Autumn, Fall, call it what you will, but it seems to be many peoples favourite season (or should that be favorite?)
As autumn paints the world with hues of gold and crimson, it offers a splendid canvas for creating lasting memories. That, and we need to remember it will be winter soon, so we need to make the best of things before we start hibernating!
It doesn’t matter if you decide to embrace the brisk air outside, or stay in and appreciate the cosy warmth, an autumn bucket list is just what you need to keep you motivated this season.
Whether you want to explore the outdoors with family or seek a tranquil solo retreat, there will be something for you within these suggestions. Also, don’t forget to check out the free printable list to add to your Bucket List planner (you DO have a Bucket List, right!)
There are loads of cool seasonal things to do once the weather gets…well, cool, so I thought I would do my thing and compile a mini Bucket list. What would be on yours?
Get outdoors
As a Geographer, I live by the mantra “There is no such thing as the wrong weather, only the wrong clothes” which is why I am more than happy to be outside even in this season of Hygge and indoor snuginess (totally a word).
If you only do a few outdoorsy things before Winter kicks in, why not try some of these:
- Find a park, a path, some fallen leaves and go scuffing (would be interested to know what others call this!) By scuffing I, of course, mean run through the fallen leaves and kick them. If you aren’t as childish as I am, you could just go on a nature hike to places where you can see the leaves change colour.
- Wrap up warm and spend a night looking for stars. Depending on where you are in the world, on a clear night you can see some amazing sights.
- Not that I want to encourage any destructive behaviour, but I do love a good (controlled!) fire. We have one of those metal bins with holes in, which is great for piling dried leaves, old wood and rubbish in. The kids love standing around it, and there is something quite mesmerising about watching a fire. Throw a bit of ‘toasting marshmallows’ into the mix, and you you have the makings of a great night
- Visit a pumpkin patch. Check out what is available to you in your area, and go choose the perfect pumpkin for carving and decorating your home.
- Have look online to see if there are any autumn festivals near you to visit
- Go on a nature scavenger hunt. You can create a list of autumn items (colourful leaves, acorns, etc.) and explore parks and woodlands to find them..
Stay inside
Not everyone is a fan of being cold, and getting soaked in the rain (can’t think why!) For some, Autumn is all about staying in, getting cosy, and enjoying a good book.
Here are a few ideas for fun things to do while keeping warm at home.
1. Experiment with your favourite scents and get your candle collection started. Creating that ‘Hygge’ feeling is all about the lighting, so having a candle centrepiece is a must. If they smell good too, well that’s a bonus.
2. If you’re staying home anyway, why not use the time to learn something new? Crafts like crochet, knitting and origami lend themselves to a quiet night in. You may discover a hidden talent AND get a few Christmas presents made while you are at it!
3. Autumn seems to be the season for warm drinks. (I will confess to having never tried a Pumpkin Spice Latte, so I don’t have an opinion on them one way or the other). Why not try out a few of the coffee shop offerings, or create your own. You may end up discovering your new favourite hot drink
4. How about a board games night? There are so many new ones to choose from that you don’t have to suffer another game of Monopoly or Cluedo. One of my favourites is Wingspan – and I am currently waiting on a Kickstarter game that I bought entirely because it is Japan themed the pieces are beautiful.
5. If you have over done it with the pumpkin picking, why not have a baking day ? Nothing like some autumn-themed treats like muffins and apple pies.
6. Take the time to work on your ‘To Be Read’ pile and hold a mini book club. Extra points if you can involve the hot drinks and baked treats above.
Printable time
Something I have wanted to do for a while is to create some downloadable printables. My long term aim is to finish my E-Book and to offer an actual “Mid-Life Crisis Survivor Kit” which you can build up by printing off the pages you need. This will also include all manner of Bucket List downloads to help you build your list up.
So I thought I would experiment with this Autumn themed bucket list printable. If you try it out, let me know how it goes. It is a downloadable PDF, with space for you to add all of the tasks you want to accomplish this season.
You can use the ones provided above, or get the kids to come up with fun things to do.
This is also a great ‘warm-up’ activity if you run a youth group like a Guide or Brownie unit, or in a class room.
