I like to feel cozy for fall so I light candles, and wear layers of soft, comfy clothing, eat comfort foods, and sip on hot cocoa. I’m sure others feel this way more often than not. Because, sometimes fall brings chilly temperatures. It can bring rain, and we know it brings less daylight hours. With all of this, my winter seasonal depression starts to creep in and I often feel like I need more hugs and I strive to create more comfort around me.
What You Can Do to Feel Cozy for Fall
Living in New York has many perks, but the climate isn’t one of them (at least not for me). Cold temperatures do a number on my heart and soul. As we move through Autumn those temps start to dip down, rain is more common and sometimes we even get some snow on Long Island. Plus, those shorter daylight hours do me in big time. Don’t get me wrong, I love pulling out my comfy, bulky sweaters and sweatshirts. I thoroughly enjoy mosquitos disappearing. I even love how the air smells different.
To combat the lack of sunshine, colder nights, and all the “it’s almost next year and I haven’t accomplished everything on my yearly list of goals” negative self-talk, I choose to find ways to create cozy hug feelings. You know what I mean. Conjuring up that same feeling you get after a big bear hug without the actual bear hug. Here’s how I do it.
Burn Fall Scented Candle
I have to be careful with my candles. One, obviously, fire hazards if you forget to blow them out. But, also, the types of candles. I do my best to keep toxins out of my air. It’s not my thing to burn candles that’ll harm me, my kids, or my fur babies. I shoot for as chemical-free as possible with Living Good Candles. For the fall, they’ve got a couple of autumn-ish ones, but I enjoy the Toasty Pumpkin Brulee. Smells like something’s always baking in my oven.
If you’re more into soy candles, these luxury ones have a Cinnamon scent that would definitely give off all the right feels.
Throw on a Comfy Loungewear Set
There’s no better way to bring out those big hug feels like a super cozy loungewear set. You get home from work, or whatever running around you’ve done all day, and slip on your favorite pajamas. I mean, that’s what loungewear is in my house. The moment I return home, I go straight to my room to swap out to my PJs, but everyone else calls them loungewear.
Whatever! I’m in them when I’m home and then sleep in them. Call them whatever you want, or if you actually change from your loungewear into a pair of PJs, more power to you. Before kids I didn’t wear anything to bed, so what I wore around the house was loungewear. Now it’s both (unless I’m cooking, then I put something else on).
Bake Fall Pies
Nothing says fall like baking a pie. There’s something therapeutic about making crusts from scratch, rolling it out, tucking it into the pie tin, and the aroma of apples, pumpkins, peaches, blueberries, or sweet potatoes baking in the oven. It all wafts around you tangling you in a hug that can’t help but make you feel cozy, cared for, and loved. I don’t even need to eat the damn things, it’s the simple act of baking and those amazing scents infiltrating every corner of your mind.
Cook Italian Comfort Food
Comfort foods come in all shapes and sizes, as well as ethnic backgrounds. What comfort food makes me feel cozy for fall above all other foods? Italian. And the most comforting of all: lasagna. Pasta. Sauce. Cheese (lots of it). Sure, I love that it smells amazing and creates a calmness throughout the house. But man, eating it brings about ultimate bear hug emotions. Eat it whilst wearing your favorite loungewear, and you’ve doubled the coziness.
Bake Chocolate Chip Cookies
What is it about epically baked chocolate chip cookies that melts all your problems away as those chocolate chips melt in the oven? Some of my favorite evenings are ones my daughter decides she wants to bake “just because”. When I hear her pulling out ingredients for chocolate chip cookies, I know we’re heading into bear hug territory and I couldn’t be happier.
This fall it won’t happen too much, as she’s off pursuing her Culinary Arts degree at The Culinary Institute of America, but man. When Thanksgiving rolls around, I may have to put a request in! And, she’ll be using those good chocolate chips from Ghirardelli.
Wear Lots of Layers When I Venture Out
Layers! It’s what I live for. Comfy leggings, cargo pants, or my favorite pair of jeans. Add a tank in my favorite fall color, and maybe a cute sleeveless button down shirt in crisp white. I’ll throw a tailored sweater over it, and a cute blazer on top of that. As the day progresses, I can peel off layers, and remain looking fall fabulous. And, of course, great boots, because it’s Fall y’all, and boots are mandatory!
If you’re not into boots, throw on some oxfords. Whatever works!
Curl Up with a Blanket, Book, and My Journal
Blankets. Books. Journals. They’re all feel cozy for Fall staples! I have so many blankets in my living room, along with tons of books by my bedside and throughout my house, and a healthy inventory of journals to fill with my thoughts, feelings, and goals. I wrap a blanket around myself, sink into my couch, grab my pen and journal and create the bear hug “feels” at least once a day during Autumn.
If I’m really itching for some extra self-love, I’ll drag out my Adirondack chair, and sit by my fire pit instead of my couch. Just add some extra layers out there, and maybe grab a mug of hot chocolate, too.
Always Sip on Hot Cocoa
When all else fails, I always sip on hot cocoa on the worst days. Chocolate has magical healing powers (in my mind, anyway). Match it up with some fresh popped popcorn, and a good movie, and you’ve got yourself a bear hug experience with the supreme feel cozy for Fall energy.
The reality of it all: seasons change, and depending on where you live, those seasons can be brutal. If you need help, or feel like you need more than just feeling cozy during Autumn, reach out and ask for help!
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