How to Slow Down This Autumn and Reclaim Your Time
Autumn Can Be a Lovely Time of Year
As your pace of life starts to slow down now we are in autumn I want to encourage you to make the most of this opportunity - to lean into it — to create space, restore order, and enjoy the comfort that comes with slowing down.
Autumn is a time when the days grow shorter and the days get colder. You might be feeling a sense of sadness as summer is over— you’ve had your holidays and all that is ahead are cold, dark months and work. But I believe there are many positives to this time of year, and that it offers a wonderful opportunity to get your life in order. You can also positively embrace those cosy, dark evenings.
Summer can often feel frantic, especially when children are off school. You’re juggling childcare, work, and family life, all while trying to carve out a little time for yourself. Work can be particularly challenging when you’re managing holidays or covering for others.
I used to have a job where no one covered my work while I was away, which may well be the case for you. So although I always looked forward to my holidays, they often came with added stress. I had to rush to get everything done before leaving, and was then faced with a mountain of emails on my return. A mistake I made more than once was booking holidays too close together, leaving hardly any time to settle back in before I was preparing for the next one.
The Return of Routine
With your holidays most likely a dim and distant memory, it’s easier to settle back into a good routine. For me, that’s one of the main foundations of finding time. A routine makes so many things automatic, so your brain doesn’t have to think about every little task, it doesn’t have to make decisions constantly, which can be tiring and feel overwhelming. When your weekdays follow a familiar pattern, it becomes much easier to stay organised and calm.
Once the everyday jobs are running smoothly — getting everyone up and out in the morning, doing the school run, managing work, putting dinner on the table — it’s easier to free up time for the things you truly enjoy and to find way to embrace the season.
Autumn may not be the time for long evening walks in the park or kicking a ball around in the garden, but it’s perfect for cosy nights indoors. It could be a date night with your partner, a movie night with the kids, or a trip to the cinema with friends. You might even treat yourself to a spa day when the weather is cold and wet. I bet you can find some great local activities on line such as star gazing or forest illumination walks. Wrap up warm and have a hot drink and a cosy armchair waiting for you when you get home.
For me, this time of year is when I start to wind down in the garden. Over the summer, we’re always busy — especially my partner — keeping everything looking its best. Now, as we start to “put the garden to bed”, we can spend less time outdoors and turn our attention to the house instead.
Over the next few weeks, for example, we’re planning to do some decluttering in the kitchen on rainy days. It’s a great time to make a list of small projects you’d like to tackle indoors. Then, when the weather turns miserable and you don’t feel like going out, instead of automatically reaching for the TV remote, you can pick something from your list to do. You’ll still have time to relax afterwards — and you’ll feel you’ve earned it - smug in the knowledge that you’re a step closer to finally getting on top of your house and creating a home that you love being in and which makes life easier.
Embracing Autumn
So instead of feeling sad or negative about the months ahead, try to see this season as an opportunity to reset. Autumn is the perfect time to refresh your home, get organised, and tackle the jobs you didn’t have time for during the busy summer.
Spend just 30 minutes this week — perhaps with your partner, if you have one — to think about what you’d like to do over the coming months. Make a list of both the practical tasks and the enjoyable things you can plan in.
And don’t forget to celebrate the season itself. Take a walk to admire the autumn colours, watch the starlings murmurate at dusk, or simply curl up in front of the fire with a hot chocolate and a good book. These small, mindful moments can bring a real sense of calm and contentment as the year slows down. A great book I cam across recently was ‘Self-Care for Winter’ by Suzy Reading. It has absolutely loads of ideas for surviving and thriving at this time of year.
How do you like to slow down at this time of year? Whether it’s lighting candles in the evening, baking something comforting, or taking quiet walks among the autumn leaves, I’d love to hear how you make the most of the season. Share your favourite autumn rituals or reflections in the comments below.