Autumn When You're Struggling

I love autumn. I feel like that's a pretty common sentiment this time of year. But let’s be honest, it can be really hard to enjoy the delights of the season when you’re struggling. ​

 This was me last autumn, I was dealing with so many personal issues as well as starting college and stepping out of the comfort zone I had lived in for so long. I was sad, anxious, confused, grieving, and so many other things. Because of this, I found myself not enjoying something I loved.

I know this autumn so far has been hard for a lot of us. From starting a new school year and all the changes that inevitably come with that, the older you get, from turmoil in the world at large, and the seasonal depression so many of us face, among other things. In this blog post, I want to share some very simple and cost-effective ways to romanticize this season even if you’re struggling. And even if you’re not, hopefully you can glean some fun ideas from this post.

Decorations -

I find that one of the best ways to romanticise a season is to decorate my space. Here are a few simple things that you can do to make your room feel autumnal.

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• Put colored leaves in a vase. If you live somewhere where the leaves change color, picking a couple of branches and putting them in vases around your house can bring a little bit of fall inside. If you don’t live somewhere where the leaves turn, consider bringing in pinecones, acorns, or even brownish leaves.

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• Use clothing as decor. I have some sweaters, jackets, and other clothing pieces that I love but don’t get much wear out of. I love draping blazers and jackets off of chairs, and using sweaters, scarves, and shawls as something to put under the decorations I already have.
  

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• Buy a candle. I don’t think there is any reason to go crazy over seasonal candles, but buying yourself (or finding or making) a fall candle can go such a long way to bringing autumn into your life. You can find really cheap and wonderfully scented candles all over the place. Some of my favorite places to get them for under ten dollars are T.J. Maxx/Marshalls, Hobby Lobby, and Walmart.
  

• Make a vision or mood board on your wall. Printing out some pictures from Pinterest and collaging them on a corkboard or your wall is another really fun and easy way to decorate. It doesn’t take long, and the result is so pretty. If you don’t have a color printer at home, many schools and libraries provide them for cheap use or for free.​
  

Music -

Every autumn, I fall back into Jazz. Putting on YouTube Jazz Study videos, and shuffling random jazz playlists I find on music streaming platforms. More specifically, I have been loving Nora Jones, Ella Fitzgerald, and Laufey this autumn.Some of my favorite Jazz and Jazz adjacent songs have been -

• Autumn in New York by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald
• Black Coffee by Peggy Lee
• Let You Break My Heart Again by Laufey and Philharmonia Orchestra
• Seven Years by Nora Jones
• Mr. Eclectic by Laufey
• Autumn Leaves by Nat King Cole

If you are looking for some pop music, here are some autumnal songs I  have been loving -

• Paul Revere by Noah Kahan
• Marjorie by Taylor Swift
• Second Hand News by Birdy
• Reckless Driving (feat Ben Kessler) by Lizzie McAlpine

I have also been on the hunt for Worship Music for fall, and I have stumbled across the album Interlude by Matt Crocker. The songs are pretty simple, but the sound is perfect for a cozy night in, and the songs aren’t as cookie-cutter as a lot of worship songs can be.

YouTube Channels-

One of my favorite forms of escapism after a long day is cozy YouTube vlogs. Here are a few of my favorites.

Darling Desi - I’ve definitely mentioned Desi before. Her videos are artistic masterpieces all about romanticising life. Her autumn videos are my favorite (she has a whole playlist of them on her channel.) If you’re going to check out one thing from this list, let her channel be it.

Morgan Long - Morgan is another cozy content creator. Her videos take a chattier and more personal approach that feels unadulterated by modern internet culture. She documents her life in Portland as an illustrator while prioritizing taking care of her home, herself, and spending time with those she loves. Whenever Morgan posts, I love to soak it in. Her sunshiny spirit makes her videos so enjoyable to watch.

Hannah Adkins - Hannah is a creator who lives in the Cotswolds. Every Sunday, she uploads videos of her idyllic life in England. Her videos are slow and comforting, highlighting the landscape and time with her family and dog. If you love rich British woman fashion, Hannah is always showing off her clothes, which I love.

Carter Sullivan - Carter is a work-from-home corporate wife documenting her life in Canada. Her videos are very cozy and homey. She shows a lot of the ways she and her husband are making their fixer-upper a home, she shares her reads, the food she loves, she yaps a lot about books, crafts, and F1. Her videos are almost always long and always a delight.

​Books -

I obviously have to talk about autumnal books! But… I am going to save my autumn book recommendations for next week’s post, so stay tuned!

