With the changing color of the leaves comes cooler weather, pumpkin-spiced everything, and a lot of treat-filled holidays starting from Halloween onwards. It also signals holiday shopping, travel plans for the holidays, end of year reports leading to a lot of stress. 

Thankfully, there are plenty of ways you can pamper yourself to promote relaxation and wellbeing – and they don’t require a lot of time or money. So, if you’re looking for a good way to relax and unwind in the fall season, try one or more of these options.

Get a Massage

A good massage promotes a general feeling of relaxation and well-being. 

There are many types of massages so you should choose the one that makes the most sense for you. The most popular ones you’ll see are:

Swedish

If you’re new to this kind of fun, the Swedish massage is the best option as it’s fairly gentle. It can help release your muscle knots so your body can fully relax.

Deep Tissue

If you’re okay with application of more pressure, try a deep tissue massage. These are meant to help with muscle problems, soreness, injury, and tight muscles. 

Reflexology

In case you’re not comfortable having your entire body touched, reflexology is a great option as it focuses on pressure points in your feet, hands, and ears.

Thai

For a more active massage, try the Thai option! The masseuse uses a series of movements to help stretch your body while also applying firm pressure.

If you’re not a fan of professional massage, or don’t want to spend the money, you can use self-massage tools, like a massage cane to work away muscle knots in the comfort of your own home.

Take a Hike

Fall is the perfect time to put on your hiking boots and trekking poles and hit the trails. The weather is cooler and most areas tend to be less populated later on in the year.

If you’re new to hiking, look in your area for the most popular hikes and check the reviews and descriptions. You want to look for the following notes:

Difficulty Level

Unless you’re a seasoned hiker, you’ll probably want to go with an easy or moderate hike. Avoid hikes that tout rock scrambles unless you really know what you’re doing.

Length

A trail might be advertised as easy, but if it takes 12 miles to get to the major attraction, you might want to look for something that’s a bit shorter. Look for trails that go around a lake or several points of interest.

Markings

Most trails have markers along the way to help you from getting lost, but some trails are better maintained than others. You’ll want to keep an eye out on any positive or negative mentions of the trail markers.

If there’s a ton of negative reviews, you’ll want to go to a different one as you don’t want to get lost in the middle of the forest.

Make sure you wear appropriate footwear and clothes during your hike and don’t forget some snacks and water!

Nourish Your Skin

With the cooler temperatures come the drying wind and air, which wreak havoc on mature skin. To minimize exposure, it’s important to change up your skin care routine to something that’s more hydrating for happy, healthy skin.

You can do the following:

Change Your Moisturizer

Switch to a thicker moisturizer. Look for non-clogging and non-irritating options. Generally speaking, you want to look for ingredients like hyaluronic acid and urea.

Don’t Forget Lip and Eye Cream

Your lips and eyes tend to feel the effects of the drier weather more severely than the rest of your skin, so you’ll want to apply creams that help keep them from drying out.

Add a Humidifier to Your Home or Office

Colder weather means you’re turning on the heater in your home, which leads to drier air. Even if you can’t fit a large humidifier, a small personal one in your bedroom and office can help keep your mature skin from drying out too much.

Get a Facial!

If you really want to treat yourself, spend a little money on a moisturizing facial at a spa. You’ll be amazed how your skin glows afterwards.

Unplug

Yes, technology is amazing. However, constantly being connected to the net can lead to more stress, less personal connections, and even worse health due to decreased physical activity. It might be tough, but spend some time disconnecting from the Internet and doing something you enjoy.

That could be something as simple as reading a physical book or maybe even spending some real time with your family or friends. You can go a step further and take up some meditation to really clear your mind.

Whatever you choose to do, avoid looking at your phone during that time. It can be hard to break the habit, but once you do, you’ll want to extend your Internet-free time even more. 

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What are some ways you plan on treating yourself this fall? What do your body and mind respond to the most? We’d love to hear your thoughts! Let’s have a discussion in the comments below!