Who else is looking forward to crisp mornings and cable knit sweaters and crunching leaves?
[Sheepishly raises hand.]
I’ve become one of those people who really really gets into the change in seasons. When those first crisp mornings hit, I’ll start making chai in the mornings, pulling out the duster cardigans, playing the Highwomen, and begging Adam to go to apple picking with me.
So it’s probably not surprising that I love a good seasonal bucket list. They can be cheesy and sort of basic and I do not care one bit.
I’ll spare you the dissertation on why bucket lists are fun, they help me make the most of the season, yada yada. You probably agree with me…or you’ve probably already quit reading this post. 😉
But after a few years of bucket list evangelism, I’ve changed up how I do bucket lists to make them easier to integrate into my ordinary, busy life.
How to Celebrate Fall, Even If You’re Busy
Here’s my method:
1. Figure out my absolute top priorities.
If I don’t figure out my must-do’s, then I get distracted by things other people love. There’s no way I’ll get through all 75 activities on that Pinterest printable, so I’m going to pick the things that are most meaningful to me.
2. Choose activities that fit into regular evenings and that require more planning.
Sure, we all love apple picking and pumpkin patches and farmer’s markets. But if your schedule is like mine, you can’t trek to the apple orchard on a random Tuesday. And that can make bucket lists feel pointless. Choosing some smaller activities I can enjoy on weeknights makes regular days just a bit more celebratory.
3. Figure out when I’ll start and end celebrating.
I learned this trick from Kendra Adachi, the Lazy Genius, and I think it’s especially helpful for this weird summer-to-fall bleed that happens when you’re no longer controlled by an academic calendar. Deciding on start and end dates gives the season some boundaries (and gives me permission to ignore everything fall-related on social media until I feel ready). I normally start thinking about fall activities around the end of September. Sure, it’s when fall “officially” starts, but more importantly, it’s typically when the temperatures stop being so darned hot.
If this plan seems helpful or fun, click here to get a printable that walks through these questions. Bonus, this is a great thing to talk through with your partner to create a couple’s fall bucket list (or with your roommates! Or kids!)
Find it here!
Now, the fun part – let’s brainstorm some ideas for filling out your list!
fall bucket list ideas
Here are some fall bucket list ideas I’m considering adding to my own list!
Activities:
1. Go camping
2. Visit a Dark Sky park
3. Pick apples at an apple orchard
4. Go hiking
5. Dress up for Halloween
6. Watch a football game
7. Take a drive to watch the leaves change
8. Visit a farmer’s market
Little Luxuries
9. Pull out Mrs. Meyer’s Apple Cider hand soap and counter spray
10. Drink hot apple cider on the balcony
11. Buy a real pumpkin
12. Try a new pumpkin-flavored treat from Trader Joe’s
13. Light a fall-scented candle
14. Eat apples and caramel
15. Walk around the block to admire the leaves
16. Pull out the cozy fall throw blankets
17. Change out throw pillow covers
18. Wear a favorite fall cardigan
19. Read a spooky book
Recipes
20. Homemade chai
21. Chili
22. Pumpkin bread
23. Apple cake (my favorite recipe is headed to my email list in a few days! Sign up here!)
25. An apple-flavored cocktail
25. Copycat Sweetgreen Harvest Bowl
Watch and Listen
26. You’ve Got Mail
27. Dead Poet’s Society
28. A Series of Unfortunate Events Netflix series
29. The Harry Potter soundtrack (maybe with pumpkin juice?)
30. Cozy jazz Spotify playlist
31. The perfect chill folk-ish playlist
Psst…don’t forget the printable before you go!
Here’s to making ordinary life a little better!