One of my favorite Sunday afternoon activities is reading through all my favorite influencer and bloggers’ “Favorites Lists”…I could spend hours reading all about their “must-have” Trader Joe finds, their most highly recommended skincare products, the top 10 fall fashion items on Amazon; it really does go on and on! And while I’m not technically an influencer…or a blogger, or a vlogger, I still have my favorite things that help me to decompress and take care of myself. 

A coping skill I frequently teach to my teens and kids is the 5-4-3-2-1 method; which reminds them to use their 5 senses (seeing, touching, hearing, smelling, and tasting) to calm them down when their feeling anxious, angry, depressed, or just want to be present in the moment. To keep this Fall Favorites list kind of interesting and to add my own therapeutic spin to it, I’m going to follow this same method. As a side note, if you’re interested in using the worksheet I give to my kiddos to practice this coping skill at home, you can print it off here. 

With all that said, the only thing left to say is 5….4….3….2…1….here we go!

5 Favorite Tastes

1. Chili and Beer Bread – The thought of throwing everything into the slow cooker at the beginning of the day and coming home to it at the end of the day gives me all the warm and fuzzy feelings! I grab the largest, fall-ish bowl I can find and indulge!

2. Apples From the Apple Orchard – There’s something so much more satisfying about the taste when you pick it yourself! This is such a fun family activity to do with kids! You can do so much with the apples, whether it be making an apple pie, making apple stamps, turning them into caramel apples, or any of these fun activities! Kids feel a sense of control and accomplishment when they know they were a part of picking the apples themselves. 

3. Apple Cider and Donuts – Everyone has their own opinions, but I am more than partial to Yates Cider Mill!  As a kid, and even as an adult, I know it’s fall time when I’m waiting in the long line, people-watching and taking it all in, before taking my cider and donuts and walking along the path or walking over to the river to enjoy it all on one of the nearby logs. 

4. Pumpkin Chai Tea Latte – Coffee is my favorite form of self-care! If I have a long week ahead of me or just want to treat myself, this is my go-to at Starbucks! It’s not necessarily on the menu, but I have down to a science – a triple grande latte with 2 pumps chai, 2 pumps pumpkin and almond milk – the perfect drink for a Fall day!

4 Favorite Smells

1. Candles! – It may be cliché, but I love fall candles, especially ones that smell like apple, pumpkin or cinnamon! Check out these candles that smell like everything Fall!

2. Bonfires – I really can’t explain it…it may be that I associate the smell with meaningful conversation with family and friends. This can be a great time to talk with your kids or teens and ask questions that they may not be willing to talk about otherwise. Maybe it’s just me, but a bonfire always puts me deep in thought or “gives me all the feels” as the teens would say.

3. Potpourri – One of my favorite childhood memories is walking downstairs to the smell of cinnamon and apple simmering on the stove. My dad always threw together a quick potpourri, similar to this one, and it’s a tradition I’ve adopted into my own home. 

4. Fall Air – This may be a stretch…and I’m not exactly sure how to explain it, but if you know, you know!  I absolutely love walking outside when the air is crisp and you can smell all the fresh leaves; Fall is probably my favorite season to go for walks either by myself or with my husband to take in the fresh air. Sometimes I’ll search “Michigan trails to explore during fall” to explore new places in the area.

3 Favorite Feels

1. All the Cozy Blankets!! – This Sherpa Throw Blanket from Costco is so soft and my absolute favorite to cuddle up with on the couch. I love it so much I bought two…and will probably purchase another this year because you can never have enough cozy blankets!

2. Wearing my Favorite Sweaters and Cardigans – I think this goes without explanation, but long story short…September, October, November = big comfy sweaters. It’s like a real-life hug that you can wear all day long!

3. Fuzzy socks – I guess I just really like soft, cozy and warm things.

2 Favorite Sounds

1. Rain Hitting the Side of my House – This is probably one of the most calming sounds for me to fall asleep to.

2. Leaves Rustling in the Wind – My husband isn’t always too thrilled with how cold it is when he wakes up, but I love to open the windows first thing in the morning to let in all the sunshine, fresh air and also listen to all the leaves blowing around!

1 Favorite Sight

1. The Fall Leaves Changing Colors – I love going a little further north or finding a local trail to walk along to take in all the colors. This is one of my favorite pictures from a few years ago at Kensington Metropark in Milford. Some of the other favorite places we’ve explored are Traverse City, Tahquamenon Falls, Rockford, and Stoney Creek Metropark. We love going on little day trips, getting a cup of hot coffee or cider and taking it all in.

For a lot of us, Fall time can feel so chaotic, with kids starting school, tailgates and football games nearly every weekend, getting our yards cleaned up for winter, driving kids to all their sports practices and after-school activities, preparing for the holidays, along with the millions of other things we have going on. My challenge to you is to pause for a moment and make a list of your favorite things – and try to use all 5 of your senses! We all need a little more self-care in our lives and each have our own way of doing it, but the most important part is actually taking the time to do it! Happy Fall!