How to slowly celebrate autumn

My cosy autumn rituals and recommendations

By the time July is finished, I am ready for autumn. I started craving the cooler weather. The cosy dark mornings and evenings. The quiet of nature stilled. A time where I can truly slow down.

Autumn is my absolute favourite season, but it always feels fleeting. By the time the last leaf has turned, the long Highland winter is here. That’s why I’ve made the plan to enjoy every moment of this season this year.

I thought I’d share some cosy rituals and recommendations with you today, to give you some ideas of how you can also slow down and embrace the quiet of this season. Grab a cup of tea and enjoy!

Books

When autumn arrives, I start reading in earnest. With the evenings drawing in, it gives the perfect atmosphere for escaping into new or returning to old favourite worlds. I now try and theme my reading around the seasons, where I can, so have included some favourite autumn reads below.

Bronte novels

This is a season where I reach for my well-worn classics, with the Bronte novels being top of the list. Wuthering Heights (Emily Bronte) is one of my all-time favourite books. Set in the wild Yorkshire moors, with even wilder characters, this is the most atmospheric world to escape into.

Other favourites are Jane Eyre (Charlotte Bronte) and the much underrated (in my opinion) Tenant of Wildfell Hall (Anne Bronte).

I’m also reading a new novel, which is fiction, but based on the lives of these three sisters. Its a fun, Agatha Christie style mystery, called The Vanished Bride (Bella Ellis), which I’m really enjoying.

Rebecca (Daphne Du Maurier)

Another classic, although written in a later era, this is set in a spooky manor on the Cornwall coast which holds many secrets. One of the best written books I have ever read.

The Nature of Autumn (Jim Crumley)

Jim Crumley is one of my favourite nature writers, which is not a surprise considering he is Scottish and basis much of his writing here. He has written a book for each season, which follows his encounters with nature throughout the UK, and the autumn one is just sublime. I’ve included my favourite extract below, to wet your appetite.

‘The first day of autumn exhales its berry-breath and all nature catches the scent. Its always the air that announces the change. It sharpens, cools and gently startles. It smells of hedgehogs’

TV & films

As I’m sure you’ve realised, I’m more or a bookworm than a TV watcher. However, there are a few favourite comfort shows and movies that I like to revisit at this time of year.

The first is Gilmore Girls. This is something I actually only watched later in life, although it aired in the early 2000’s. Much of it is set in autumn and it’s filled with coffee shops, library visits and chunky coats. The most wholesome show following a wonderfully heart-warming mother-daughter relationship that live in a small, slightly batty town. Highly recommend if you haven’t seen this already.

Another favourite is the Twilight film series. Like many teens, I was obsessed with these books when I was younger. Its been nostalgic to rewatch the series again this season. The rainy town of Forks is the perfect autumnal setting.

In a similar vein (pun not intended, but a happy accident), I’ve also rewatched some of my favourite Vampire Diaries episodes, which was a minor obsession of mine at university. Autumn is the perfect season for fantasy. Think of it as a more grown-up Twilight!

Lastly, another teenage favourite was Gossip Girl. I just adored the classy autumnal fashion and, the first season in particular, gives that back to school feeling that is so nostalgic.

Outfits

Although I have a year-round capsule wardrobe (you can watch my full capsule wardrobe tour here), there are certain favourites that I relish reuniting with this season.

The first of these are my chunky knits. The temperature often drops rather dramatically in the Highlands, so its not long before I can pull on my cosiest of jumpers. I layer these with my pinafores and dungarees for a day out or just pull them over a pair of comfy leggings and fluffy socks for a quiet evening in.

My palette also becomes a bit more colourful in the autumn, as I mirror the season with my trusty mustard yellow coat (showerproof of course!) and burgundy/brown woolly hats, that are my seasonal must have.

Food & drink

It is the season for warm comfort food. Hurrah!

I’m in the kichen even more now, cooking up some favourite recipes. I eat soup most days through the colder months and often batch cook these on weekends to see me through week (watch some vegan cooking and meal prepping on my YouTube here).

I try and eat with the seasons, so root vegetations (like squash) are a firm favourite. I’ll by rewatching this Madeline Olivia pumpkin recipe video for inspiration. A vegan UK based vlogger, Madeline has some other wonderful autumn recipes on her website, if you want to check them out.

Crumble is also a must have. Bonus if I’m able to forage blackberries myself! I follow this simple recipe for a vegan apple crumble that never fails to deliver!

It is the time for hot chocolate. A must have companion on a movie night. My favourite vegan hot chocolate is Clipper’s ‘super cosy drinking chocolate’. A really ethical and sustainable brand and I just love their products. I buy my staple tea from them as well.

Rituals

Autumn is my favourite season for walking. Now that the weather is cooler and my favourite rambling spots a quieter, its the perfect season to stretch my legs and I can start planning in lots of hikes with the dog.

I love walking in forests all year, but none so much as in autumn. Although I spend a lot of time in pine forests, I seek out those that have broadleaves, like oak, sycamore and birch, so I can revel in the delight of autumn’s palette and crunch through colourful leaves that decorate the forest floor.

The mist returns with autumn. If I see a misty morning forecast, everything gets dropped and I hurry out with the dog, to ensure I don’t miss a moment. Getting enveloped in mist is one of my favourite feelings in the world.

Although I don’t tend to decorate my tiny home for festive occasions, I do like to shift with the seasons. This means minor swaps to add an extra layer of cosiness to our home. Blankets and throws are brought out and put in easy reach for snuggly moments (watch how I slowly decorate my tiny home here).

My bookshelves are restacked with the books I intend to read this season. I often collect seedheads that I display as an autumn bouquet, nestled amongst these books.

One of the things I most look forward to is stocking up on candles. I don’t tend to burn many candles through the lighter months, but its a whole different story once autumn comes around.

My all-time favourite candle scent is Caledonian Forest, a by the wonderful luxury Highland-based soy candle brand Cairn Candles. I am lucky enough to spend a of time in ancient Scottish pine forests and I can now fill my home with this scent. Its truly magical.

If you would like to see my slow autumn morning routine, you can watch this on my YouTube here, for more seasonal inspiration.

There you have it. A little sprinkle of autumn for your Monday.

I would love you hear your own seasonal rituals and recommendations, so please do leave a comment with these below.

I hope you have the most wonderful autumn.

Until next week

Molly x

DISCLAIMER - This post may include affiliate links