inside. Oh, and check the pile for sticks, or other hard or pointy objects, because ouch. 

In my mind, the perfect Autumnal day would be spent cozying up indoors with a warm blanket, a hot beverage, and either a good book or something fun to watch. Personally, my ideal day during any season would be spent either reading or watching something on TV, Netflix, or YouTube, although I feel somewhat guilty about it during the Summer. But on a chilly and/or rainy Autumn day, there's no guilt about spending the whole day inside, making it the perfect season for binge-watching or bring-reading. Seriously though, I absolutely love it when I can just diffuse some delightfully-smelling Autumnal essential oils, warm up a cup of hot cider, and allow myself to get lost in whatever I may choose to read or watch. Let's also not forget that some of the best shows tend to come on during the Fall, so you can always treat yourself to your favorite hot beverage while you watch a new episode of your favorite show.

Carving pumpkins is a classic Autumnal activity, and it can be a bit messy, but it can undeniably make for a great way to get creative make some fun Fall memories. I have actually seen some pretty fun and unique pumpkin carvings that go beyond the typical jack-o-lantern that most of us think of when we think of carving pumpkins. However, due to the mess, I must say that I prefer looking at these designs over attempting to create one myself. I'm also not too confident in my knife skills, or my hand strength, and I don't want to end up inadvertently carving my fingers. Luckily, there are other (and safer) ways that you can get creative with pumpkins, such as painting on them or drawing on them with markers, which can be fun for people of almost all ages. If you're into cooking or baking, you could also get creative by using them in a recipe that everyone in your household can enjoy. So if you can, pick up some pumpkins from your local market, and have some fun with them.

With a little bit of imagination, fallen leaves, pine cones, acorns, and branches can be phenomenal crafting supplies, and the best part is, they're free. Or at least, they are free when you pick them up from your yard. But as I was saying, there are quite a few ways that you can get creative with the items that fall from the trees during the Fall time, and as always, if you need any ideas, Pinterest is loaded with ideas on how you can get creative with each of these things. I personally love the idea of using leaves to paint and make prints, as it's an activity that can be fun for both children and for adults. Freshly fallen Autumnal leaves can also be preserved to be used for home decor crafts so they won't dry out and crumble as easily. As for pine cones, acorns, and branches, there is quite a bit that you can do with all of these things as well to create some gorgeous Autumnal decor. Perhaps you could use them to make a centerpiece for your dinner table or put together a wreath to hang up on your front door, or you could have some fun painting these items. Honestly, the options are endless. 

Also, can I just say that pine cones are also great for making holiday decor? So if you'd like to get a head start on making some of your Christmas decorations, you can always make use of the fallen pine cones for creating both Autumnal and Winter decor. Or, if you're really creative, perhaps you could find a way to make these decor items work year-round.

Who doesn't love Autumnal baked goods, such as pie, pumpkin roll, or coffee cake? Honestly, one of my favorite things about Autumn is the baked goods. And with the temperature beginning to drop, Autumn is the perfect time of year to bake without heating the entire house up too much. So if you enjoy baking, or you want to get into baking, perhaps you could look through Pinterest, or any cookbooks you may have, to find a couple of Autumnal treats to try your hand at baking yourself. They don't have to be the most elaborate recipes, and if you're not yet comfortable with baking, you can always keep it simple, or even use a few pre-prepared ingredients. But if you want to go all out and bake something from scratch, or even come up with your very own recipe, you totally can! It's entirely up to you what you choose to bake; just remember to have fun with it, and don't stress too much over whether your food presentation is "Pinterest perfect" or not. As long as you enjoy the baking process and you like the things that you're baking, that's what matters. Besides, you're probably baking them to eat, not to look at; but even if you're practicing your food presentation skills, practice makes perfect.

Although I am not exactly a football fan, and I don't drink alcohol (at all), I find that the experience of attending or throwing a tailgate party can be a lot of fun, even if just with members of your own household. Whether you'll be watching the game or not, it can certainly be a great way to spice up the typical backyard barbeque and make some fun memories, even if you'll be doing it in your own backyard. Let me be real with you, I'd mostly be into this one for the food, and I'd probably prefer to watch wrestling over football, but I would still have a lot of fun with this one. But honestly, you can throw your at-home tailgate party however you want. Heck, you can totally choose to watch chick flicks or Disney movies at your home tailgate party if you wish, just have some fun and don't be afraid to get creative with it. I feel as if this somewhat kills the point of a tailgate party, as they're often associated with sports, primarily American football, but as long as you and your household are having a good time, that's what matters.

Although we can't really have bonfires where I live unless they are well-contained in a firepit, I have to say that sitting by a bonfire on a crisp Autumn night can be absolutely amazing. So if you can safely (and legally) have a family bonfire where you live, I highly recommend doing it at least once before Winter arrives. Seriously, there is nothing like sitting by a warm fire, having some snacks, and maybe even making some smores on a crisp Autumn night, while being surrounded by the people you are the closest to, even if just your own household. Even if you live alone, it could be a wonderful experience to sit by a small fire pit and enjoy an Autumnal evening by a warm fire. Just please, check with your local fire department to be sure that it's okay to have a bonfire where you live, and be aware of any safety guidelines that you will need to follow to avoid any accidents or fines. On that note, be sure that you are going about it as safely as possible; fire is no joke. I'm not trying to sound like a Karen, but nothing would ruin a good time quite like an accident. Or a fine. Or both.

If you are the type of person who likes to make New Year's resolutions every year, and you sincerely want to try your best to stick to them, why not start thinking about them now? I know that September, October, or even November may seem a bit early to start thinking about your New Year's resolutions. But personally, I believe that it's never a bad idea to get a head start, especially if you are serious about any of them. Seriously, if there is something that you really want for the year ahead, it's never too early to begin planning and prepping for it, nor is it too early to start working toward it. Personally, I have actually found that I am a lot more successful in sticking to my New Year's resolutions if I plan them out early, rather than try to scramble to figure them out in late-December. So honestly, I think that Autumn is the best time to start thinking about your New Year's resolutions and to start planning for them if you haven't already. That way, you have a few months to properly plan, rather than just a few weeks. Or days. Or hours, I know that some people plan out their New Year's resolutions on New Year's Eve.

Also, can I just say that it's never a bad idea to try to turn the current year around, even if it's not going (at all) as you planned? I know that 2020 has not been the "best year ever" for a lot of people, but that doesn't mean you have to allow it to keep getting you down.

Just as there are plenty of ways that you enjoy Summer at home, there are also plenty of ways that you can enjoy Autumn at home. As I said before, one of the things that I love about Autumn is that it's more socially acceptable to spend it at home (in non-quarantine times), and there's less guilt about "wasting" a beautiful Summer day by staying in my room. Plus, I feel as it, in general, Autumn is a relatively chill season, and it's almost expected for one to spend it at home reading a good book. Autumn may just be the most introvert-friendly season, although it also has a lot to offer to extroverts during non-bizarre-2020 times. But seriously, you don't have to go to a Fall festival or to a Halloween party to fully appreciate Autumn.

What are some of your favorite ways to spend an Autumn day at home? Are there are special activities that you have planned to make the most of Autumn at home, or perhaps are traditions you may already have? Has quarantine affected your usual Autumnal plans or any plans you made for the Fall earlier this year? I'd love to hear your thoughts, as well as your plans for this Fall!