Let’s set the scene:
You’re holding a steaming pumpkin spice latte. You’re wrapped in a thrifted flannel. There’s a breeze that smells like crunchy leaves, seasonal depression, and cinnamon capitalism. It’s fall, baby.
And while everyone else is planning apple orchard selfies or aggressively decorating their porches, let’s talk about what actually matters this time of year.
People. Connection. Laughing until your face hurts. Not doing life alone.
Because pumpkin spice is great. But it’s the humans we drink it with that keep us sane.
Real Talk: Fall Gets Weird for a Lot of People
The weather gets colder. The days get shorter. The holidays start looming like a dysfunctional family group chat. Suddenly, people start feeling anxious, disconnected, and weirdly sad for no reason.
You’re not broken. That’s just fall.
This season tends to stir up all the stuff we’ve been avoiding. And when your mood dips, your nervous system gets squirrelly, or you feel more alone than usual, the default reaction is often to isolate.
Which is the exact opposite of what we actually need.
Quality Time Is Medicine
Research shows that spending time with people you trust can reduce anxiety, lower blood pressure, and increase resilience. Hanging out with your people literally makes your body chill out.
So no, you don’t need to go full Friendsgiving Pinterest mode. But you do need to:
Say yes to that invite, even if you don’t feel like it.
Text the friend who makes you feel like yourself.
Make time for the people who know how to hug your soul, not just your shoulders.
And if your support system is mostly made up of coffee shop employees who know your name? That counts too. Barista connections are sacred.
Build a Cozy Little Support Squad
This fall, make it a priority to check in with your humans. Not just the ones who seem like they need it. All of them. Yourself included.
Host a “no pressure hang” where everyone wears sweatpants and eats freezer snacks.
Take a walk with someone you trust. Talk or don’t. Just show up.
Watch trashy Halloween movies with someone who won’t judge you for rooting for the villain.
And if someone you love is struggling, you don’t have to fix them. You just have to sit in the suck with them. With maybe a hot drink in hand.
Fall Vibes + Emotional Wellness = Basic and Beautiful
Look, we’re not saying pumpkin spice cures depression.
But if you pair it with safe people, intentional time, and a reminder that you don’t have to do life solo? That’s a solid start.
At Northside, we’re big fans of being radically authentic, even if that means crying into your latte or laughing so hard you almost pee. Life is better with people who get you. Make time for them.
Even if all you do is sit quietly on a couch and share a sleeve of Double Stuffed Oreos in flannel pajamas. That is a form of therapy too.
