Guest post written by Gemma Jayne.
As we approach Autumn you may notice the change, the days begin to get shorter and the air gets colder and completing simple activities gets harder. Our fashion changes from wearing shorts and cami tops to adding tights or jeans and maybe even a jumper.
I personally am one of those people that makes the most of every season as I love to enjoy those seasons in their own special way. In saying that I do love the transition from summer to Autumn. However, if you are not like me and find this transition hard then I have some simple activities that will lift your mood this Autumn!
Let’s talk about mood
Firstly, I want to talk about mood before we jump into the activities. Sometimes people associate emotions with moods thinking they are the same thing. However, emotions are fleeting (small moments if you want) whereas moods are known to last much longer, including over a few days.
Another way to explain it is emotions tend to be a response to something that may have happened in our lives whereas moods are less intense and don’t rely on a context or situation to experience them.
Therefore, if this transition between summer and Autumn has your mood low or you feel a shift in your energy then do not worry. This may just mean you need some time to focus your energy on doing those simple activities that will lift your mood.
If you are stuck, then here are some great and simple activities that will lift your mood now
6 Simple Activities That Will Lift Your Mood This Autumn
1. Start a new habit
For me entering a new season is like the beginning of a new year. That is how I want you to take it too, think of September as being the new January. This means if you are experiencing a low mood during this transition period then start a new habit. When we as humans work towards or achieve something, this is deeply connected to our happiness.
When you begin to visualise September and entering Autumn as a new beginning you are actively creating a starting point for your new habit. Think about what you have wanted to do for a long time and do it. Think about where you want to be from now until the end of the year.
You might already have something in mind that you want to start so here is your sign to start it now!
2. Get the music on
I already know that music is great for me no matter how I am feeling. However, did you know that music has a powerful connection to our brain.
Now you may be sat there thinking “well I don’t want to listen to happy music when I am sad” but it doesn’t matter what music you play. There has been a lot of research to show that any type of music can lift your mood, so if you are feeling low then get those tunes on!
3. Head on an Autumn Walk
I am diving straight in there to say that it has been stated even 5 minutes spent in nature can have a huge impact on your health, well-being and mood.
I recommend taking yourself (or going out with others) on a walk without your headphones. Take in your surroundings, focus on what sounds you can hear or what you can see. Make a mental note of what smells that there are around you. Fully immerse yourself in the nature during your walk.
Not only is being in nature good but also physical exercise we all know has positive benefits to our health and mood. So get that body moving and enjoy that Autumn walk this year.
Photo by Marcel Strub on Unsplash
4. Socialise with Friends
It can be easy as the colder months come to just wrap up indoors and not got out, but this is definitely not always the best choice.
Make sure you arrange time with friends or family on a regular basis, and this will not only get you out of the house but also get you around others.
There is a lot of research out there that has suggested socialising has a positive impact on our mood and well being. Therefore, get in contact with the people you love and arrange a date day or evening, or even invite them around your house.
5. Have a Regular Routine
Ensuring you have a regular sleeping and routine will not only keep the brain more regulated but help to lift your mood.
As the days get darker this can sometimes make it a lot harder to wake up in the mornings and not only this but ensuring to eat and drink will help maintain blood sugar (which has an impact on our moods). Therefore, make it a habit to set up a routine and stick to it!
Photo by Clay Banks on Unsplash
6. Light Therapy
As I mentioned above this season means that the days will naturally get darker, and so it is important for us to experience light in our lives.
There is something called light therapy which has been shown to significantly lift your mood. Make sure to ask your doctor for a light recommendation and then you can go from there.
Light therapy is a great way to gradually build up introducing light into your life when the days are a lot darker. But they are also great if your energy levels are feeling low and you can lift your mood in the afternoons when you might be struggling.
There you have it 6 simple activities that will lift your mood this Autumn! You can integrate some or all of these into your life and how you feel best will support you as the season changes. Remember it can get tough as the days get darker and colder so looking after yourself is important, not only for your well-being and mood but for your mental health too
If you enjoyed this guest post by Gemma Jayne, make sure you follow her on Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest!
What do you do to support your mood as we enter Autumn? I’d love to hear in the comments.
Great suggestions. I have started this week doing a cardio routine for ten mins every day and it is my Autumn target. Love an Autumn walk.
That’s a great target. Good luck. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I love these tips and autumn fashions really lift my spirits. I love to layer outfits and the boots! So much fun!
Thank you for reading and commenting. I love fall fashion too!
Nice tips! As as extroverted person, socializing and being around people is a must! I really liked the idea of light therapy will give it a try !
That’s great. Thank you for reading and commenting.
I’ve tried Light Therapy before – I didn’t notice a huge difference, but I would still definitely recommend giving it a try!
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Such a lovely post! A really nice read!
Personally depending on what my day entails, I’ll cosy down with a hot drink and book or I will do some cleaning to wind down, something that doesn’t involve a lot of brain work 😅💛
Thank you for reading and commenting what you like to do!
These are such great tips. I always think of September as another new start to the year (although I am a firm believer you can change at any time of the year!). I think this might be linked to the new academic term start.
I’m definitely going to try and get out a bit more this autumn. Thank you for posting.
Definitely. A new season, new opportunities. Thank you for reading and commenting.
From your suggestions, music and walks are big ones for me. Especially if I’m singing the music. Which I’m shit at but it helps somehow. I also love zoning out to a podcast and long hot baths.
Thank you for reading and commenting. I think I have commented on your blog posts.
