How I’m Practicing Slow Living This Fall (You Should Too!)

A few days back, I sat down and realized something that honestly broke my heart a little…

I’ve been writing blogs, working non-stop for the past five years, and chasing my dreams of building an online community. And even though I love what I do, I’ve been so focused on “making it” that I forgot to actually live.

I’ve missed birthday parties, said no to weekend trips, and watched life happen around me while I kept staring at my screen. All those little moments with family and friends? I chose work over them, thinking I’d catch up later.

But here’s what hit me: there might not be a “later” if I keep going like this.

So this fall, I’m finally making a change. I’m slowing down for a while, not because I’m giving up on my dreams, but because I want to remember what it feels like to actually live while chasing them.

If you’ve been running so fast that you forgot to breathe, and if you’ve been so busy building tomorrow that you’re missing today, this one’s for you.

Do you need to slow down too?

I put together a quick quiz instead of just listing the signs. I think it’ll give you a clearer picture of where you’re at right now.

0

“Do I need to slow down?” Quiz

1 / 10

1. When you’re with others, do you find your mind wandering to what you need to do next?

No, I'm usually present

Yes, frequently

2 / 10

2. Do you feel guilty when you’re not being productive?

No, I'm comfortable with downtime

Yes, often

3 / 10

3. Do you feel like you’re always catching up on things?

Yes, constantly

No, I feel mostly on top of things

4 / 10

4. Do you feel like you don’t have a life outside of work or your main responsibilities?

Yes, that's exactly how I feel

No, I have a good balance

5 / 10

5. Have you stopped feeling excited about things that used to make you happy?

No, I still enjoy my favorite things

Yes, things feel less exciting now

6 / 10

6. Do you feel like you’re living your life on autopilot?

No, I feel present and intentional

Yes, like I'm just going through the motions

7 / 10

7. Do you feel tired even after getting enough sleep?

Yes, often

No, I usually feel rested

8 / 10

8. When was the last time you had a real conversation with family or friends without distractions?

Recently, within the past few days

It's been a while

9 / 10

9. When was the last time you sat somewhere without needing to do anything?

Within the last week

I can't remember when

10 / 10

10. How many social plans have you cancelled or skipped this month because of work or other commitments?

None or maybe one

Several times

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Restart quiz

How can you actually practice slow living this fall?

I’ve made a list of slow living activities that I plan to try. Will I be able to do everything on this list? Honestly, probably not. But I feel it’s good to have some choices.

Some of these ideas come from research, some I thought of myself, and some are just simple things that make people happy. You can pick whichever ones feel right for you.

1. Doorway sitting (or terrace watching)

This one brings me back to my childhood. I still remember spending hours on my terrace, just watching birds fly by and looking at everything happening around me. It felt so peaceful, and I actually felt like I was living every minute.😌 I’m super excited to do this again this fall.

You can do the same, or find a comfortable spot outside your home. It could be your doorway, terrace, front porch, or even a chair by an open window.

Sit there for a while and just be present. Look at the leaves changing colors, notice how the light changes during the day, or simply observe the little things happening around you.

2. Do some forest bathing

I know it sounds fancy, but forest bathing is really just spending time around trees and letting yourself truly feel the forest around you.

You can try this anywhere with trees. Just go there and use all your senses. Listen to the leaves, smell the earth, touch the bark, watch how the light moves through branches.

I’ve included this in the list as I recently came across this study that shows being in forests can reduce depression and anxiety while helping you feel more peaceful inside.^[1] With all the stress we carry daily, this could be exactly the kind of break we need.

3. Seasonal color palette living

In this, you have to slowly match your clothes, food choices, and home colors to what you see outside in fall – warm browns, deep oranges, and golden yellows.

I’ve started doing this already. Swapping out bright summer clothes for autumn colors. Adding a brown throw pillow to my couch. Choosing foods like pumpkins, sweet potatoes, and apples that match the season.

When everything around you flows with the natural colors of fall, you naturally slow down too. Your surroundings really do shape how you feel.

4. Take slow walks

Find somewhere that feels peaceful to you. Walk slowly, with no destination in mind. No brisk walking or jogging. Let your feet set the pace, not your schedule.

We don’t need to get health benefits from everything we do. Sometimes the point is just to enjoy the moment and let yourself truly relax.

I’m planning to do this in the evenings on grass without shoes. It just feels really soothing to me.

5. Heard about Tai Chi?

I had no idea about Tai Chi before I read about it.

