a fall care package from me to you: what to read, cook and try this season

a roundup of books, rituals and other comforts for the body and soul

ICYMI: I’m offering my biggest discount ever on all new annual subs through the weekend. I likely won’t do another discount this steep until next fall, so if you’ve been on the fence about subscribing, or couldn’t quite commit at full price, now’s the time to lock in 50% off forever!

Thank you to all my readers, but especially the people who pay to support my work. My goal was to make writing on Substack my full-time gig by 2026, so your support truly means the world to me. Thank you, thank you, thank you, for helping me inch closer to that goal. x

I aspire to be this chipper all fall.

For most of my life, I dreaded this part of the calendar. I always thought of myself as a summer person, someone who needed heat, long daylight hours, and that familiar nostalgia that comes from spending all day outside. But after living in the desert for a while (just hit 10 years!), I started to realize summer was actually the most stagnant time of year for me. If you’ve never lived in a desert, you might not relate to this, but it’s insanely brutal in its peak. It feels like someone is holding a hair dryer up to your face every time you walk outside. The inside of your car feels like an oven—and you pretty much need oven mitts to touch the steering wheel. As such, you’re essentially trapped inside for a solid 2 months. It’s brutal.

I love the desert—it truly feels like home to me—but now, I look forward to fall. I crave it, even. Because cooler mornings mean I can return to long walks with the dogs. We usually do two miles a day, sometimes more depending on my mood. Sitting outside in a hoodie with a coffee is doable again. Speaking of coffee: I switch from iced to hot, which is its own little vibe. My brain just feels cleaner when the air is cold now. I don’t know how else to put it. And in general, this season has become a soft place to land after the high stimulation and utter restlessness of summer.

My walking partners who also both very much appreciate being able to lay in the sun again after being cooped up inside for the last couple of months :)

Yesterday I shared a set of journaling prompts to help reset for the season ahead, and today I wanted to follow that with something a little more tactile: the inputs and rituals that make fall feel good on a body-and-soul level. This isn’t about self-improvement or productivity. It’s just a collection of things I’ve been doing, will be returning to, or am planning to try. Think of it like a digital care package from me to you.

---

Quick note: nothing in this post is sponsored, I do not receive any commissions from any of these links, and I’m not trying to sell you anything. I’m just sharing things I genuinely like, that I think you’ll enjoy too :)

Books I’m Reading (or Re-reading)

My reading pace always picks up when the weather cools. I think it’s partly seasonal, partly because fall feels like a return to self. I crave books that anchor me or challenge the way I see the world.

Here are a few that are currently on my nightstand and desk:

• Project Hail Mary by Andy Weir

  If you liked The Martian but want something more emotional, you’ll love this. I don’t read a ton of fiction, but this is one of my favorite books, ever. I genuinely feel like I could read it once a season. This is one of those books you can knock out in a single weekend because it’s that hard to put down. Oh, and they’re turning it into a movie! It’s set to be released summer of 2026, starring Ryan Gosling.

• The Technological Republic by Alex Karp and Nicholas W. Zamiska

  This one reads like a manifesto—equal parts philosophical inquiry, corporate memo, and political critique. Alex Karp (yes, Palantir’s CEO) and Nicholas Zamiska unravel the fragile relationship between technology and governance, warning that modern liberal democracies are dangerously under-equipped—culturally and philosophically—to handle the pace of technological power. It’s worth the effort if you’re trying to understand the moral stakes of emerging tech through a realist’s lens. Especially relevant if you think a lot about sovereignty, bureaucracy (eugh!), and the West’s fraying institutional competence.

• Pillars of the Earth by Ken Follett

  Originally published in 1989, this one has been quietly reshaping my evenings. I’d never picked it up before, assuming it wasn’t “my genre”—but I was wrong. It’s immersive historical fiction that makes my brain tingle in all the right places: architecture, power, religion, human ambition. Set in 12th-century England, it’s the kind of book that makes you time travel without trying. It’s an ideal gateway into epic historical fiction, and is surprisingly aligned with my obsession with systems, incentives, and long-range vision.

• When Everyone Knows That Everyone Knows by Steven Pinker

  Okay, I haven’t started this one yet—it just came out last week. But I ordered it the day it became available. Steven Pinker has long been one of my favorite thinkers. From what I gather, the book explores how common knowledge—the mutual awareness that “I know that you know that I know”—shapes everything from financial bubbles and social movements to cancel culture and public shaming. I have a feeling this will be one of those books that helps me put words to things I’ve been sensing but haven’t been able to fully articulate.

• The Fountainhead by Ayn Rand

  A re-read because I’ll never grow tired of big, uncompromising characters. This is another one of my favorite books—a powerful reminder of how dangerous and beautiful it is to fully know what you want.

