7 Ways to Slow Down for the Season of Thanksgiving

I'm so thankful autumn has arrived!  It's still hot here in the Sacramento Valley, and will be for at least a few more weeks, but I can tell that fall is here.  The sun is less glaring.  The rice fields are turning gold, and some are being harvested.  I've heard arriving migratory geese calling to each other just after sunrise and sunset.

Now's the perfect time for a reset.  As nature begins to slow, so can we.  Even as school enters full swing and all of the retailers gear up for the Holiday Shopping Season, we can still take time to pay attention and savor the good things around us.

First... make time for gratitude.

If you haven't yet established a gratitude practice, I encourage you to do so now.  Instead of getting caught up in busyness and perfunctorily going through the motions of gratitude for a few minutes on Thanksgiving Day, why don't we make this fall the Season of Thanksgiving?  I think it will change the way we look at everything.

Let's make it easy so we can actually do it (instead of just thinking about doing it):

• Practice making "thank you" your default response to everyone.  Thank your child for picking up his toys, thank your partner for pouring you a cup of coffee, thank your co-worker for making copies or answering the phone for you, thank the barista, the grocery store clerk... everyone.  Be the person who always says "thanks."

• Get a notebook, and each evening write down three things you're thankful for.  Challenge yourself to notice what you usually take for granted, as well as noting the details of extraordinary events.

• Starting now, write at least one thank you note* each week until Thanksgiving (nine weeks away).  Email, text, hand-delivery, or good old snail mail are all fine – you could even write a thank you that can't be delivered to someone from your past.

* This blog depends on your support.  If you buy through my links, I may earn a small commission.  Thank you!

6 more ways to slow down and celebrate the season

1.  Notice the changes.

My husband Jon and I usually have to drive a bit to get the best autumn views, but this year I want to pay more attention to how the earth is changing right where we live.

In our modern world, we're always encouraged to search out new and unusual experiences, and we wind up ignoring the things that are happening right at home.  Let's challenge ourselves to really notice our everyday surroundings, instead of operating on auto-pilot.

I'll be noticing later, cooler mornings and earlier evenings, extra-busy squirrels in the trees just outside my window, plus the end of summer fruits and the arrival of new-crop apples and winter squashes.  (You'll love this absolutely delicious recipe for honeynut squash!)  Be sure to get outside and notice the seasonal changes in your area.

2.  Enjoy a hot beverage.

After a summer of iced tea and lemonade, get ready to enjoy the warm comfort of cradling a steaming mug of something delicious.  The heat alone is reason to go slow, sip, and savor.

Hot chocolate and sweet coffee drinks are tasty, but if you want to go a bit healthier, try refreshing mint tea, coffee with a cinnamon stick and a dab of cream, or (my favorite) double-spice chai tea with a splash of milk and a drizzle of honey.

3.  Make room.

Early fall is the perfect time to declutter, before you start getting out Halloween décor, putting up an extra table and chairs for the Thanksgiving feast, or fitting in one or more Christmas trees.

One way to start is by identifying hot spots.  Hots spots are places where clutter tends to gather, over and over and over again.  Mine is the dining table.

Maybe you have a desk that is the clutter magnet, and you need to add a basket for mail, or figure out how to pay bills more efficiently.  Or perhaps you need to donate some of your over-accumulated office supplies.

Maybe the kitchen island tends to be a gathering spot for stray items.  Perhaps you need to add a bulletin board or some hooks for jackets and purses.  Maybe you need to clear out a junk drawer or remove duplicate utensils so you have more room for other necessities that crowd the counter.

How about your dresser or bathroom counter?  Have you gotten a little lax about putting things away after you finish using them?   Maybe you've inadvertently started collecting samples and giveaways again.  You might need to declutter some of the jewelry you never wear, or get a tray for keys, rings, and your phone.

4.  Dine on homemade soup.

There's something about autumn and soup.  You get warmth and nutrition in one bowl – a simple way to enjoy fall produce and easy pantry items.

Try my friend Kathie Lapcevic's yummy Chickpea and Sweet Potato Stew.  I love it with corn muffins and a kale salad (add a sprinkle of dried cranberries and some shaved Parmesan).

For best results, set the table, even if it's just for you.  Light a candle, tuck a cloth napkin into your lap, and appreciate each bite.  Any day you can enjoy such a delicious homemade meal is a good day.

5.  Time travel.

Pull out your photo albums and look back on your life.  It's fine to look at pictures on a phone, but nothing beats an over-sized album that covers your lap and lets you peruse the memories of a generation or more.  If your photos are still in boxes, choosing the best and organizing them chronologically would make a great autumn project.

Make sure your kids and grandkids know who's who and what's what.  Write captions for the photos, but take time to tell the stories too!  I know so much about my grandparents and even my great-grandparents because of the stories my mother told.

6.  Get creative.

Take a walk and see what you can gather to decorate your home.  Walking is not only great exercise, but it's a way to slow down and really see what you're missing when you speed by in a car or even on a bicycle.

A few pinecones will make a nice centerpiece mixed with apples or pomegranates.  But if you find a fallen branch (or can prune one from a tree in your yard), try your hand at making some rustic holders for hand-rolled beeswax candles.

Or pick up some freshly-fallen leaves (leave those that are already crispy) and dry them between sheets of wax paper or paper towel in a heavy book or two.  Once they are completely free of moisture, place them in a floating frame or use them to make greeting cards.

Now is also the time to start working on handmade holiday gifts, such as a rice heating pad/cold pack, a cozy crocheted scarf or soft toy, some beaded jewelry, or whatever else your creativity and skill can produce.

Don't let time fly by.

These autumn activities are not going to "cure" your overbooked, over-stressed life.  You'll have to do that yourself.  But they can give you a taste of a slower, more intentional way of doing things while helping you focus on this lovely time of year.  Instead of lamenting how quickly time flies, make the most of it!  You'll find a lot to enjoy and be thankful for.

Related article:  How to Enjoy Simple Hygge this Autumn

Available now for pre-order... the newest addition to the Minimalist Basics series:  A Simpler Christmas: Celebrate a Holiday with More Joy and Less Fuss.

This is not my old holiday book.  It's a new volume full of practical strategies to help you focus on what you value about this season, letting you design a minimalist holiday that celebrates what's most important.  Going for the "the best holiday ever" can leave you feeling burned-out by Christmas Day.  In fact, it can leave you tired, stressed, dissatisfied, in debt, and fatter.  So why not ease off for the sake of more joy?  When you trim down a bit and emphasize what you love, you're sure to find the happiness and inspiration you're longing for.

Pre-order the e-book at a reduced price, or wait for the release of the paperback and hardcover versions on October 14th.  Thank you for supporting my work!