BECOMING A LOUDER GIRL: Surrender to the Season

Why I Love Fall

I LOVE fall. It’s my favorite season with the slight coolness in the air, the quiet after the big energy of summer, and the nostalgia for starting a new school year.

I remember shopping for new school clothes with my mom in August when the temperature was in the high 80s. We’d walk through the air-conditioned Parkway Plaza to buy me corduroy pants, flared jeans, peasant blouses, ski sweaters, and Wallabees. And yes, I wore (and sweated) my new clothes and shoes in September when it was still over 80 degrees.

I love:

• Football and tailgating
• Boots, sweaters, and the start of the holiday season beginning
• Turkey chili, chicken tortilla soup, and hot chocolate
  
• The Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta in October
  
• Fires in fireplaces and Ugg boots

Sure, San Diego doesn’t really have seasons, but a girl can dream, right?

I still “fall” for fall… get it?

The Dark Side of Fall

Most Americans prefer fall (41%) over other seasons but there’s also a flip side:

• Less Sunlight → Shorter days = increased risk of SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder)
• End-of-Year Anxiety → Taking inventory of goals can make us feel behind
• Seasonal Transitions → Less daylight, colder weather, tighter schedules can be tough
• Focus on Loss → Missing summer fun, light, and outdoor activities

This is normal. We’re part of nature. Leaves fall, trees rest, and new growth emerges in spring. Yet we’ve been programmed to be machines: “ovaries out” all year long, hustling to sell, perform, manage, balance, and compete.

It’s bullshit.

Learning from Nature

Nature shows us how to care for ourselves:

• Birds migrate to warmer climates.
• Bears, bats, and hedgehogs enter prolonged sleep (hibernation).
  

Doesn’t that sound amazing?

Fall is our time for self-care to slow down, hibernate, and surrender to the season.

5 Self-Care Practices for Autumn

Instead of doing it all, try these practices:

3. Renew
   Deep clean and declutter. Put away summer things, donate what you don’t need, and create a cozy indoor space for the months ahead.
4. Revisit
   Review your bucket list. Do your dreams still excite you? Bucket lists boost creativity, prevent stagnation, and keep your eye on what matters.
5. Retreat
   Go inward. Ditch social commitments (blame it on the weather!). Turn off your phone, read that book, doodle, do puzzles, sit and breathe.
6. Rethink
   Ditch complicated rituals or obligations. You’re the boss of your self-care. Choose what fills you with joy and recharges you.
7. Recharge
   Cultivate a Harvest of Gratitude. Notice the small things like your pumpkin spice latte, falling leaves, wearing your favorite knee socks.

Radical Self-Devotion Tip:

At the end of each day, write down three things you’re thankful for.

Want More?

Here are 10 other self-care tips for fall:
Self-Care Tips This Fall »

Ready To Get LOUDER, Girl?

If you're ready to take care of yourself and strengthen your circle through storytelling, join me at the next FREE immersive LOUDER GIRL Webinar:

BECOMING A LOUDER GIRL: Surrender to the Season & Strengthen Your Circle
Date: October 6th and 23rd
Time: 4 PM to 5 PM Pacific
RSVP Here: https://www.loudergirl.com/webinar
You’ll walk away with new clarity, peace, and acceptance.

HEROINE RISING
A 6-week live workshop beginning November 6th. Together, we will:

• Quiet the inner critic.
• Release limiting beliefs.
• Step boldly into our stories.

Date: Thursdays starting November 6th
Time: 4 pm – 5:30 pm PT
Where: Live on Zoom
Sign up here: https://www.loudergirl.com/gatherings

Through guided storytelling, writing, and sisterhood, you’ll learn to take up space unapologetically, speak your truth with confidence, and rise in the company of women who uplift and celebrate you.