Fall is the season of letting things go, and that mantra has echoed in my ears all month long. The future is still unknown, I'm still at home, and there's little promise of what's in store. One thing I do hold onto are the little joys I find in each and every day—at least I try to. Being content can be different for so many people who are walking different paths of life and it comes down to your own perspective of what contentment truly means.
“To be content doesn’t mean you don’t desire more, it means you’re thankful for what you have and patient for what’s to come.” -Tony Gaskins
There's always this outside pressure of knowing what you need to do, where you need to be, and making sure that everything is in place and planned. While this routine is something I know far too well, it controls us and our everyday lives. But lately, I've come to find solace in knowing that there are little positives I can be thankful for. Here are the things that make me content:
I've also been making pumpkin chai tea lattes at home, which have been quite the treat in the morning and a reward for getting through work early and powering through the day. When I'm tutoring, I'll have my iced chai and be ready to meet with new writers and students at DePaul, so it's always a great start to my day when I get to meet with people virtually face to face.
Since gyms are closed, I haven't been extremely motivated to do work outs, but I have been getting into running more on the treadmill and allot myself some time in the afternoons to running and getting my heart rate up for at least a mile a day. It's been nice not feeling the pressure of having to go to a studio and work out, but I've also felt just more refreshed and can clear my mind a bit when I'm running.
When I'm feeling like my routine is monotonous and I'm just waking up to do the same thing every day, log into Zoom, tutor, do school work, walk the dog, and so on, I try to make my day different and find the little things that bring me joy. Being content doesn't have to be a mystery, and you certainly don't have to go searching for a better path or situation at the moment. Change your perspective and outlook by accepting the fact that things might be unknown right now. Finding positive ways to cope is all we have at the moment and being patient for better things to come. How do you find ways to be more content?
I have embraced warm tones this fall, and it's safe to say that the oranges, bronzes, browns, and reds of fall are definitely my shades. With makeup and clothes especially, I have been experimenting with some new finds. I always think back to middle school when I was watching all of these YouTubers and their extravagant Sephora hauls, but I can assure you that a couple of these products were found at TJ Maxx or were part of a sample set. I'm never really on the "hunt" for makeup products, per say but am always on the look out for some cult classics whenever I need to replenish the products I love. Here is my fall beauty roundup...
For the face...
Charlotte Tilbury Airbrush Flawless Foundation- My newest favorite foundation! I have always strayed away from foundations, but the "airbrush" quality of it has me swoon. Since I'm not going out too much, it doesn't make sense for me to put a full face of makeup on, but there are definitely those days I want to clean up a bit or experiment.
Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion- I am all about moisturizing as it gets colder. I hate the feeling of dry and scaly skin on a cold fall or winter morning, so to prevent that, I use this right before I go to bed. It's a lightweight moisturizer and won't clog your precious pores.
Nars Velvet Matte Lip Pencil in Good Times- Nars has to be one of my go-to brands and since I don't wear lipstick often, I find these lip pencils to be the perfect in between for getting a neutral lip tint when you wanna spice it up a bit.
Clinique Chubby Stick in Whole Lotta Honey- Along with Nars, I love the Clinique Chubby Sticks. I can throw these into my bag and also have it as a back up to chapstick if needed. They come in a ton of different shades for all different tones, but I always gear more toward the natural blush and nude tints. No lipstick marks on my coffee cup please!
Bath and Body Works Sweater Weather Body Cream- This is my scent of the season and always will be. It is so hard to find it sometimes because it is so popular, so I make sure to stock up on hand creams, body gels, and candles in this scent for sure. It's the perfect blend of spice and woody scents.
Chloe Nomade Perfume- Along with warm and spicy scents, the Chloe Nomade perfume has been my choice of fragrance for the past couple of months. It's a warm floral with Oakmoss, Freesia, Mirabelle Liquor.
For the nails...
OPI Nail Polish in Stop It I'm Blushing- I always love a good creamy neutral or blush pink, so I happened to pick up this new shade that has a slight powder pink tint to it! You can never go wrong with OPI polishes.
For the eyes...
Glossier Lidstar in Cub- If you are someone who HATES eyeshadow creasing or having it move around on your face, Glossier Lidstars are for you! They're perfectly pigmented so you can build the color up with your finger and it lasts for so long. It also has a bit of copper shimmer, which is just divine. For the hair...
Briogeo Scalp Revival Shampoo- Okay, Ladies. Dandruff is a no-go this season. I got this Briogeo shampoo from a trial pack and have been using it sparingly to prevent the dreaded winter head itch and dry scalp. It works wonders! I've never paid much attention to the moisture of my hair, but realize it's really important this time of year. 
I am trying to put aside time for self-care more as the weather gets colder and the days get darker quicker. As a result, I'm getting more into experimenting with different looks. However, there are days when I just don't want to wear a single dab of makeup and that's okay! I feel like the makeup world is evolving and more people are becoming confident in their own skin, so remember to use makeup because it makes you feel good. We need a little bit more of that comfort nowadays.
It's Sunday, I'm in bed all snuggled up, I just drank a harvest tea blend from Trader Joe's, and all is good in the world—or is it? I often look forward to cozy Sunday nights, but lately I've succumbed to the doom of Monday and my to-do list gets the best of me. What I've been referring to is this sudden sense of overwhelm, anxiety, and restlessness over what the week may bring, or the "Sunday scaries" as my family calls it. Even when I've accomplished all on my to-do list, I always find myself anxious to start a new week.
