October and November are my absolute months! I live for all the cozy and autumnal feelings. Consider this your guide to the fall months including movies, music, cozy rituals, and easy (or spoooky) listening.
Let's Talk Habits
For a lot of people, fall is a busy season. I see fall as a time to slow down and become even more intentional about how I am taking care of myself / spending my time. I'm not so great at holding to habits that benefit me, but the changing of the weather feels like a call to (positive and gentle) action.
Step Outside / Let the Fresh Air In
With the coming of cooler weather, my heart feels lighter. Texas heat is a really heavy burden to bear for the better part of the year, so I very happily welcome the crisp morning air that October brings! Besides my ongoing struggle to rise earlier, I also want to challenge myself to get out of bed and breathe in some fresh air... or just crack open our balcony door to let the chilly air wake me up.
Cup of Cozy
Sincere apologies for the number of time's I have used 'cozy' throughout this post. What better way to accompany the cooler mornings than with a steamy cup of coffee or tea? I feel many of us wait until the weekend or even a vacation/getaway to soak in the enjoyment of the morning and fresh coffee. I'm very unmotivated before the sun comes up, but providing myself with the incentive of coffee + fresh air doesn't sound half bad.
Morning Pages
Team the start of your day with a few pages - whether this is by reading or writing. In addition to that, make it something positive. What would lift you up? Write affirmations to yourself. Read a chapter of the book you keep putting off. Even better, take a look at God's Word and start the day in prayer with Him. This is one of the most challenging rituals for me. My brain feels like it's lagging each morning, but I haven't sat myself down to journal or even pray in so long. The way we start our days has such an impact on everything that comes thereafter.
Movement
I may have mentioned this before, but I really believe that our bodies benefit when we move them according to the season. I associate fall with a time to turn inward. We're transitioning from the summer into shorter days and cooler weather. Think of the autumn as a time to find your balance and rest.
I prefer taking long walks during the fall, actively embracing the changing of the leaves and the crispness of the air. Notice your breath and incorporate a sense of stillness as you take deep breaths in and out. As we move into a time with less daylight, it can be difficult to feel the same level of motivation as we did during the summer. That's natural and perfectly OK! We simply adapt and change our movements based on the season.
Yoga is one of the most fluid practices and can help take you from one season into the next quite beautifully. Letting go is a great autumnal analogy. In the same way, your yoga practice can support this idea. Incorporating more surrendering poses such as shavasana, child's pose, and deep stretches are wonderful ways to align your body to the season.
Even if you don't practice yoga, the same principles can still apply to your regular movement routine: surrender. I encourage you to take note of how the changing of the seasons affects your body and mind and allow yourself to change as well.
On the Screen
Naturally, I have a quite the list of movies that really immerse me in the season. I love both classic horror/thrillers and the sweet romcoms that give you all those fuzzy warm feelings. Here's a little mix of my Halloween / Fall favorites for you:
Hocus Pocus (1993)
Halloweentown (1998)
Sleepy Hollow (1999)
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
The Craft (1996)
Beetlejuice (1988)
Casper (1995)
When Harry Met Sally (1989)
You've Got Mail (1998)
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
The Addams Family (1991)
Dan in Real Life (2007)
Bewitched (2005)
Practical Magic (1998)
Ghostbusters (1984)
The Shining (1980)
Double Double Toil & Trouble (1993)
Halloween (1978)
What Lies Beneath (2000)
Heathers (1988)
Matilda (1996)
Labyrinth (1986)
The Lost Boys (1987)
The Goonies (1985)
The Vanishing (1993)
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)
Twilight (2008)
Coraline (2009)
Little Women (2019)
Mystic Pizza (1988)
Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)
Donnie Darko (2001)
Scream (1996)
Carrie (1976)
Psycho (1960)
The Haunted Mansion (2003)
Jennifer's Body (2009)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
Planes, Trains, and Automobiles (1987)
It's the Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown (1966)
You also can't go wrong with old episodes of Goosebumps and Are You Afraid of the Dark? if you're a child of the 90s like I am! Tell me your favorite fall/Halloween movies. It's time for a movie night!
Listening
One of the biggest ways I embrace fall is through music. I absolutely adore music and listen to something the majority of my day, even at work. I have a few playlists that I will share here so that you can join in! I also suggest creating your own if you're into that kind of thing - it can be so fun!
Autumnal Gold - I've been curating and adding to this playlist for years and I never get tired of it. This is an easy-listening playlist with lots of folksy / indie tunes. I actually make myself wait to listen to it until September so all of the songs feel special. Haha!
October - This is my more fun playlist that has a blend of fall-themed music and some Halloween-inspired songs as well. I was definitely inspired by some of my favorite fall movies as well (e.g. The Craft).
Halloween - Just a straight up dose of Halloween! If I ever have the pleasure of throwing a Halloween party, this is the playlist I would most definitely use. It was so fun making this.
That's all for now. I am so thankful for this season of reflection and letting go. Fall is truly magical.. Here's to embracing it to the fullest!
xx,
Hannah
So many great ideas and suggestions. I’m going to screen shot this movie list. 🍁
About to watch Practical Magic now!