I sat down to write this a couple of days before the Fall Equinox.

I had been thinking about how much the seasons affect us, especially here in Canada. We can go from -40°C (-40°F) to 40°C (104°F), depending on where we live and how windchill and humidity factor in. Our closets and drawers certainly know all about it.

Now the light is changing. The evenings are getting shorter, and before long, many of us will be reaching for sweaters, blankets and something warm to drink.

For some people, fall brings a welcome change of pace. For others, it is the busiest time of year. School is back, work is busy, routines are changing, and there are still plenty of people who need our time and attention.

We don’t all get to slow down just because the calendar says fall.

So instead of trying to change everything, here are seven small things you might try. Pick one. Or simply use them as a reminder that making a little room for yourself can happen in the middle of a very full day.

1. Let the Season Set the Tone

Fall has a different feel from summer. Certain things are winding down, the days are getting shorter, and we naturally spend more time indoors.

You might take that as a cue to slow down a little where you can. Maybe there are things on your list that don’t really need to be done right now. Maybe something you have been carrying simply isn’t needed anymore.

Not everything has to come with you into the next season.

2. Put One Thing Down

Just one.

It could be a commitment you’ve outgrown, a task you keep doing because you’ve always done it, or a standard you have set for yourself that no longer makes sense.

You don’t have to reorganize your whole life. Start by asking yourself: What could I stop doing?

Sometimes one less thing really does make a difference.

3. Give Your Morning a Little Breathing Room

It doesn’t have to be a complicated morning routine.

Take five minutes before you reach for your phone. Sit with your coffee or tea. Look out the window. Stretch. Take a few slow breaths. Listen to a 5-minute meditation or recite a favourite prayer to set the intentions for the rest of your day.

That’s it.

Those few minutes won’t make a busy day disappear, but they can give you a chance to start the day before everyone else starts asking things of you.

4. Make One Corner Yours

Find a chair, a shelf, a little spot by the window or somewhere else you enjoy being.

Make it comfortable.

Add a lamp, a blanket, a book, your journal or whatever makes you want to sit there for a few minutes each day.

You don’t need to redecorate a room. Sometimes having one comfortable place to sit is enough to make you want to stop for a while.

5. Try One Small Practice

Fall can be a good time to start something simple.

Write for five minutes before bed. Take a short walk after dinner. Hum or sing while you’re getting ready in the morning. Write down one thing you’re grateful for.

Keep it small.

If it takes very little effort to get started, you’re much more likely to keep going when life gets busy.

6. Do Something Kind for Someone

Call someone you haven’t spoken to in a while.

Send a card or a quick message. Take a meal to a neighbour. Bring someone a coffee. Ask how they’re doing, and actually listen to the answer.

It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture. A little thoughtfulness can mean a lot, especially as the days get shorter and we spend more time indoors.

7. Keep Something Just for Fun

Not everything you do needs to be useful.

Put on music while you make dinner. Work on a puzzle. Watch an old favourite movie. Bake something. Wear the colour you love. Read a book simply because you want to.

You don’t have to earn your enjoyment by finishing everything else first.

There will always be something else to do.

As we move into a new season, maybe the goal isn’t to slow everything down. Maybe it’s simply to notice where you can make a little more room for a quieter morning, one less obligation, a small pleasure, or a few minutes that belong only to you.

You don’t need a completely different life to make a little more space in the one you have.

Sometimes, one small change is enough to begin.

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