I haven't tackled this feeling or have found ways to relieve it as much, but I definitely have noticed why I might be feeling this way and things I can do to change my mindset before a new sunrise. To start, I needed to figure out what may be causing these negative thought bubbles before Monday. I think it has to do with all of the pre-existing stress I might have had that week, things I read or saw on the news, our current state of the world, or just interactions I had that day. If there's anything my conscious is telling me, it's that I need to let that sh*t go.
When I started realizing that I needed to re-evaluate my stress and negative thoughts as a passing-by, or little bumps in the road, they became things I could take control of. This season is the reason for letting things go, and as hard and intimidating as it may be to try, it's not worth dwelling over. The fear of what's to come consumes us so much that we forget what is possible during the present moment.
But enough about presence, I feel like I talk so much about it, but it's really me who needs a presence check. Sundays are usually spent out to brunch, going apple picking, going to church if that suits you, or relaxing and reading that book that's sat on your nightstand all week. There are things that don't have to be done right this instant, you are not made of iron, and you definitely need to take your foot off the gas a bit and let things be.
For those who anticipate the emails they're going to receive, dread over their full planner, or who just can't deal with getting up and starting a new work week, I feel you. It's not easy, but we have to push through day by day, as my dad always tells me. You only know what's happening now, so why dwell on tomorrow when you can make the most of every day you get? At least, I keep telling myself that.
Turn your back on the Sunday scaries and start filling your days with little joys, indulgences, and by pacing yourself because you got this—and I'm right here with you.
While I don't consider myself a Bibliophobe, or someone who hates reading, I think it is safe to say that many people have anxiety when it comes to opening the cover of a book and investing all of their time into a story they know nothing about. My averseness to reading started at a young age, filled with timed reading tests and rhetorical analyses. I dreaded it. There is a true saying that as you grow older, you grow out of bad habits and distastes. I feel like I've now come to appreciate the wonders of a new book, finding escapism through different worlds and new narratives to become immersed in.
Living with English professors and writers did me justice, but I think the noise and constant tremor of the internet has lead me to other things outside of social media rhetoric and into new worlds I discover in books. As someone who was a non-reader before, I have found a couple handy ways to reassess this distaste for reading and a motivation to find books I actually like reading, as well.
This can be probably one of the hardest steps to finding a good book and to start liking to read again. Books we read in school were forced upon us with a strict list of classics and not much room to explore multiple genres beyond Charles Dickens or F. Scott Fitzgerald. Walking into a library alone can seem intimidating and now that we can't go into libraries as we used to at our own leisure, finding books now can seem even more tedious.
For someone like me who likes mixed genres or doesn't exactly know the exact type of book they like, the stress of finding the "perfect" book to read can seem daunting. However, I confided in a book club to help me start my genre discovery. I have Reese Witherspoon's Hello Sunshine bookclub to thank for that. I know what you're thinking, Natalie, there are SO many other great types of books out there! And I hear you, but this is what has worked for me and I've come to love the variety of authors and genres I've read so far. Reading is a unique journey for everybody, so be open to discovering book recommendations from other people who might be interested in the same topics you are.
Avoid Decision Fatigue...
Much like finding a book, choosing the book can be a much more stressful and exhausting idea. But to put it simply—it doesn't matter which book you choose as long as you read it. Don't go to Barnes and Noble, go to understocked book stores or smaller libraries so that you're not bombarded.
Making a decision on what book to read can be so draining, and I've been there. You can also subscribe to reading lists, book subscriptions, or find a Little Free Library around your neighborhood to make the choice a lot more easier.
Make Reading Time a Part of Your Time...
So many people I know say they want to start reading again, but that "there's not enough time" to dedicate to it. I think it's BS because all of that time spent on our phones—which is an average of 12 hours and 9 minutes per day—could be spared to sit down and digest a couple chapters of a book. Focus is a muscle and the desire for easy entertainment is like a craving for junk food. Rather than binge watching Netflix, it will feel a lot more gratifying to recount books you've read and actively consume something more worthwhile to your mental rigor than Tik Tok videos late at night.
I try to start reading at least an hour or so before I go to bed. That way, my eyes are not strained by blue light and reading will naturally help me fall asleep. Plus, you'll be able to remember what you read when you wake up since it will be fresh on your mind. If you can dedicate a separate time for reading, when you are most motivated and have the most focus, it's definitely a more suitable entertainment option. Plus, it drowns out the noise of social media.
It's easy to forget that reading is a privilege not an obligation. We are not forced to read anything, and school has definitely stripped away our enjoyment of reading—no 12 year old should have to read Shakespeare. We are so lucky to have access to millions of new perspectives, ideas, and stories in our history. Oscar Wilde said it best: It is what you read when you don't have to that determines what you will be when you can't help it.
Books can be as easily accessible as you make them to be, nothing is beyond your reach. I love that books can allow me to travel through time, learn from remarkable people, and discover complex topics that challenge me and alter my way of thinking. It will only be a matter of time when going a day without reading will be unfathomable, so why wait?
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