As the nights close in and the weather encourages us to retreat indoors, Autumn invites us to slow down and turn inwards. A clear contrast to the buzz of long summer days and social plans. Autumn is a time to reconnect with ourselves and our homes. As a wellbeing-led interior design studio we’ve come to appreciate how simple rituals take on new meaning at this time of year. How our surroundings play a powerful role in grounding us and enhancing our feeling of belonging. Our sense of place and home.

I’ve been introducing rituals into my own life since January, when I decided to take intentional steps to improve my own health and wellness. So I thought I’d share three of my daily Autumn rituals this month. Perhaps I can inspire you to start some of your own?

What is a ritual?

Not be confused with a habit, which is an action taken without much thought after repetitive practice. A ritual is much more intentional. It is deliberate and considered. A ritual also has a deeper meaning than a habit and very much comes with some sort of emotional benefit. 

Performing a ritual of your choice, giving it your time and attention, will make you feel a certain way. Relaxed, happy, in control, centred, grateful… It may even be less about the ritual itself and more about the discipline of stopping what you’re doing to focus on this activity. Consider it an act of self care to make a ritual part of your schedule, for your own health, contentment or joy.

The importance of Autumn rituals

With a new season comes an invitation to re-set, re-start and re-focus. A time to re-prioritise our own wellbeing. This can be done at any time of course, but the transition between Summer and Autumn, as we return to routine, feels like a natural time for it. We also like to use Autumn as a period for aligning ourselves with what matters and setting a strong foundation for the final stretch of the year, setting ourselves up for a strong start to the New Year.

However Autumn, quite simply, is beautiful. Nature is an incredible source of joy at each season. You just have to remember to look for the simple pleasures and find the beauty in the quiet moments. That’s where Autumn rituals come in.

Creating low key, nourishing moments can be a great way to help you feel a sense of belonging in this new season. Practising daily rituals which force us to slow, to think, to feel emotion in the moment. It’s all very hygge and extremely valuable to our wellbeing.

My Autumn rituals

I’m sharing with you next how three of my favourite daily rituals can impact my wellbeing and life during Autumn specifically. If you find a ritual that works for you, tweak them for the seasons if necessary but applying them consistently means you will really feel the benefit.

For me, I place high importance on connecting the inside with the outside. Appreciating the holistic experience and joining the dots between looking good and feeling good. There are clear parallels between how I approach interior design and how I approach my personal growth and care. It’s simple, personalised, considered and balanced to create something that looks great but more importantly, feels amazing.

Morning set up

It can be easy to fall into the trap of allowing a ritual to be a luxury. A ‘when I have a minute’ situation. Or a reward for completing tasks in your day. So my top tip for embracing rituals is to flip that narrative and only start your tasks once you’ve enjoyed your ritual. 

Intentionally setting the tone for the day has been quite the game changer for me this year. Mornings – especially with children – can be chaotic. School runs, packing bags, noise and rushing about before diving into work with adrenaline coursing and feeling a little fried. All before 9am. 

I’ve made it a priority to take back control by carving out a pocket of time to start each day how I mean to go on. We wrote in our newsletter, The Edition (subscribe here if you haven’t already), back in February about my “Morning rituals of fresh coffee and lighting a candle to start to the day”. I committed to this simple practice at the start of the year and am reaping the rewards to this day.

I may have replaced the coffee with my morning natural energy booster drink, Rise (I’m now a Brand Partner for Dr Simon Ourian as their products have been quite transformative for me), but the ritual of lighting a candle and having a peaceful ten minutes to myself, taking in my surroundings and noticing the changes in nature and the seasons outside creates a stillness and focus which I can carry with me through the rest of my day.

Joyful movement

One of my daily priorities is walking our beloved dog, CJ. A non-negotiable part of my day that I look forward to and cherish. The intentional daily practice of switching off from what I’m doing and being present with CJ, moving in nature, is a simple ritual that I truly enjoy. My mind benefits from the reset and affords me a more productive afternoon.

You don’t need a dog, by the way, to make movement a ritual! Experiment with types of movement to find what feels good. Consider what you could consistently carve out time for in your day or week. It could be ten minutes of jump rope listening to your favourite music on full blast. It could be lighting a candle and doing a gentle yoga flow in a clutter-free part of your home. Clearing the clutter before you begin could even be part of the ritual! A cleansing of the home and mind. Give it a go and see what works.

Evening reset

No matter how full my days or nights might be, I have an evening ritual that will never slip. Time alone in my bathroom enjoying my skincare routine while I decompress from the day is like hitting the reset button. Short, simple steps that feel achievable no matter how tired I may be. I use the Daily Essentials range by Simon Ourian as I find it creates a truly enjoyable sensory experience. The smell, the feel of the products on my skin. The rhythm of applying them and seeing the day melt away, unveiling a fresh version of myself, is a ritual that sets me up for a restful night and a positive start to the next day.

As the Autumn nights draw in, we look forward to cosy evenings in pyjamas. Our restorative periods are extended in line with the cover of darkness. The evening ritual creeps earlier and earlier and leads us to longer hours of rest. So while the ritual itself may not change, the season itself takes us along for the ride, with the ritual being the moment that we take a deep breath and turn inwards.

A key part of this particular ritual is that I do it in an environment that feels comfortable and aligned to me. It’s the power of interior design supporting our wellbeing. We invested in designing our own bathroom so that it would be not just a practical room in the house but one where we could enjoy spending time. I can do my evening ritual anywhere in the world, but home just feels extra special.

Some ritual ideas for you

We thought we’d list a few ideas for rituals that could be done at home to bring a sense of mindfulness, peace and belonging this Autumn.

• Leave your phone downstairs at night to avoid late night scrolling and reaching for your phone first thing when you wake up.
• Don’t touch your phone for at least 30 minutes in the morning. Give yourself space to wake up and tune into your mind and body without noise from the world beyond before opening yourself up to external distractions.
• A ten minute daily meditation. A quiet spot, a candle or incense for the sensory experience and 10 minutes to do nothing but focus on breathing.
• Get outside. In all weathers. The ritual is in the walking, taking notice and connecting with the outdoors in all seasons.
• Stretches or face yoga. Requires no space and hardly any time, but spending five or ten minutes each evening stretching out the parts of your body that have been tense all day (including your face) is a brilliant ritual for relaxation and health benefits.
• Most of us simply don’t hydrate well enough. Commit to five minutes at the same (similar) time every day. When the kids have left for school, before you head on the school run, while you wait for your dinner to cook. Stand at a window and simply look outside while drinking a large glass or water Even if you’re overlooking a busy urban street, this is about connecting with the outside world, stretching out our body and hydrating all at once. Simple ritual, far reaching benefits.

Holistic Wellness

I believe in the huge benefits of everyday self care to improve wellbeing. Follow me on Instagram @helloanniepitchford or Facebook @AnniePitchford for more about how I can help you with your own unique wellness needs. Or follow the links here.