Lift Your Spirits By Celebrating Autumn
This week, I thought we’d talk a bit about how the autumn brings a lot of people down, whether because of the “winter blues”, loss of light, or seasonal affective disorder (SAD: an actual, diagnosable form of depression for many people).
Theories about WHY so many folks get down in the autumn include loss of sunlight, lower levels of Vitamin D, stress due to the holidays (either the pressure to make them perfect, or the requirement of spending a lot of time with family, which can be triggering for many people), changes in Circadian rhythms, and alterations in melatonin and/or serotonin levels. Whatever the cause, the feeling of being “down” or having lower energy are quite real.
Of course, if you add in the ancient idea that the veils between this world and the next are thinnest at this time of year (the origins of All Soul’s Day, Halloween, Día de los Muertos, Samhain, Toussaint, etc.), lots of people find themselves missing their departed friends and loved ones at this time of year, which can make us all a bit more pensive than usual.
Here are some ideas of ways to lift your spirits and boost your home’s energy
An easy way to celebrate autumn is to brighten the corner where you are. (And yes, I realize there’s an old hymn by Ina D. Ogden of that name, and the pun or wordplay was intentional.) If you are a person who experiences seasonal affective disorder (SAD), I hope that you will get yourself a full-spectrum light box and use it in the morning each day. You can read about them online, or better yet, discuss them with your healthcare provider.
When it comes to celebrating autumn in your home, you don’t have to put ginormous turkey or leaf clings on your windows (though of course you can, and if you have little kids, they may really like that); you can simply add some fall touches inside and outside your home.
Outside ideas:
a new welcome mat; it doesn’t have to have a fall theme, but if your old one is looking sad beyond repair, this time when all those winter boots (and salt and cinders) are coming up is a good one to put out something new.
a cheerful garden flag, if that’s how you roll. Could be autumn- or Thanksgiving-themed, or just something new and cheery.
a new birdbath or bird feeder, if you like having lots of avian friends over the coming winter. They even make heaters if you live in an area where it’s freezing cold, but would like to offer water for the birds.
a new wreath or other decoration for your door; note: it doesn’t just have to be your front door. You can also perk up the door into your garage, mudroom, or a side door, if that’s what you usually use to go in and out.
Inside ideas:
Once you’ve tidied up your front hall, foyer, or sunporch, consider adding a seasonal touch. It could be something like a fall centerpiece or candle, a new piece of artwork to sit on a table or shelf, or something to hang on the wall to welcome your guests.
Take a good look at the art and photographs in each room in your house. Do you still like the item? Do you still like its frame?
If the answer to either question is no, consider replacing what you don’t like. If the answer is yes, assess whether it needs a good dusting. Wipe the frame with a soft, dry cloth, starting at the top and working your way down the sides, finishing with the bottom. If the piece has glass over it, decide whether the glass needs cleaning. Do not spray any cleaner on the glass. Instead, lightly spray a microfiber cloth with water or an ammonia-based cleanser (if you prefer, though water usually works fine), and carefully clean the glass surface by rubbing gently in circles, then drying the glass with another section of microfiber cloth. You may want to take the art or photograph down from the wall and lay it flat to do this.
Consider whether you would like to swap some of your art around to offer yourself a new perspective, or whether you want or need some new art in your space to brighten things up.
Add a wreath to the inside of your space. Or an autumn- or Thanksgiving-related sign of some sort. If you have fall dishware, such as a pumpkin-shaped soup tureen or a large platter with a turkey depicted on it, or pilgrim salt & pepper shakers, etc., maybe pull those out and put them on your table as a centerpiece.
Do an energy clearing inside your space to get any “stuck” energy moving again.
I hope these ideas help a bit in lifting your spirits and/or celebrating autumn.
If you find yourself experiencing any of the tell-tale signs of SAD (such as depression, low energy, lingering sleep issues, mood changes or sudden changes in appetite/weight), please talk to a healthcare provider about them. They can be treated, and there is no need for you to wait it out or allow symptoms to become worse.
