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This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Western chapter.

I don’t know about you, but I have been feeling distinctly un-fall-y lately (and, yes, that’s totally a word). Maybe it’s because global warming has raised the average temperature of October by at least 10 degrees, or maybe it just doesn’t feel like the fall semester with a reading week in the middle of it. Either way, I have some suggestions for getting into the spirit of fall—pun intended.

1. Throw on a mellow Autumn playlist

 

It is scientifically proven that music has a significant impact on mood, so what better place to start your autumn revival than by listening to some autumn playlists? Whatever your taste in music, there is bound to be a playlist out there for you, so blast ‘em from your speakers or put some earbuds in and start dreaming about falling leaves and cute scarves. Here are some of my favourites: Autumn Acoustic, Autumn Sounds and Autumn’s In The Air.

2. Light a fall-scented candle

Following sound, scent is an extremely powerful mood setter. Just as the scent of sunscreen and barbeque makes me think of summer, the scent of pumpkin spice makes me think of fall. If you have an autumn candle from last year lying around, light it up and bask in how fall-y you feel. If not, check out Bath & Body Works (3-wick candles are buy 2 get 2 free right now!) or Winners for some new wicks. Here are my recommendations: Sweet Cinnamon Pumpkin, Campfire Donut, Flannel and Hello Fall!

3. Splurge on a new blanket scarf

What says fall more than a cozy, cute blanket scarf? Buying yourself a new soft scarf to cuddle in is a surefire way to turn up the fall-o-meter ASAP. I know the weather may not be scarf-appropriate right now, but that doesn’t stop you from turning up the AC and wrapping yourself in plaid or, y’know, sweating. Do it for the scarf. You can usually find some at Winners and Marshalls, or check out these finds: $12.99 from H&M, $14.99 from Forever 21, and $85 from Aritzia

4. Bake something!

Everyone knows fall is the season for baking, whether you’re making apple pie, pumpkin pie, or, well, literally anything. The smell of baked goods characterizes the perfect image of a fall afternoon. If you’re terrible at baking and everything you touch burns to a crisp, just buy a damn pumpkin spice latte and stop worrying about being basic. Here are some healthier fall baking recipes, but, really, the options are limitless! Anything that has cinnamon and nutmeg in it counts as a fall dessert in my books. Spiced Pumpkin Whoopie Pies, Pear Galette, or Pumpkin Pancakes make great options.

5. Watch a Halloween movie

While Halloween is certainly not the only fun thing about fall, it definitely has a sizeable influence on the season’s general vibe. And with only three weeks until the holiday, what better way to immerse yourself in Fall Culture™ than by scaring yourself into oblivion with a Halloween movie? Some of my Netflix favourites include The Nightmare Before Christmas (totally a Halloween movie), The Invitation, Halloweentown, Hush, Corpse Bride, Coraline, and Gerald’s Game. Enjoy!

I’m sure before too long the weather will drop a few degrees and your fall feelings can come to light more naturally. But who knows how long that could take? Days? Weeks? Months? Years? It’s really too soon to tell. So until then, indulge yourself in some basic inorganic mood setters and bask in all that is fall.

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Katie is a fourth year Health Studies student at Western University. Born in Canada but growing up in a multitude of countries (re: three), she couldn't resist the siren call of Tim Horton's and moved back to attend school. When she's not Facetiming her dog, she can usually be found at the gym, making iced coffee, pointing at other people's dogs, or resisting the urge to order pizza at the strike of midnight. You can find her on instagram at @katieeolney
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