One of the best things about fall is the wardrobe: the ripped denim, flannel shackets (for those of you who are unfamiliar, they are shirt-jackets), cozy crew socks, ankle boots, and the warm color palette I feel my best in!
I also feel like my fashion sense just gets a boost because there are so many more options for layering or pairing sweaters with different types of pants, as opposed to figuring out what to wear with the same Levi jean shorts I've worn all summer long.
Fall Outings
I'd like to still think that a lot of fall happenings will resume this season since the majority of activities are outside like pumpkin picking, apple picking, Oktoberfest, haunted mazes, and farmers markets. No matter what's going on, I think fall walks are my favorite and my family and I love taking Cooper to our nearby nature preserve on the weekends for new scenery and a glimpse of just some of the changing leaves that Illinois gets at the beginning of October. That and bonfires are a must-have.
A Shift in Focus
What I would have labeled as "letting go" has made me realize that even as much as the leaves change, fall, and die off, there's something beautiful about the way this season brings out things we don't normally notice when the greenery takes over during the summer months. My mom and I actually just discovered a couple of foxes that live in our neighborhood and nest in the brush behind my house, but during the summer we never really could tell where they were coming from.
Much like the exposure of new natural beauties, I find that fall allows us to focus a bit more internally as summer was all about external interaction and socialization, for me at least. Whether it be working on how I manage my time more efficiently to align with my creative goals or push myself harder to continue to stay motivated during these shorter and darker days. In addition, focusing on my personal growth and leaning on the strong relationships I have with the people I love and care about the most. As we get into the holiday months, which can sometimes be isolating for some, I want to stay grounded and uplifted by the people who support me—falling into focus on what matters the most.
This time of year is when I would normally be hashing out papers or getting a jump on school projects, but now that I am working full-time where I'm not jumping from topic to topic or class to class, I've found it important for me to center my focus on daily tasks, hitting those deadlines, but also making time for myself to protect my much needed me-time.
For those who know me, I always have to be productive otherwise I get bored twiddling my thumbs and waiting for the next assignment. However, there are going to be many times in my life when I don't have that necessary time for me to recharge. Even working from home has made me feel guilty for stepping away from my screen just to walk my dog. Not prioritizing the time I would have had during my daily commute to decompress, listen to music, or just take a walk is going to result in burnout and we don't want that. So, here are some things I do to decompress after a long day!
I feel like my Instagram is filled with potential in what I imagined it to be, however, it definitely is catered to an aesthetic. I want to relax a bit with it and just have more laid back postings. I also really want to incorporate my blog on there a bit more and get creative and in tune with stories. I love watching quick, daily snippets of people's lives rather than long haul videos, so I've been dreaming up ideas about how to bring my blog to a new video element on Instagram.
Either showcasing or previewing what could be on my blog for the week or just engaging or interacting a bit more with other bloggers and sharing what I'm loving live. I'm not one for the spotlight and dread watching myself on video, but hey, we have to get out of our comfort zones as creators a bit right?
General Creativity Goals
I've definitely rebranded and transformed this blog multiple times, but I want a new dedication to connecting with other bloggers and reaching out further to blogger communities online that are still thriving. I was once an avid Bloglovin' user, a blog sharing platform, and would stay up to date with my favorite writers and creators. Now that I've transitioned my work priorities, I've set my creative goals on the back burner and I really want to elevate this blog in a way that is still true to me and is connecting with those who find interest in it.
Stepping back and taking a look at what I'm doing and my future plans has definitely been top of mind. It's hard to do more than what I am already doing based on how much time I have during the day—especially fitting in exercise, fun summer activities and dinners with friends, or just logging off and having time without a screen.
I've always been dedicated to my work, but I don't envision myself as someone who is constantly consumed by it. Balance is key, but I am also thinking that now is the time to start changing it up a bit. This quote resonates a lot with me: “if you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always got”. Making small changes to my work and focusing on my future creative goals is definitely something I want to focus on in the coming months, so stay tuned!
Words cannot describe what graduating after the peak of a global pandemic is like but above every challenge we have faced this year—we did it. I remember the first day of freshman year and navigating the mundane college struggles like living with two roommates in the same room, trying to figure out the "L" system, spending all of my hours in the John T. Richardson library, or fighting over space in the mini fridge.
Stay true to yourself and continue to persist in your goals no matter what.
Thank you, DePaul <3
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