11 Ways to Practice Self-Care This Season

A recent, albeit small, study found that hiking is beneficial for the mind as well as the body. Walking in nature can help decrease negative thinking, which is something we strive to do no matter the season, but honestly, hiking in Fall is the best. The temperature is just right, and the colors of the forest delight our senses.

Go ahead — crank up your oven; it's finally cool enough to roast veggies. We're partial to the vibrant orange of sweet potatoes, but roasted cauliflower is also especially delicious. Be sure to make a big batch that you can eat throughout the week. And, yes, this counts as meal prep in our books.

Prepping for Thanksgiving will be on our minds soon, but start the season of gratitude early. Write a handwritten thank-you note, which is so rare in the digital age, to your bestie, your mom, your sister, your mentor . . . as you can see, there are many people deserving of your thoughtful, personal recognition. It's a fun way to spend an evening (maybe surrounded by a bunch of candles and maybe noshing on some popcorn).

You can give your skin a pumpkin treat, too. This homemade mask can be tailored to your skin's needs.

Whisk together and then apply to your face and let set for 15 to 20 minutes:

• 1/4 cup pumpkin purée
• 1 whole egg to nourish and tighten the skin
• For dry skin: 2 to 3 teaspoons of honey
• For oily skin: a splash of apple cider vinegar

Relax and enjoy.

Running and hiking are not the only activities you can do outside. Take your mat and practice some poses in the great outdoors. Nothing beats seeing the blue sky as you bend, twist, and fold. Here's a full-body yoga flow to follow, but know you can always just work on perfecting your Vrksasana (aka tree pose).

After the Summer season of go, go, go, take time to slow down — way down. Take a nap in the middle of the day. Cuddle up with a good book, allow your eyes to slowly close, and drift off to sleep. Are we the only ones who feel like naps are empowering?