Here we are back at it again with the Delightful Diaries, my personal series on this little self-discovery blog. Today, we’re talking about my little autumn self-care challenge, which is designed to be insanely easy and not at all a challenge. Every Monday, I update y’all on the following:
1 song I’ve had on repeat in the last week
2 recipes I’ve enjoyed in the last week
3 words/phrases to set a vibe for next week
4 things that have been inspiring me lately, and
5 things I’ve doing to take care of myself.
It’s been a weird week. I had a crazy trip out into the suburbs over the weekend, and I frankly haven’t been getting enough rest. Not for any real reason, just procrastinating going to bed, being too wound up or existential, or just not being able to get back to sleep after 7am. I’m not mad about it! I feel a little loopy though, so I want to dial in on some autumn self-care ideas this week. It can be challenging to take care of myself, but it’s gonna happen one way or another.
1stly, a song I’ve had on repeat: Parenthesis by Tricky
This is one of my favorite songs of all time, so it’s always on repeat, ngl. It’s background music, but it’s also contemplative, catchy, and haunting.
2 recipes I’ve enjoyed this week?
Part of my fall self care plan is to do less. I’ll be honest, I’ve been remaking last week’s recipes, and it’s been great! That wrap continues to be amazing. All the fall self-care ideas and tips you find involve doing, more more, and call me crazy, but I don’t feel like it. This is more than about needing a break, too! Sometimes you’re not super burned out or anything, you just don’t feel like it, and there’s no shame in that.
3 words/phrases to set the vibe for my daily intentions
If you didn’t know, I set a daily intention every single day. It’s important to try to guide my brain back to something when I get distracted, frustrated, or tired. So here are the words and phrases I’ll be referring to this week when I engage in my daily journaling practice:
- 🦢 Embodying my values
- 🍁 Joyfully self-sufficient
- 🧚♀️ “Your future self will thank you.”
4 things that have been inspiring me this week
- I’ve been binge watching Real Housewives of Salt Lake City again! I’m almost caught up. Yes, this is a source of inspiration. Their outfits alone are works of art sometimes. Also, I would die for Heather.
- It seems like every single day, I step onto the patio and find a new fallen leaf. It’s really happening, everyone – the seasons are turning. Though the weather has yet to cool, down, I’ve been inspired by the leaves slowly losing their color. It’s like a little promise every morning that everything is constantly changing. It makes me think of the person I’m going to be in ten or twenty years, and how excited I am to meet her in the mirror. For me, “finding yourself in the fall” has to do with embodying transition, and that naturally brings up thoughts of the future. The real autumn self-care challenge is peacefully settling into the idea of change!
- My best friend, Monte! I live with my best friend in the world and they’re so dedicated to journaling, daily yoga, and managing their energy. I had a big moment of sadness last weekend, and they recognized that I needed support and offered me a shoulder to cry/sigh dramatically on. A friend who’s there when I need them? That’s an inspiration. 💙
- As usual, the Ocean Dreams Oracle by Danielle Noel. I just love this deck. The art is genuinely soothing, stunning, and inspiring.
5 things I’ve been doing to take care of myself (other than the daily journaling practice)
- Budgeting for a car!! I’m planning to make my first car purchase before the year is out, and I’m enjoying tinkering with ways to finance it. Smart money management is one of my skills that I’m most proud of, and I’m happy to be able to use it for this. I simply won’t be walking around in the cold this winter.
- Taking alone time. I’ve still been holding back on making social plans to avoid getting burned out.
- Doing… and redoing my nails. They always turn out awful the first time, but I’m having fun learning how to get the best at-home manicure. It’s nothing special, truly just shaping them and polishing, but it’s always a delight to see my nails looking cute!
- Spending almost the entire afternoon in my robe. I’ve been working in my robe. This is THE best self-care tip for anyone who hasn’t been sleeping enough and has to log on early in the morning, haha.
- Making that amazing, delicious wrap from last week’s Delightful Diaries again. If you find something you love eating, by god, eat it again.
And a very happy autumn self-care challenge to you, too!
xoxoz