I’m writing this on a very early Tuesday morning. The house is dark, I’ve just made a cup of decaf coffee and lit a candle. It’s just me and my puppy awake right now, and she’s already starting to doze off.
Outside it’s still dark, sounding more like midnight than morning, with the low hum of crickets and night bugs. No traffic yet. It’s nearly 6am, but the world still feels quiet.
It’s hard to believe we’re about to start October! This week I saw them hanging holiday lights outside a shopping area. Is it just me, or did September fly by?
I always feel like we’re on the cusp of a slippery time: as soon as September closes and October arrives, the year feels like it’s on a landslide toward the end.
That thought tends to make me anxious, like I need to start getting things done before the year slips away. But here’s the truth: when I buy into that urgency, I just end up rushing, making lists, and checking boxes, often without being present in my own life.
This year, I’m doing it differently. I’m practicing ways to slow down time. Here are a few that are helping me right now.
1. Waking up earlier – or at least before everyone else
I know this isn’t always doable, and sleep always comes first. But if you can shift your schedule slightly – head to bed a little earlier
(more on this in a minute) so you can wake before the rest of the house – there’s a special kind of magic in the quiet of fall mornings.
I keep the lights dim, light a candle, and enjoy a slow cup of coffee or tea. Sometimes I’ll journal or read. In summer I might use this time to exercise or walk, but in fall I love the indulgence of simply sitting, feet up, doing something analog. It feels like a bonus hour.
2. Writing letters by hand
I LOVE paper and stationery stickers, washi tape, fountain pens — all of it. So I don’t know why it didn’t occur to me sooner to slow down by handwriting notes.
This week, I sent a few decorated letters to people who’ve attended my forest bathing sessions, and I LOVED how much it slowed me down.
Think about it: how often do we handwrite anything anymore? Much less receive snail mail?
It made me so happy to embellish those envelopes with stickers and wash and drop them in the mail – knowing they might make someone smile when they see it.
So not only did it slow me down – I got the bonus of oxytocin and the feeling of happiness and joy to do it. Win-win!
3. Reading out loud with my son
My son Sage is a teenager now, so it’s not like he needs this (and honestly, he mostly tolerates it). But I can tell there’s a part of him that enjoys it too.
A few weeks ago at a local bookstore (another one of my things to do to move more slowly), I spotted a book I thought we’d both like, and on impulse I bought it and suggested we read it together. He was reluctant, but eventually agreed.
Reading aloud slows me down in such a different way. You have to enunciate each word, letting the story unfold at its own pace. It feels deliciously nostalgic. You don’t need a kid to try this, you can read with a partner or even a friend. If you’re curious, we’re reading The Saturday Night Ghost Club by Craig Davidson.
4. Taking a hot shower or bath before bed
One way I’ve supported waking earlier is by winding down earlier. For September, I set a challenge: shower or bathe before 9pm. Childlike? Maybe. But it works.
Just like it signals to my son that it’s time to rest, it signals my own body that the active part of the day is done. I didn’t make it fancy or complicated; no elaborate salts or routines. I just made the bar really low so I could actually succeed. Sometimes it’s a quick shower. Sometimes a long soak. Either way, it marks the transition and slows time down.
5. A daily creative practice: “Draw-tober”
I love autumn so much, and one of my favorite traditions is something I’ve been doing with my son since he was old enough to hold a pencil: Drawtober. It’s a simple, imperfect daily drawing prompt we do together every October.
In the weeks leading up to October – right when the autumn fever hits me like hard cider – we start brainstorming ideas for that year’s list. We always include a few staples like pumpkin, candy, or haunted house, but we like to get creative too. Some years we’ve added more open-ended prompts like fangs or thriller.
This year, I’m sharing a special nature inspired / autumn-themed version I created just for you. You can grab the Free Autumn Draw-tober Prompts printable here and try it out for yourself.
Here are a few of our doodles from past years. As you’ll see, I’m no fine artist – and that’s the point. The practice of drawing, especially doing it alongside someone else, slows everything down and taps me right into my inner child.
6. Slowing down with others
Finally, my favorite: slowing down in community. Whether it’s time with my family or guiding a Forest Bathing Walk, there’s something powerful about pausing with others.
When we slow down in nature together, it feels like permission to stop rushing. That constant inner pressure to be “productive” softens. You begin to remember that simply being, breathing, noticing, and feeling, is enough.
That’s why I love offering my guided forest bathing walks. Each one is a chance to step out of the noise and into a shared rhythm of quiet connection – with nature, yourself, and the group around you.
If you’ve been craving a slower pace or deeper presence, you can find upcoming Forest Bathing Walks and events here →
Closing Thoughts
Slowing down time doesn’t happen by accident, it happens through intention, rhythm, and community. These small practices are helping me feel more present this season, and I’d love for you to try them too.
✨ Grab the free Draw-tober Simple Printable here →
Here’s to a slow and nourishing fall,
🐌 Jess
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