So, Tai Chi is slow, flowing movements that help calm your mind and body.

You don’t actually need to learn complicated forms or spend years mastering them. Even simple arm circles, gentle stretches, or just moving your body slowly while focusing on your breathing can give you that same peaceful feeling.

I did a quick search and found this awesome free beginner playlist on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLOVqXurkiiguTMQ3CChjHEwR0EVDrqZy1. You can check it out if you’re planning to try Tai Chi.

6. Cook at least one meal a day (mindfully)

Yes, I know you’re busy and can’t make every meal yourself. So, just start with one meal a day and see how it feels. If you have more time later, you can always cook more.

While you’re cooking, feel the ingredients in your hands. Notice the sounds of chopping, the smell of herbs, the way everything changes as it cooks.

I’d recommend making foods that match the season. A warm soup with carrots and ginger. Roasted sweet potatoes with a little honey. Apple slices with cinnamon. Even something as simple as oatmeal with maple syrup can feel special when you make it with attention.

7. Try some expressive writing

In our rush to keep moving forward, we often carry thoughts and feelings that slow us down from the inside. Expressive writing gives you a chance to pause and put those thoughts on paper instead of carrying them around.

You just need 20 minutes and something to write with. Write about whatever has been on your mind lately. Don’t worry about how it looks or sounds. No one else has to see it.

A quick note: I read it in a research that shows this works best for people who usually share their feelings with others. But if you usually keep emotions private, it might actually make you feel more anxious.^[2]

8. Do a seasonal creative activity

Here are a few ideas from my side:

• Leaf Art and Pressing
• Autumn Mandala Drawing
• Seasonal Poetry and Writing
• Autumn Nature Photography
• Sunset Sketching

I’m going to try photography this time. It gives me a reason to actually stop and notice things instead of walking by them.

Pick whatever feels right to you. You don’t need to be perfect; it’s just to spend time being creative with what fall is giving us right now.

9. Declutter Bit by Bit

Honestly, I start feeling strange and overwhelmed even when my bedsheets are crumpled. So my bedroom is usually neat. But I also know that my storage areas are completely disorganized, and I’m guilty of that. 😅

I’m going to start with one shelf and then move on to more if I feel like it.

Clutter can make your mind feel cluttered too. When there’s too much stuff around, it’s harder to feel calm and slow down.

Pick one small area to begin with. Maybe it’s that one drawer that’s been bothering you, or a corner of your desk. Spend 15 minutes sorting through it. Keep what you need, put away what belongs somewhere else, and let go of what you don’t use anymore.

10. Simple tea ceremony ritual

I’ve already made a habit of having tea with my mom in the evening. It just feels extremely enjoyable, gets me to spend some time with her daily, and the world feels calmer and slower in that moment.

You can create your own simple tea ritual. Make it however you want, alone or with someone special.

The point is to turn making and drinking tea into a mindful moment instead of just another thing you do quickly.

11. Candlelight evenings

Soft light naturally makes everything feel slower and more peaceful. You can read, write, or just sit quietly. Trust me, candlelight really helps you wind down from the day.

Just make sure to blow it out before you sleep.

12. Watch sunrises/sunsets

I would’ve seen sunset a maximum of 2 times in the past year (and that too on a trip 😂), but I’m going to do better this fall.

Pick whichever among sunrise or sunset fits your schedule better and try to catch it from the same spot when you can. You would love to see how the gradual color changes in nature as the season passes by.

So, what happens after the fall?

Honestly, I’m not sure if I’ll keep doing this slow living thing after fall ends or just go back to my usual schedule. I’m probably going to return to my normal pace since I’m thinking of this as a break from everything.

And you know what? That’s okay.

What matters is that for these few months, we chose ourselves. We chose to breathe instead of rushing. We chose to notice instead of ignore. We chose to feel instead of just survive.

That choice changes you, even if you don’t realize it yet.

Whatever happens after the fall, you’ll know what it feels like to slow down. And maybe, when life gets overwhelming again, you’ll remember that you always have permission to pause.

I hope you come back from this season feeling like yourself again.

References

1. Chen H, Meng Z and Luo J (2025) Is forest bathing a panacea for mental health problems? A narrative review. Front. Public Health 13:1454992. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1454992

2. Niles, A. N., Haltom, K. E., Mulvenna, C. M., Lieberman, M. D., & Stanton, A. L. (2014). Randomized controlled trial of expressive writing for psychological and physical health: the moderating role of emotional expressivity. Anxiety, stress, and coping, 27(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2013.802308