I don’t know if it’s the crisper air, the pull to start my annual Gilmore Girls rewatch, videos of dogs jumping in piles of leaves, or the fact that getting lost in a book under a cozy blanket is suddenly a perfectly legit plan for an afternoon, but fall just makes slowing down feel easier. Summer is great and all, but fall brings a magic of its own—and I’m not just talking the practical witchy kind (although gathering your own coven for when things go sideways is never a bad idea). From the warmth of a classic PSL to taking the long way home on your walk just because the leaves look pretty, fall practically begs us to turn the ordinary into something worth lingering over.
Maybe that’s why romanticizing your life feels so naturally fall. There’s something about the season that makes the simplest of rituals more extraordinary: lighting a warm citrus spice candle while you make dinner, throwing on your favorite sweater, or taking yourself on a solo coffee run. None of that asks for Pinterest-worthy moments or a new anything. It’s really just about noticing the small pleasures and appreciating what’s already in front of us. If you’re looking for an excuse to make your everyday feel more magical this fall, read on.
30 Ways to Romanticize Your Life This Fall
1. Schedule alone time in your calendar. Embrace and enjoy your own company. Villain era, main character energy—whatever you call it, make some space to get to know yourself better this season. Go to a bookstore, wander a new neighborhood, take yourself to dinner somewhere you’ve been wanting to try, or have a night in with a movie and takeout.
2. Pencil in coffee dates, whether with a partner, a friend, or yourself. Make a list of coffee shops in your city you’ve been wanting to try. Or become a regular at the café down the street. Bring a book, a journal, your analog bag—whatever pairs perfectly with a foamy latte.
3. Create a fall alter ego. No reinventing [insert your name here]. Rather, move toward the person you want to be. Maybe she’s the one who hosts book club, perfects her lasagna recipe, finally tries that weekly dance class, and says yes to spur-of-the-moment plans. You don’t have to become her all at once—just start picking up a few of her habits.
4. Start a journal (or keep a notebook on your nightstand). Fall has a way of making you feel like you have permission to slow down (not that you need it). If you haven’t explored the practice yet, don’t think of journaling as something you have to perfect. Write down a few things you’re grateful for, keep track of little wins, or brain dump whatever is on your mind. If you find yourself staring at a blank page, spark some inspiration with these 90 journal prompts.
5. Make a playlist for your house. Summer is all about the windows-down, hair-in-your-face, singing-at-the-top-of-your-lungs songs; fall calls for more low-key vibes. Curate your own soundtrack to set the mood, whether you’re making dinner, taking a walk, or doing your “opening shift” morning routine. The right playlist can make even the Monday-est of Mondays feel a little more exciting and intentional.
6. Have an autumn picnic. PSA: picnics aren’t just for summer. Head to the store, grab some charcuterie components (i.e., cured meats, cheese, and crackers), make a simple grain salad, and don’t forget the bread. Post up in a park or a local garden for a romantic afternoon.
7. Actually read your cookbooks. If you’re like me and have a dedicated shelf for cookbooks, grab your stack and a set of sticky notes and make a fall-baking to-do list. Cinnamon rolls, apple-spice muffins, and anything pumpkin are all fair game.
8. Trade “shoulds” for “what sounds good?” Your body needs different things in every season—check in with and listen to it instead of following wellness practices you think you’re supposed to do. What worked for you in the summer may not speak to you now. Maybe fall means your body needs more sleep, slower mornings, warm, heavier meals, or low-intensity movement.
9. Dress up, even if you have nowhere to go. Wear the outfit you’ve been saving for the “right” occasion to your doctor’s appointment. Put on earrings for your grocery run. Do your makeup for a day of working from home. There doesn’t always need to be a special event to wear the thing you love.
10. Make a fall vision board. Spend a few hours gathering quotes, wellness inspo, ideas for your home, and anything that puts you in the fall mood. The act of visualizing what you want has science to back it up; it can be almost as powerful as actually experiencing it.
11. Wear pretty pajamas. Sleeping is all about feeling your most comfortable, but it can also be an opportunity to tap into your feminine energy and feel sexy just for you. Invest in something silky, lacy, or with a fleece lining to keep you warm.
12. Invite friends over for a potluck. Keep it simple, but romantic. Light a few tea lights, buy a simple floral bouquet, and give your home the hygge treatment. Assign everyone a course, and revel in the joy of gathering together to eat cozy, comforting food.
13. Stop saving the “good stuff.” The candle, the silverware you inherited from your grandmother, the good workout set, the pricey matcha powder, the fancy olive oil. There’s never a perfect time to use your nice things—enjoy that time now.
14. Make community a ritual. Community care is self-care, so why not turn it into a standing date? Start a book club, knitting circle, dinner club, or Sunday walking group, and invite your friends, coworkers, or neighbors. After all, social connection is crucial for your overall health year-round, but especially when we’re spending more time indoors.
15. Keep a calendar specifically for things to look forward to. Do you treat yourself to a monthly massage? Counting down the days until your barn jacket arrives? Write down all of the upcoming events that fill your cup (no matter how ordinary they seem) to consistently incorporate novelty into your schedule.
