13 Fun Fall Activities to Help You De-Stress

Fall is here, and it is beautiful. But it also is really stressful for students (midterms are killer), and I’ve a hard time finding fun fall activities in the past!

I’m not much of one for winter, and here in Canada we have winters that are much too cold and summers that are much too hot, so spring and fall are a happy in-between.

Unfortunately, they also end far too quickly, and since I’ve been in school every fall for the last 3 years, I’ve been missing out on this gorgeous season.

This year, in fourth year, I’m really realizing how important it is to let yourself just take a break once in a while. How refreshing it is to just get out, turn off the laptop, put away the textbooks, and enjoy life. I’m working on living life more purposely (thus the blog name), and one way to do that is to not let beautiful things like fall leaves and crisp autumn air go to waste! 

We all need breaks from school at some point–you can’t study all the time! I’m really bad at just turning on Netflix when I need a break, though, instead of doing something that will actually rejuvenate my spirit. So I’ve compiled a fall activities bucket-list for myself this semester to really enjoy this gorgeous season.

1. Jump in a pile of leaves

Your inner child will thank you. Grab a rake and some girlfriends and go! Alternatively, bring a guy and make him do all the raking while you just get to do the jumping. (Can you guess which one I’m planning to do? #marriageperks)

2. Carve a pumpkin

Make a goofy one or a scary one, but just have fun and don’t be afraid to get a little messy!

3. Take a walk in the forest

The trees are gorgeous this time of year–take advantage of it. Take a relaxing stroll in some greenspace by your campus (the canal, for me!) and breath in the fresh autumn air, surrounded by red, yellow, and orange trees!

4. Bake a pumpkin pie

All the pumpkin. Mmhmm.

5. Go apple picking

Might be a bit late for this one, but I WILL find a place that will let me pick apples still.

6. Bake apple crisp

What else are you going to do with all those apples? Eat them as is, all healthy and stuff? Nope. Cover them with sugar and bake them into a lovely gooey sticky sweet mess.

7. Kick up leaves when you walk to school

You have no idea how much joy this little action can bring. I dare you–next time you’re walking to school and see a pile of leaves at the side of the road, kick your way through them! It’s such a freeing experience to be able to just let your inner child loose.

8. Get all the PSL you can drink afford

Let’s be real here, PSLs are amazing but expensive. That being said, you gotta have at least one during the fall–it’s pretty much tradition at this point. Up there with thanksgiving.

9. Go to a corn maze

I love corn mazes! I’m not so into the scary ones, but if you are, go for it! I just find it so fun to walk through all the corn trying to find the other side.

10. Embrace fall colours

Burgundy, greys, creams, greens, plaid (yes, that counts as a colour)… I love them all, and it’s the perfect time to wear them!

11. Eat squash with brown sugar

My favourite. And it’s so cheap this time of year!

12. Break out the warm sweaters

All summer we were just dying of heat, and now that it’s gotten a bit chilly we can finally bring back all those lovely fall and winter knits we oh-so-happily shoved to the back of the closet in June (yeah, it’s cold for a long time here in Canada). Bring them back out, and cozy up with some tea and a good book.

13. Start your morning thankful

Fall, to me, means thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is generally at the beginning of October here in Canada, so it is really my fall kick-off holiday, and it’s a wonderful way to set the tone for the season. Try to start every morning thinking of one thing that you’re thankful for, maybe while you brush your teeth or make your breakfast. It’s amazing how much impact a bit of gratefulness has on your mental health, so let’s do this fall right!

Are you as excited as I am about fall? What are some of your favourite ways to take advantage of this beautiful season?