What books do you think deserve to be on everyone’s fall reading list?

Puzzles

I have a nerdy confession: I got really into puzzles during the pandemic and I never grew out of it after it ended. They’ve become one of my favorite ways to get out of my own head. There’s something deeply regulating about slow problem-solving that doesn’t involve screens. It gives your hands something to do while your brain unknots itself in the background. If you’re looking for ways to get into flow state but aren’t sure what to do, try a puzzle.

A few recs (from highest to lowest price):

Piecework Puzzles — Beautiful, rich visuals. I like these because they remind me of those “I Spy” books from the 90s—do you remember those? They’re a little on the pricier side ($40 each) but you can usually find a few on sale. I don’t usually do the “trend” stuff, but I can’t lie, they got me with their insanely cute branding lol. They just dropped an entire Slim Aarons collection too. RIP bank account.

If you do in-person shopping, Nordstrom Rack sometimes carries them for around $24—Anthropologie now carries them as well, but I haven’t seen them in the clearance section yet.

New York Puzzle Company — the covers of The Yorker mag are SO CUTE. You can find them on Amazon for $25-$28.

Birdie Puzzles — I love the cartoony pop art styles. They range in price from $18-$32 for the 1000 piecers, depending on the puzzle.

Walmart & Target — When all else fails, you can always find cute, cheap puzzles at Walmart or Target. I got a couple at Walmart last week (pictured below) for $11.97 each. They’re just as stimulating for the brain, they just don’t come in fancy packaging.

I did these both in the same week. Consider this your warning: puzzles may or may not be addictive. I may or may not be an addict.

Try keeping a puzzle on your kitchen table, or somewhere you have a little extra space. Work on it when you have 10 minutes to spare or when you want to wind down at the end of the day. An underrated way to get offline, in my opinion.

If puzzles aren’t your thing, the same slow-mind energy can come from games like solitaire, crosswords, sudoku, or even something tactile like embroidery or sorting books. (Don’t underestimate the flow state that comes with sorting your books. Sounds dorky, but it’s so relaxing and you always end up discovering something you haven’t seen in a while.)

And if you’re looking for something to play with a friend, one of my favorite 2-person+ games is UPWORDS.

Fall Recipes & Things to Eat

I don’t cook with a lot of rules. Most of the time I’m just following cravings or using whatever’s about to expire in my fridge. But fall makes me want to slow down a little… I like to roast things, or let something simmer for hours while the house fills with the smell of cinnamon or garlic. (Oh yeah, that’s my one rule—a lot of garlic!)

I mentioned earlier that I used to be a summer gal, but have fallen in love with fall these last few years. I used to love all the juicy fruits that came with summer, but thanks to LLMs, my eyes have been opened to a world of different squashes and fall goodies. Turns out, pumpkins and gourds aren’t just front porch decorations—did you guys know you can eat them??? 😂

Quick note on recipes: if you don’t use ChatGPT, Claude, Grok, etc., you’re missing out. LLMs are so good at giving you ideas for the kitchen. Sometimes I’ll be wandering through Trader Joes or Sprouts and I’ll see an unfamiliar veggie, snap a quick pic, send it to ChatGPT, and before I know it, I now know everything about this veggie and have 10 recipes I can’t wait to try. This is actually how I discovered leeks a few years ago, which I now eat 3-4x a week (yes, seriously)

I’d consider what follows less of a “recipe” and more of something to explore with your own LLM. I tend to cook based on my mood and personal preferences, or like I said above—I see something interesting at the store and think, “oooh what could I make with this?!”

A few easy favorites ~

Roasted Delicata or Acorn Squash — you cut these in half and spoon out the seeds and middle, just like you would with a pumpkin. Not sure what store you shop at, but Trader Joes sells these for around $1.29 each. One of my favorite fall snacks and sides.

Slice into rings (after scooping out the mush), toss with olive oil, salt, pepper, and a pinch of cinnamon. Roast at 400° until the edges caramelize. Add to salads, grain bowls, or just eat warm out of the pan. I leave the flesh on because I like the slight cronch, but some people gently peel it off after roasting.

Lentil + Veggie Soup — a fridge-clean-out meal that always turns out better than I expect. Sauté onions, carrots, garlic, and any other veg you have on hand. Add broth, lentils, and spices (cumin, smoked paprika, thyme). Let it simmer and finish with lemon juice and olive oil. You can also toss it all in a crock pot to really make your house smell like fall.