16. Do cozy girl cardio. Rather binge-watch Gilmore Girls than work out? Habit-stack your favorite mother-daughter-duo obsession with a cardio session. Embrace hygge—you know, lighting candles, fuzzy socks, pumpkin spice lattes—while you walk at a comfortable pace on your walking pad. Flannel PJs are encouraged.
17. Become a manifestation girly. Want a better love life, a healthier body, or to land your dream job and make more money? You can manifest it. Whether it’s by way of the 3-6-9 method or the 30-Day Dr. Joe Dispenza Challenge, focus this time of year on taking charge of your actions, emotions, beliefs, and habits to achieve your best life.
18. Plan a Hallmark fall movie marathon with your besties. ICYMI, they have new original movies starting in September—aptly dubbed Fall into Love—complete with small-town goodness and a side of romance (and all the fall feels, of course). Better yet, take it outdoors and stream the feel-good premieres on a projector. Oh, and don’t forget your array of movie snacks (AKA all the Trader Joe’s fall items).
19. Get in the kitchen and bake a fall dessert. From the classic apple pie to can’t-go-wrong-with pumpkin bread, the aromas alone will get you in the fall mood. I mean, you can’t not feel warm and fuzzy being surrounded by the smell and taste of autumn fruits and spices. If it still feels like summer where you are, cue these no-bake fall recipes.
20. DIY a fall-themed craft night. Settle in for an evening of tapping into your creative side (bonus points that it’ll boost your mental health). Maybe you make a wreath to hang above the fireplace, a Halloween doormat to welcome your trick-or-treaters, or a Pottery Barn Terracotta Jack O’ Lantern dupe to round out your fall porch decor (and brag to your guests). Whatever you create, you can enjoy it year after year.
21. Give your evenings a closing scene. Instead of letting the day blur into doomscrolling until you’ve somehow lost an hour (or three), give yourself a soft transition from working to resting. Make a cup of tea, take an everything shower, read a few pages of your TBR, or do some light stretching. No need to subscribe to a 10-step nighttime routine.
22. Play up your commute, even if you WFH. If you go into an office, don’t think of your commute as simply getting from point A to point B. Instead, take the scenic route, visualize crushing your day, or listen to a song reminiscent of the opening credits of a classic rom-com. Or if you work from home, make your own version of a commute: Go for a walk around the block before opening your laptop, grab a coffee mid-morning, or take your work to a coffee shop or your balcony for a change of scenery.
23. Let yourself go a little MIA. Detach from your phone, whether that looks like putting it in a different room while you read, letting your text messages go unread for a bit, or taking a social media break for the day. Everything will still be waiting for you when you check back in. Some mystery (and boredom) can be good for you.
24. Become an outdoor person. Not in the outdoorsy, Reese-Witherspoon-in-Wild sense, but someone who makes it a point to spend more time in nature. You don’t need to hit 10,000 steps or plan a whole outdoor adventure to reap the benefits for your stress, mood, and sleep. Sit outside with your coffee. Take a five-minute walk between work calls. Take up gardening. Whatever you do, don’t look at it as another thing to check off your list, but something that adds to your everyday life.
25. Become a regular somewhere. Make your own version of Central Perk. Pick a coffee shop, farmers’ market, bookstore, or gym you genuinely like, and frequent it enough that it becomes your spot. Because sometimes, just showing up somewhere where everybody knows your name is inherently romantic.
26. Have a signature fall thing that has your name all over it. Choose one little tradition to make your own this season: DIY fall simmer pot Mondays, Friday flowers, a weekly pasta night, or hot apple cider to wind down. Not a never-ending fall bucket list—just one small thing you look forward to every week.
27. Let yourself be. Not every spare minute needs to be optimized, filled, or become an opportunity to get something done. Just sit and be still without reaching for your phone, or take a cat nap. Rest is productive—and you don’t have to earn it.
28. Make your home extra inviting. Swap in orange or red light bulbs, put flowers on the table, add a couple of throw blankets and pillows to the couch, or finally clear off the chair that’s become a catch-all. Romanticizing your life gets easier when your surroundings make you want to stay awhile and set the right tone for your thoughts, feelings, and overall functioning.
29. Be the person who actually follows through on plans. How many times have you told a friend, “We should get together soon,” only for weeks or months to pass by without so much as a date on the calendar. Pick a date, send the invite, make it happen.
30. Actually let fall be slower. To make the most of the season, you don’t have to squeeze it all in—the pumpkin patch, the apple picking, the haunted house, the Friendsgiving. Spend Sunday morning doing absolutely nothing, or stay in on Friday night when you normally feel like you should be out and about. An unremarkable day can turn out to be a really good one.
Isabelle Eyman
Isabelle Eyman is a Chicago-based writer and editor. She is currently the Managing Editor at Camille Styles, sharing inspiration and uncovering the beauty all around us through food, design, and wellness editorial.
Katherine Chang, Wellness Staff Writer
Katherine Chang is The Everygirl’s Wellness Staff Writer with over five years of experience in the health and wellness space. She navigates the latest wellness topics and trends through expert interviews and studies, and she’s always first in line to try them firsthand.
