“Autumn is a season to reflect on the life we’ve always dreamed of. Do we have to have the perfect life or dream home to be content right now? Of course not…All we need is right in front of us. Contentment comes when we embrace the life we can create right now in an authentic, warm, meaningful-from-the-inside-out kind of home.”
excerpted from my New York Times bestselling book
Love the Home You Have
I’m a homebody, and no season delights me more than fall. For me, autumn is less about decorating and more about creating a home—focusing on the life lived inside it rather than the objects that fill each room.
Slowing down in autumn helps us savor our homes and take better care of ourselves and the people who live with us.
Here are three cozy fall activities to help you make the season restorative and meaningful.
1. Embrace quiet, creative time.
Slowing down can feel impossible when life moves fast. Still, quiet creative activities—like coloring—are surprisingly effective at calming a busy mind. When thoughts race, focusing on filling a page with color gives your attention something simple and peaceful to do.
Coloring doesn’t have to be childish or frivolous. It can be meditative and restorative, and it might even spark fresh ideas for your home. A quiet coloring session can be a gentle way to reconnect with introverted friends, or a cozy solo ritual while you listen to a podcast or watch a favorite show.
Try keeping coloring supplies accessible so it’s easy to unwind on an evening at home. You can also invite children or family members to join in—shared creative time makes for simple, satisfying togetherness.
2. Create fall family-night traditions.
One thing I crave in my home is a cozy atmosphere where family life is prioritized: comfortable seating, a flicker of candlelight or a fire, and a table for playing games and sharing meals. But creating the atmosphere is only half the work—making time to use it is what matters.
We’ve kept a 25-year tradition of playing a marble board game at the dinner table, especially during fall and winter. Keeping the game out where it’s easy to see is a small but effective reminder to slow down and play.
Think about what you’d like to include on your fall family-night list, then make it happen. Ideas include: hosting a game night, organizing a neighborhood costume party, reading aloud by the fire, or establishing a weekly meal-and-movie night. Store games in a lidded basket or a nearby shelf so they’re simple to grab when the mood strikes.
Make living the life you want a priority, not just creating the setting for it.
Lidded basket for easy game storage
3. Use the season to prioritize self-care.
Self-care can feel like a chore or a gift depending on how you approach it. I recently learned I have Hashimoto’s and became gluten-free, which reminded me change is rarely easy. Still, autumn is a good time to adopt habits that support your health and comfort.
Ask yourself practical questions to guide meaningful changes: What new habits will improve your well-being? Which mindsets could shift to make daily life gentler? What healthy recipes would you like to try this season? Which fall meals bring comfort to your family? How can you stay active as temperatures drop? What small home changes would make your space more restful?
Use the slower pace of fall to introduce manageable adjustments that support your physical and emotional health. Small, consistent shifts add up to real, lasting change.
Fall is my favorite season to be a homebody for many reasons—its invitation to slow down, to nest, and to savor simple pleasures. Consider how you might take better care of your home, yourself, and your family with cozy fall activities this year.
In what ways could you slow down to take better care of your home, yourself, and your family this fall?
CATCH UP ON THE FALL NESTING SERIES:
A Round up of Fall Doormats
Day One: An Autumn Mindset
Day Two: 20 Little Things
Day Three: Cozying Up the House with Shutters
Day Four: How to Decorate Your Coffee Table in Any Season
Day Five: Fall House Tour
Day Six: Embrace Your Style (and adapt as needed)
Day Seven: Your Fall Morning Routine
Day Eight: Fall Puttering
Day Nine: Simple Ways to Create a Welcoming Fall Porch
Day Ten: Make Your Bedroom a Cozy Retreat
Day Eleven: Fall Home Refresh – 5 Ways to Bring Your Home to Life
Day Twelve: 14 Simple Fall Decorating Ideas
Day Thirteen: TODAY!