The deep breathing and belly support in singing are very therapeutic, even before the music itself does its good work!
I love autumn 🍂, I was born in October so maybe that has something to do with it but I really love watching the leaves change colour and floating to the ground, wrapping up for walks in the park, oh and the cosy nights in with a huge cup of tea and a book. I love it all, for me it’s much better than the summer. Thanks for sharing
Thank you for reading and commenting. I am glad you enjoyed this post.
I think it’s SO important to have activities to do during the autumn/winter as it is defiantly a time when the mood seems to dip. Baking and seeing friends really helps me to keep sane during the darker days, it brightens my mood massively. You’ve shared some really great suggestions here lovely. Thank you so much for sharing with us Xo
Elle – ellegracedeveson.com
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Thank you for letting me write for you! And all the wonderful comments 💚💚
Thank you for writing a post for my blog! I love it. X
These are all such great suggestions! I loved the way Gemma distinguished between emotion and mood to start with, I think that was super helpful. I love going on long walks in the autumn and of course getting out and seeing loved ones is always amazing! Thank you so much for sharing x
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Super tips, Gemma and Lauren. Start a new habit to refresh your mind and to recharge your body. Meditate. Do yoga, Spend more time in quiet. Hike more in nature. Seemingly small changes make a big difference when you build high energy habits.
Thank you for reading and commenting what helps lift your mood!
These are all great suggestions – especially for those of us who have a hard time letting go of summer! Thanks for sharing.
Thank you for reading and commenting.
I love Summer so the change to Autumn is hard. I will try light therapy and I will try to do some activities. I love walking in the forest and seeing the leaves changing into other colours
Thank you for reading and commenting.
My autumn will be very different, as I have just moved to Tucson, Arizona, but I am so looking forward to experiencing the desert change of the seasons and going on bikes and walks! My mood is currently excited. 🙂
Ooo that will be interesting. I hope you have a wonderful autumn. Thank you for reading and commenting.
Nothing more than exercise, eat, study, sleep, and repeat.
We don’t have autumn here but I’d love to start a new routine like learning a new language 😀 I want to improve my sleeping habits too~ thanks for sharing these great tips x
Yeah you could treat it as a new start again. Thank you for reading and commenting. X
Great ideas! I also really liked the explanation of the differences between emotions and moods. That was interesting. I had never really thought about it before! 🙂
Thank you for reading and commenting on this guest post.
Autumn is my favorite season and I do not experience a low mood or energy during the transation, but I enjoyed reading Gemma’s guest post. I do like going for walks, and I have heard about using light therapy (especially here during the winter), but I haven’t tried it myself.
I love autumn months, I love the fashion, the colours in nature and that is getting closer to Christmas ha ha. I haven’t tried light therapy either. Thank you for reading and commenting Karalee. X
What a lovely guest post, and very well timed too as I’m not an Autumn fan (heresy I know for a blogger to say that). I’ve just started running again after a summer break (it was FAR too hot to run) and I do feel better in myself already 🙂
That’s great you have been able to run. Yes it was so hot to run a few weeks ago! Oh no, well I hope Gemma’s tips can help you xx
Going for walks in the crisp cold air is my favourite thing to do. Really wakes me up and lifts my mood.
It really does wake you up doesn’t it! Thank you for reading and commenting.
Love these!! Especially the autumn walk one, I really love hiking during this season because of the colors, it’s an instant de-stressor being up in fresh air around beautiful foliage. Great tips!
Thank you for reading and commenting. X
Like how you compared the new season to a new year. Great time to reflect and reignite your purpose. Also, taking in all each season has to offer! Thanks!
Thank you for reading and commenting!
I love these ideas Lauren! Going out on an autumn walk is something I am looking forward to doing, and then of course coming home and making a warm drink 🙂
Rose | https://flourishwithrose.com/
Yes a nice Autumn walk is great with all the changing colours!
Autumn is easily our favorite time of year. We love walking and hiking when the leaves change. As for new habits, that’s a great idea!
Yes the leaves are so pretty aren’t they! Thank you for reading and commenting. Have a great Autumn!
Those are some amazing tips. Walking does lifts my mood in every kind of weather.
That’s great you have found something that works for you! Thank you for reading and commenting.
I love to listen to music!
My mood will change simply because it’s no longer hot and I’m sweating all the time. To be able to wear a hoodie again will be great too. Plus, Halloween stuff is great for homeware shopping.
Music is good no matter the when and where you listen to it. It’s great for enhancing and changing moods. I rely on it a lot.
Speaking of light therapy, a good light alarm clock will help you adjust to the darker mornings so you can wake up more easily
I can’t wait to wear a hoody and.l cosy jumpers. That’s a great tip about the alarm clocks. Thank you for reading and commenting. X
I cannot wait to wear cosy jumpers, hoodies and warmer clothing and not feel so hot all the time. Thank you for reading and commenting.
You would be interested in Darius Dinshah’s work with the healing value of colored light. He operated early in the last century, and died discredited (didn’t stop the authorities from confiscating his research notes ~ another Tesla), but I believe there’s still an organization which offers his book “Let There be Light” for barely more than it takes to produce it. The book itself is a little disorganized ~ he wasn’t a writer, nor was English his first language ~ but even looking at some of the pictures and their captions will have you looking in it anyway!
Thank you for reading and commenting.
Love this!
Can’t wait for the autumn walks, they’re probably my favourite things! 🙂
Courtney x
c0urtinthemagic.blogspot.com
Great suggestions! Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for reading and commenting.