​Baked Goods-

One of my favorite things ever is a baked good or a treat. Autumn is the perfect season for baking with the seasonal fruits and vegetables, cozy spices, and rainy days that are conducive to spending the day in the kitchen.

(sorry for the unaesthetic picture haha)

Pumpkin Pancakes - I have been loving making pumpkin pancakes this autumn. I love how easy they are to make, and I love having a fun breakfast around the house. Here is a recipe I’ve been using. It makes about six pancakes, so it’s perfect for just a couple of servings.

Cinnamon Rolls - At the beginning of September, I made homemade cinnamon rolls for the first time. It was a long process, but it was so much fun, and the final product was worth it. This is the recipe I used, but you could also just use store-bought cinnamon rolls (I know Pillsbury has a pumpkin spice roll this year that I want to try.)

Gingerdoodles - I know gingerbread is often associated with Christmas, but I think the flavor profile is very well-suited to autumn as well. I also find that around the holidays, I bake cookies that my family always makes, so there isn’t much time for experimentation. I love these cookies so much, they’re soft and spicy. Whenever I make this recipe I add a ¼ teaspoon of black pepper in with the spices.

Apple Turnovers - This is an autumn baking staple for me! I love how simple they are to make and how they can serve as a dessert with ice cream or whipped cream, or can be a delicious breakfast with some yogurt or breakfast sausages on the side. This recipe is close to the one I use, except my recipe doesn't have apple cider in it and I don't use a glaze.

​Faith -

If you’re struggling this season, lean into Jesus. Remember how faithful he is, find comfort, peace, and solace in him above all things. 

• Do a Little Faith Blog Bible plan. This blog has the cutest printable Bible plans. Each day has a Bible reading, as well as an activity, or a song to help you grow closer to Jesus. The Bible plans are created monthly and follow a monthly calendar, but you can really start at any time. This September’s theme is Falling Back on track with Jesus.
• Read and study Psalms of Thanksgiving. Throughout the book of Psalms (which are primarily songs and poems), the psalmists give thanks to God. This can be a great way to lean into Jesus this fall and to remember all the good things he has done despite hardships.

​Autumn Activities -

To round out this post, here is a long list of affordable, simple, and fun activities you can do to romanticize autumn.

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• Take an autumn walk. Especially prioritize doing something like this during peak foliage season. Listen to an autumn playlist or walk with someone you love, collect fall leaves, and either bring fall drinks with you or get/make them after the walk.
  

• Candlelight reading. This is one of my very favourite cozy season activities. I turn off the lights, put my phone away, light some candles, and read for as long as I want. Bonus points if the book is a cozy fall book.
  

• Go Apple Picking - this is a tradition for many of us, but finding a local orchard and picking apples is one of the best ways to romanticize autumn. If you have the time, explore the orchard shop, take the apples home, bake something, and take cute pictures while you’re in the orchard.
  

• Decorating pumpkins - pumpkin patches can be expensive to visit, but most grocery stores sell pumpkins for reasonable prices this time of year. Put on “It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” or another film of your choice and carve or paint the pumpkins.

• Have a cozy fall movie night. Taking one night to really make the most out of watching a movie can cure a multitude of hurts. Pick a favorite or a movie that’s new to you, pop a huge bowl of popcorn, collect your favorite Halloween candy, make hot apple cider or pumpkin spice tea, and cozy up.
  

• Go on a foliage drive, drive down wooded roads, or to cute small towns blasting Nora Jones and Noah Kahan. Find a bakery to get apple cider donuts, get pumpkin spice lattes, or make your own to take. This could be a short excursion or take up a whole day.

• Get yourself a fall fun drink. No planning is required to do this. On a hard day, take a moment to treat yourself to a little drink. Pumpkin spice lattes, chai, apple cider, apple crisp ollipops, cinnamon tea, salted caramel lattes, and apple sparkling water.
  

• Make an effort to wear your favorite fall outfits. I personally believe that what you wear can shape your day, so don’t be afraid to wear your sweaters, flannels, courderoys, and boots.
  

• And finally, my go-to piece of advice to help you romanticize everything is to document it. You don’t have to document the tears you shed or the long nights, but you can write about your adventures in a journal, you can take a photo every day, or a video clip every week. This is your life, and you will find that when you record it, you naturally will make more of an effort to enjoy what you have.
  

Thank you so much for being here, friend. If you are struggling or even if you are not, I hope this post was able to give you some ideas on how to make the most of this autumn.

Belle Thomas

Belle is the writer and dreamer behind An Old Fashioned Girl. She is passionate about reminding girls of their identity in Christ, classic books, history, Louisa May Alcott, and earl grey tea. ​​ ​