Crock Pot Beef Stew — super simple and so delicious, plus your house will smell amazing. Ask your preferred LLM for the exact measurements based on your needs, but here’s what I like to use: chuck roast (cut into 1½-inch cubes), flour, salt + black pepper to taste, olive oil, garlic cloves (minced), yellow onion (chopped), carrots, celery, potatoes, tomato paste, beef bone broth, Worcestershire sauce, fresh or dried herbs (thyme, rosemary, a bay leaf or two), fresh parsley to finish

Sometimes I like to add a type of spicy pepper, depending on what my store has in stock. I usually add it as a garnish to avoid making the broth overly spicy.

Instructions

1. In a large bowl, toss the beef cubes with flour, salt, and pepper until lightly coated.

2. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-high and sear the beef for a couple of minutes until browned on all sides (you don’t need to cook it through—just get some color). This step adds flavor but can be skipped if you’re in a rush.

3. Add everything to your crock pot and stir gently.

4. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or high for 4–5 hours, until the beef is tender and falling apart.

5. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving. Add chopped parsley for brightness.

Serve with: crusty bread, a dollop of sour cream, Greek yogurt, or a drizzle of good olive oil. Tastes even better the next day.

Cooking this time of year—for me, at least—is about making my space smell like home and feeding myself like someone I actually like.

What are your go-to fall recipes?

---

If you’ve been with me for a while, you already know I like writing things down and journaling—and I’ll never skip an opportunity to encourage you to journal as part of your own wellness and self-actualization journey, because I genuinely believe this is one of the simplest, most impactful and rewarding things we can do for ourselves.

THE DAILY 5 journaling practice is the one ritual I try to stick to every morning, regardless of the season. The original intent behind this framework was to set aside just 5 minutes each day to help me clear my head before diving into the noise of the day. Week One is a good place to start if you’re looking for low-pressure ways to reflect and build a foundation for an ongoing journaling habit.

Looking for more journaling ideas?

Prompts for building a journaling foundation

Prompts for exploring your own contradictions

Prompts for energy mapping

Prompts for identifying relationship patterns

Prompts for personal system building

And ICYMI: daily journaling prompts for all 31 days of October

One of the simplest things I do to feel more grounded is walk. It sounds almost too obvious to mention, but there’s something about putting one foot in front of the other—outside, especially in the cool air—that resets my nervous system in a way nothing else can. Most days I go at least two miles with the dogs, but on days when my mind feels cluttered I’ll stretch it to four or five. It’s become less about exercise and more about giving my thoughts room to expand and reorganize.

I prefer to walk without headphones because I think it makes the immediate moment feel more magical. The sound of gravel under shoes, the change in light across the day, even overhearing snippets of passing conversation—all of it has a way of bringing me back into the present. Psychologists say walking outdoors improves memory, mood, and creative thinking, so it’s essentially free medicine. I often start a walk feeling scattered and come back with a clearer sense of what matters and what can wait. If you’re someone who tends to think yourself into knots, a daily walk is a gentle way to let your mind unknot itself.

The point is simply to give yourself a quiet, moving space to think. Flow state walks are undefeated—and fall is a great time to get into the habit of walking.

This one is kind of random, but I love it. I go heavy on seasonal herbs and spices while I cook, and I’m not shy about experimenting. I told you I don’t follow recipes, so I’ll just open a jar, take a long inhale, and decide what, and how much, to use from there. Things like rosemary, thyme, smoked paprika, cinnamon, cumin, sage, nutmeg, or whatever else my store has in stock. Some things just smell like warmth, and it’s a fun way to add variety to dishes you might eat often. So, next time you’re at the store and you see something you’re not familiar with—grab it and sprinkle some into your next recipe. It might surprise you.

I’m not really a pumpkin-spice-candle person (or pumpkin-spice-at-all-person), and most fall scents are either too sweet or too literal—like why do I want my entire house to smell like a hayride? I usually reach for woodier, muskier profiles that still feel warm but a little cleaner. Santal is my go-to year round, but there’s something about it that really works this time of year—especially layered with cool air and a cracked window.

I like scents that lean masculine without being overpowering. Sandalwood, amber, cedar, even leather if it’s subtle. Right now I’ve been rotating between a few santal-forward candles and one really nice musky fig.

If you find a scent you love, let it become part of your rhythm. Light it when you journal, when you start dinner, when you clean the kitchen. Scent cues are weirdly powerful, and they make the ordinary feel more intentional.

Pro tip: wood wick candles make a little crackle as they burn for an extra sensory treat.

---

Whatever this season brings, I hope you find a rhythm that feels good in your body and mind. You don’t have to romanticize every moment, or turn your life into some perfect fall montage, but it helps to have a few things that make you feel more like yourself. A good book, a slow meal, a candle that makes the room feel warmer.

I hope this serves as a gentle reminder that you’re allowed to slow down, tune in, and enjoy the parts of your life that don’t perform for anyone but you. Happy fall, friends.

—S