Autumn has arrived. Leaves are falling to the earth and the sky is dark and cloudy. While the season is considered beautiful by some, others are struggling with the lack of sunlight, early evenings and stormy weather. Autumn can (sometimes literally) dampen your mood.

While it is currently autumn in the Northern Hemisphere, spring is reigning in the South. In addition, there are regions where the weather does not strictly follow the four seasons. But if you find yourself feeling bogged down by any seasonal transition, this post is for you.

The weather can have an immense impact on your energy level, mood and mental health. That is why it is essential to change your daily routine in order to reflect the changes in the outside world.

The tips I am sharing with you are five additions I am currently practicing in my own daily routine (and one secret bonus tip at the end!).

Here are my TOP5 wellness tips for a dark and cloudy autumn: 

#1: Catch the last rays of sunlight. This photo was taken on one of the last walks when the sun was still shining:

Make every ray of sunlight count! Do you see the sun shining through your window? That is YOUR SIGN to go for a walk. If that is not possible, perhaps you can step into the garden or onto the street in front of your door. If you feel that you do not have the possibility to go on a walk, even 30 seconds on your balcony might shift your mood.

Make a game out of it: “Oh, there’s the sun! Let me go outside and catch it!”

#2: Turn on the lights! Especially in the morning, it is helpful to replace real sunlight with bright lamps. If you have blackout shutters or curtains, you might consider leaving them partially open in autumn and winter. If it is pitch-black in your room when your alarm sounds, you will barely stand a chance of waking up (more on this in tip #5). When the sun is finally up, invite it into your room several times a day. Walking to a window and opening it will give you that extra boost! Who could resist that breeze of fresh air?

#3: Turn on the music, too! Nothing can change your mood quite like music does. Have a playlist of your favourite songs ready and put it on when you feel stuck. Let it move you… Not only emotionally, but also to dance. 

#4: Stay in touch: Dark and rainy weather seems like your invitation to stay at home, bundled up all warm and cosy… But be careful not to drift into isolation or a daily rut. Keep making plans with friends, have video calls and build positive anticipation towards special events like a book club meeting, a day trip or a concert. This photo is from a recent trip to Maastricht in the Netherlands:

#5: Rise and shine: In autumn and winter, it is especially easy to stay up late and difficult to wake up early. Still, doing this might have a domino effect on the rest of your daily routine. It doesn’t feel good (at least, it does not feel good to me).

I will be honest: I am struggling with having a the same set sleep schedule as in summer right now. I wish I could fall asleep one hour earlier and rise one hour earlier as well. It is a challenge, but I want to make this change because I’m sure it will feel rewarding. 

Secret Tip #6: An additional challenge to your daily routine is that the clock may change from summer time to winter time in your time zone on a certain date (but on a different date in other time zones). However, you can harness this super power once a year to give yourself the gift of getting up one hour earlier without any effort.

Disclaimer: The information presented in this blog post is generalised and cannot be applied to every individual person. Blog posts are neither therapy nor a substitute for therapy. Please take the ideas that feel right to you on board and leave the rest. If you are experiencing difficulties, please contact a therapist and seek additional forms of support.

If you share my passion for meditation and other self-care practices, feel free to write me an email or read more about me and my work. My blog is about various topics, but writing, reading and learning about mindfulness is particularly close to my heart. I am offering you inspiration and information for your reading journey and daily life. Do not miss out on my future blog posts and book reviews! They will include fiction and non-fiction books, recommendations, guides, advice, success stories and useful examples that will help you to create the daily life of your dreams. 

Let’s discuss in the comments or per email: Do you have another piece of advice for autumn? Feel free to share it with us. What are your thoughts on this blog post? Do you have any questions, wishes or feedback? Let’s connect!