A Guide to an Analogue Autumn

As I enter my favourite season, I have been reflecting on how I can make the most out of the season. I used to love autumn growing up; the red converse I'd wear against the wet leaves, the misty mornings and the darker evenings, cosied up with a candle.

Fun fact: When I was about fourteen, my mother and I went into TKMaxx to have a look at the seasonal range and I came across this candle called, Mountain Lodge Fireside. I still have this candle to this day, although I sadly can't light it anymore :( Anyway, the candle has devastatingly discontinued and I refused to find another scent to put at the top of my list for favourite scents in autumn, until I recreated my own. I decided to make my own fireside scent and dare I say, it may be better. It is called, The Blanket Burrow and it is the most perfect fireside scent for a cosy evening. In fact, you can have it in your own home using the link here!

I realise that life was a lot more simple back then, well of course it was! I was fourteen with my biggest worry being how I would have my hair the next day! But it also got me thinking two things, 1) I'm not that old but back then, mobile phones weren't an addiction per say, it was when musically was a thing before TikTok oop! 2) Growing up meant that I was seeing things for the first time with fresh eyes and that everything had a sense of magic. Who is to say that we can't recreate that magic now?

So how does analogue come into this? Well, I think it comes down to bringing back some of that simplicity and magic that seemed to come so naturally when we were younger. An analogue autumn, to me, isn't about throwing your phone away, refusing to use technology or pretending we're living in 1997 (although, admittedly, I wouldn't be completely opposed to that). It's about being more intentional with how we spend our time and making space for things that feel a little more tangible. I'd like to share a few ways I will be introducing more analogue activities into this autumn.

One of the easiest ways to be a little more analogue is simply to go somewhere in person. Instead of scrolling through autumn decorations online, go into the shop and have a browse. Pick up the candles, look at the mugs, wander through the aisles and inevitably leave with something you absolutely did not need! Go to the library and choose a book from the shelves rather than adding another one to your online basket. Go to the cinema instead of watching something on Netflix. There is something lovely about making an occasion out of these little things.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, go on adventure walks. Autumn is arguably the best season for wandering around with absolutely no destination in mind. Notice the leaves changing, the smell of the rain, the colder air and the little signs that the season is moving around you. Take a flask of something warm, put your phone away for a while and just see where you end up.

I also want to journal more this autumn. Not just writing down what I did that day, but keeping little diary entries about how I felt, what I noticed and the things I want to remember. I also want to get back into junk journalling, sticking in receipts, leaves, tickets, photographs and random scraps of paper. It doesn't have to look perfect. In fact, I think the mess is half the charm.

I want to find the joy in content creation again too. I love creating a little storyline in a TikTok, whether that's a “come spend the day with me”, a rainy evening at home or a day spent working on my small business. I want to make things because I enjoy making them, rather than constantly thinking about views, followers and whether something will perform well. Sometimes the joy is simply in filming the little moments and putting them together.

And of course, I have to mention writing letters. There is something so special about receiving something in the post that someone has actually sat down and written for you. No notification, no instant reply, just a little piece of someone's time arriving through the letterbox. This is actually why I created my own snail mail stories, Letters From The Garden, which you can find over in my shop if you fancy receiving a little story through letters this autumn.

I also want to read more physical books and, controversial opinion, fold the corners. I know, okay! I think it adds character alright! There is something comforting about seeing a well-loved book with a few bent corners, scribbles and little reminders of where you were when you read it. Books don't have to look untouched. They are meant to be lived in.

I also want to make more time for having a cup of tea and doing a crossword or wordsearch without reaching for my phone. I think “bored people are boring people” comes from how used we are to constant stimulation now, so the second we feel bored, we reach for our phones. Doing something physical, even something as simple as a crossword, gives your brain a chance to slow down and reset your attention span.

So, as autumn arrives, I want to challenge you to put your phone down a little more, go somewhere you've never been, pick up a book, write a letter, get outside when it's raining and let yourself be a little bored. Make your own magic in the small, ordinary moments. And if you're looking for somewhere to start, here's a little journal prompt for you:

What did autumn feel like when you were younger, and what could you bring into your life now to recreate a little bit of that feeling?

And if you fancy bringing a little more of that cosy, nostalgic feeling into your own home this autumn, you can find my candles, bookmarks, snail mail stories and other bookish creations over in my little shop, AStoryToLight. Everything is created with the hope of making everyday life feel a little more magical and a little more like a story. You can also follow along on Instagram and TikTok, where I'll be sharing plenty of autumnal adventures, cosy evenings, small business days and, hopefully, a little inspiration for your own analogue autumn. Thank you for reading!

All my love,

Eleanor x