Autumn is one of the most beautiful four seasons of all – as long as we don’t spoil it through a few avoidable negligences.
Some people love it, others it annoys and some people don’t really get it: Autumn is a complex season whose beauty is not immediately apparent to every eye. Of course that’s fine and it can remain a matter of taste and a question of type whether we celebrate autumn or not. It would only be a shame if we ruined the so-called golden season for ourselves or didn’t make the most of it. After all, we’re talking about a quarter of the year – and our lives. We won’t let the following disruptors cast a shadow on our autumn this year and perhaps there will be more than enough light.
6 fall mistakes we will definitely avoid this year
Eating too little kale
Whether it’s asparagus, mushroom or pumpkin season – once the season is over, it often passes faster than expected. Did I eat enough chanterelles this year? I could have made asparagus salad a few more times. We don’t want to have to think about things like that after this fall. Kale, fennel, beetroot, chard – there’s no way we’ll pass the seasonal November treats four times before putting them in our shopping basket.
Start the pre-Christmas stress early
Nobody wants to be stressed out running around town on Christmas Eve buying twenty presents, and if the wreath isn’t finished until mid-December, the first two Sundays of Advent are probably marginally contemplative. But honestly: If we plan and prepare for our Christmas in the fall, it just gets bigger every week, the stress drags on like chewing gum and in the end we’re only happy when Christmas – and the fall it overshadows – is over. There is no such thing as a perfect Christmas anyway, it’s enough if we make it nice and cozy for ourselves, and a few days or weeks should usually be enough for that. This fall, the thought of Christmas doesn’t cause us any stress; we’ll at least wait until the mulled wine stands open.
Let leaves become a worry
As long as they are hanging on the trees, we generally find autumn leaves beautiful and atmospheric – but once they fall on the ground, they can trigger all sorts of worries in us. On the one hand, there is the risk of slipping for us as cyclists, runners or those moving in other ways. It is there and cannot be avoided. But if we see them less as a threat and more as an invitation to slow down a little and introduce leisure and slowness into our lives, we might find them a little less annoying and bad.
Then the question arises about our obligations as residents or property owners: Do we have to vacate? Unless we don’t want to pay someone compensation if they slip on wet leaves on our driveway or the sidewalk in front of our property, yes. However, only between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. on weekdays and from 9 a.m. on weekends. We don’t have to worry about what falls from our trees onto neighboring properties, but leaves from the neighborhood on our property are our problem. If you would like to use a leaf blower, you can do so between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. and collected leaves belong in the organic waste bin or, in the case of large quantities, in appropriate municipal landfills. Now that that’s all out of the way, we can enjoy the fall leaves this year – sweeping them up and putting them away can have a positive effect on our physical and mental health.
Forgetting that we can go out in the dark
Many people enjoy the fact that they feel less pressure to go out and do something in the fall than in the summer. Now it’s easier to make yourself comfortable at home and immerse yourself in a book than when the sun shines until 8 p.m. and the smell of grilled vegetables and joy of life is everywhere. On the other hand, autumn darkness and temperatures can sometimes make us feel trapped and believe we can’t experience anything other than what’s happening in our home. We definitely don’t want to give in to this feeling this year – after all, darkness and cold are nothing that can harm us.
When we have something we’re looking forward to, a walk or drive through streets lit by streetlights can be beautiful and magical. Once we have made it to the restaurant we really wanted to go to despite the storm and rain, it is even more comfortable there and the food is even more delicious. This fall is the season for us where we don’t feel like we have to do anything that we maybe don’t really want, while at the same time feeling that we can do anything that we truly need.
Drink too little
In summer, the heat, activities, etc. usually make us feel very thirsty, which reminds us to drink enough. In autumn, the feeling of thirst can subside – but drinking enough fluids is no less important than in summer. Since we now spend more time in heated rooms, our skin and mucous membranes can dry out if there is a lack of water, and it can also increase feelings of tiredness and listlessness if we drink too little. This fall, we’ll start every day with a large glass of water, end it with a huge cup of tea and regularly replenish our fluid levels in between.
Counting the days until the winter solstice
It will be darker for a while before it gets brighter again on December 21st. OK. But our lives are just as much ours on dark days as they are on bright ones; the minutes are just as long and hold just as many opportunities and potential to fill them, enjoy them, and appreciate them. This autumn we don’t wait until it gets brighter again, until it stops raining, until it’s time to go to bed, but rather live with what is.
Sources used: arag.de, foodboom.de