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Does anyone else feel like the Halloween season just flies by faster and faster each year?
I certainly do. Running a website centered on celebrating October 31st has definitely made my seasons go even quicker, so when I asked Instagram followers for topic suggestions for Treats Not Tricks one, in particular, caught my eye: @heyitsmadirose asked for ways to cope with feeling like the season goes by too fast.
So I wrote up my list, sent it out, and based on the responses it seems like these suggestions resonated.
I've already seen a few comments that this season is going too quickly, so I thought I would share them on the blog too.
If you're looking for ways to make the most of your spooky season, you need to read this.
How to slow down and enjoy spooky season
1. Decorate early.
Usually, I hold off decorating until sometime in September, but this year my travel schedule forced my hand into decorating the first weekend in August…and I'm SO glad I did.
Yes, I enjoy decorating, but it can still feel like a chore at times. Now that it's done…I can focus on just enjoying myself the rest of the season and soaking in the Halloween feels around my home. (It also means I can Halloween hunt with a little more purpose!)
2. Make a solid plan of fun activities.
Pick a specific Saturday to go to your local pumpkin patch. Plan a movie date night with yourself, your bestie, or your partner to go see “Halloween Ends”. Have a standing solo date to pick up a pumpkin coffee every Sunday.
And then stick to it!
I did this last year with a few activities and found that not only did looking forward to it make the season feel a little longer…it also allowed me to slow down and enjoy the activities because I knew that was my only responsibility at that moment.
3. Turn every day into Halloween.
Drink pumpkin spice coffee at home. Eat off Halloween plates. Listen to Halloween music in the car. Wear your Halloween tees, dresses, hats, etc. daily. Watch spooky movies or Halloween episodes of old TV shows in your fully decorated living room.
Sure, we all do this year-round…but I find that doing it in September and October helps me slow down a little and appreciate that my season is here!
4. Keep a Halloween journal.
This idea was introduced to me last year, and while I haven't done it yet…I love the idea of writing down all the Halloween things you've enjoyed. It can be a stream of consciousness or a bullet list. Print out photos you take during the season and tape them into your journal. Add tickets from your haunted house visits or brochures from a local ghost tour you took so you remember them. Finish it off with stickers or washi tape to decorate.
As a writer, I always find that taking time to reflect on things I've done and document them makes me appreciate and savor them even more.
5. Be still.
And what I mean by that is…let yourself stop and soak in the moments as they happen. I'm talking about appreciating the glow of a freshly carved jack-o-lantern or how your décor looks. Enjoy being wrapped up in a blanket while watching a Halloween movie. Breathe deep when you first walk into a Spirit Halloween and enjoy that smell. Stand at the top of the field like you're king or queen of the pumpkin patch. Don't be afraid to take an extra beat to really take it all in and appreciate being alive in that moment.
Feeling like these suggestions are obvious?
Then I want to leave you with this challenge: do you actually do them?
I'm betting the answer is no, so I challenge you to do at least one of these regularly this Halloween season and see if it makes a difference.
After all, it's our favorite time of the year. We should enjoy it!
What is your favorite way to slow down and enjoy the season?
As always, leave your best suggestions in the comments!
