14 Fall Self-Care Ideas

Are you ready for a lesson in fall self-care ideas? Self-care is more than facials and massages. It’s more about finding balance in life between health, wellness, and joy. Finally, a time when you’re feeling happy, cared for, and alive.

In this blog, “Fall Self-Care Ideas,” I’ll share a few ideas that will get you in the mood for the fall season. Leaving you feeling relaxed, calm, and joyful all season long. 

My favorite Fall Self-Care Ideas

Fall Travel Destinations

Traveling during this time of year can yield some terrific savings.  Some of the most popular travel destinations for fall foliage are Maine, New Hampshire, and Pennsylvania. However, my favorite place to visit during the fall month is Julian, California. Julian is located 60 miles east of San Diego and located in the historic mountain town of Julian. There are plenty of fun activities to do in this small mountain town, from gold mining, picking apples, and having a fresh slice of Julian Pie Company apple pie.

Hard Cider Tasting

Autumn brings an abundance of fall-themed beverages to your palette. Julian is also home to several cideries, including Calico Cidery, which produces a variety of hard ciders. Grab a flight of cider to find your new favorite hard cider. My favorite hard cider at Calico Cidery is called the Joey. If you’re not a fan of hard cider, why not explore wine tasting at your local winery. 

Hot Apple Cider

This is the absolute favorite of my fall self-care ideas. Warm-up with a hot cup of Alpine Spiced Apple Cider mix. Alpine spiced apple cider mix is perfect for on the go or when you’re watching a Fall movie on Hallmark. You can purchase Alpine Spiced Apple Cider mix online or at your local grocery store.

Hallmark Fall Movies

I unapologetically love Hallmark movies, and they have a fun lineup of Harvest-themed movies. What I love most about Hallmark movies is their gorgeous settings with cute storylines with familiar actors and actresses. It’s a great way to escape from mundane life and to get into the spirit of the season. If you’re an avid Hallmark movie watcher like me, you can track how many movies you’ve watched on the Hallmark Movie Checklist app. 

Fall Bonfire

Fall is the perfect time for camping and enjoying scary stories and s’mores by the campfire in the mountains or the beach. The weather is perfect for stargazing, and golden and orange-colored skies at sunset are another reason to get a group of friends together to roast hot dogs over an open flame. 

Fall Meals

Fall is a time for cold-weather meals like stew, soups, and chili. So if you’re looking for a hearty meal for a crispy autumn evening or tailgate potluck, why not make this delicious chili recipe. The great thing about chili is that you can pair it with chips, hot potatoes, or put in a tortilla and make sure to have plenty of toppings for diners to choose from like cheese, lettuce, tomato, olives, and salsa.

A delicious chili recipe that I used at a chili cook-off is Boilermaker Tailgate Chili, with a few secret additions to the recipe to make it my own. 

Desserts

A classic fall dessert from my childhood is Baked Apples. My mom would only make baked apples in the fall, and they’re delicious hot or cold. We would usually eat baked apples with pork chops.

Baked Apples Recipe 

Core your favorite apples and sprinkle ¼ teaspoon of brown sugar, 1 teaspoon of cinnamon, and ¼ teaspoon of butter on top of the spices and golden raisins. 

Carefully pour ¾ of a cup of boiling water into the baking dish and put it into the preheated oven at 375. Cook the apples for 30-45 minutes until the apples are thoroughly cooked. 

Autumn Candles and Soaps From Bath & Body Works

Get into the mood of the season with the delicious fragrance of Bath and Body Works Fall Collections. If you love the aroma of pumpkin spice, pumpkin, and apple, pumpkin spiced latte. There is a candle, body lotion, or hand soap that is available for you. Sign up for email alerts on sales and deals for holiday scents that will be coming out next month before they all sell out. 

Home Decor

Get inspired for fall home decor on Pinterest. The best way to get into the season’s mood is to decorate your home with fall colors and natural foliage like pumpkins, leaves, or corn. Hobby Lobby is my favorite craft store and has plenty of ideas for Fall Home Decor with decorative throws, pillows, and plenty of faux floral items to make arrangements or door wreaths.

An easy project is painting mason jars with metallic chalk paint and let them dry. Then fill the jars with faux floral pieces from Hobby Lobby and tie a burlap ribbon or Buffalo plaid ribbon around the top of the jar. You can use this project as a centerpiece on your dining room table or your nightstand.

Pumpkin DIY Facial

Pumpkin is in season during the fall, and chances are you will have some leftover pumpkin puree from baking pumpkin pie or from cleaning out the pumpkin that you’re carving. Don’t let that pumpkin go to waste, and make an easy DIY mask to soothe your skin. Pumpkin has antioxidants and promotes the production of collagen in the skin. In addition, pumpkin contains beta-carotene, which helps to reverse UV damage and improve skin texture.

DIY pumpkin mask recipe from Treehugger.com

Combine 1/4 cup pumpkin puree with 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar and a whole egg.

Mix the ingredients until smooth and apply to the face. Leave on for 20 minutes, rinse, and pat dry.

Fall Hikes

Autumn is a great time to get outdoors and enjoy the fall foliage and cooler temperatures. This is a perfect time to visit a National Park or explore a new hiking trail in your area. However, when you go out for a hike, always be prepared and follow these top tips to keep you safe on the trail.

• Always tell someone where you are hiking and when you plan to return.
• Take plenty of water (R.E.I. recommends one liter of water per hour depending on how strenuous the hike is) and snacks like nuts, apples, and protein to give you a boost of energy.  
• Make sure to lather up with sunblock and wear layers to put on as the weather cools or remove if the temperature rises.
• Bring a small emergency kit to tend to minor injuries on the trail.
• Always research the trails before you go out and carry a GPS system device
• Cell Phones reception isn’t accessible in most remote trails or campgrounds. Do you research and ask the park ranger for their recommendations long before you trip. 

Fall Art 

Take a fall art class at your local craft store and create a simple DIY craft at home. While visiting your local pumpkin patch pick up a batch of medium-sized pumpkins for painting or carving, or you can pick up faux pumpkins at your local craft store and paint them with metallic chalk paint.

For fall craft ideas you’ll find plenty of inspiration on Pinterest and can keep the price down by using items that you already have in your home. 

Festivals

Part of self-care is maintaining your sense of fun and childlike playfulness. Fall is the perfect time to take part in harvest festivals or go to a pumpkin patch and go to a spooky haunted house with friends or on your own. Get lost in a corn maze or stroll through a local farmers market and taste a new dish you haven’t tried. 

Self-Reflection

Fall is a great time to reflect on life and with the shorter days ahead is a good time reflecting on your life and what you’re grateful for. Grab a journal and a pen and make it a daily goal to write down five things that you’re grateful for in your life. If you’re having a hard time identifying what you’re grateful for, write down even the smallest things to be grateful such as water, air, trees, Earth, health, and ability to move. Even on your worst day you can always find something to be grateful for. 

Try some of these fall self-care ideas and enjoy the season! What is one self-care idea that you will add to your regimen this autumn? Leave a comment below.

If you enjoyed this article check out my latest article, The Ultimate Guide To Self-Care.