How To Have An Unplugged Autumn

Stop for a few minutes and get back to basics with this guide to having an unplugged and more Nordic autumn.

There is something about autumn that makes me want to put my phone down. Perhaps it is the darker evenings, the sound of rain against the windows or the first real chill in the air. Perhaps it is simply nature reminding us that we don't have to keep rushing.

Autumn is a lovely time to practise living a little more slowly. Before the winter arrives, there is an opportunity to get back to some of the simple things that make home feel good: a warm drink, candlelight, a book, something handmade and the comforting feeling of being at home when the weather outside is less inviting.

The Nordic way of life has never been about having the perfect home or buying more things to make ourselves cosy. It is much more about noticing the small pleasures that are already there. IN the summer people in the Nordics take trips to their cabins where there is rarely phone reception and quite frequently there is no electricity, so they are well versed in unplugging from modern life. It's a chance to recharge and feel a little peace. We can do the same simply by making the choice.

So, why not have an unplugged autumn?

Put your phone somewhere you can't reach it. Turn off the television. Give yourself an hour—or an entire evening—without notifications, scrolling or screens. And then get back to basics.

Get cosy next to the stove

If you are lucky enough to have a wood-burning stove or fireplace, autumn is the perfect time to start using it again. There is something wonderfully primitive about sitting beside a fire. We spend so much of our lives surrounded by technology that watching flames dance and listening to the occasional crack of the wood can feel almost meditative.

Make yourself comfortable nearby with a blanket and a warm drink. You don't have to actually do anything. That is the point. Just sit for a few minutes and watch the fire.

If you don't have a stove, you can create the same feeling in a simpler way. Sit beside a lamp with a warm glow, wrap yourself in a blanket and let yourself be still. There is a particular kind of comfort in doing very little.

Make hot chocolate

Autumn calls for hot chocolate. Not the sort that comes from a machine or a takeaway cup, but a simple mug made at home.

Warm some milk in a saucepan and add good-quality cocoa powder and a little sugar or honey. You can add a little cinnamon or vanilla if you like or for a traditionla and decadent hot chococlate use my Norwegian recipe from 1875.

Then sit down and actually enjoy it.

One of the nicest things about an unplugged evening is that ordinary things begin to feel special again. A homemade hot chocolate. A slice of cake. A warm pair of socks. The sound of rain. We don't always need something new or exciting to make us feel happy. Sometimes we just need to pay attention to what is already here.

Light some candles

As the evenings become darker, bring back candlelight. I love lighting the darkness with candles in the autumn.

Nordic homes are famous for their love of candles, and it is easy to understand why. When darkness arrives earlier, the soft glow of a few candles can make a room feel instantly warmer and more inviting.

Light them while you are making dinner. Put one beside your favourite chair. Have a few on the table while you read. And then turn off the bright overhead lights. There is something wonderfully old-fashioned about candlelight. It encourages us to slow down and makes even an ordinary evening feel a little more intentional. Just remember to never leave burning candles unattended.

Do a simple "grannie" hobby

Perhaps it is time we brought back some of the hobbies our grandmothers enjoyed. Knitting, embroidery, crochet, cross-stitch, baking, preserving, gardening, making cards, pressing flowers. You don't have to be particularly good at any of them. In fact, that is part of the charm.

Choose something you can do with your hands while your mind becomes quiet.

There is a satisfaction in making something slowly, especially in a world where we are used to instant results. Perhaps you could knit a scarf, make a batch of jam or finally learn to darn that hole in your favourite jumper. Don't worry about whether it is productive. Do it simply because you enjoy it.

Make your home cosy and traditional

You don't need to redecorate your home every autumn. Instead, look around and think about how you can make the things you already own feel more inviting.

Bring out wool blankets and knitted cushions. Put a basket of firewood beside the stove. Display a few autumn branches in a simple vase and use your favourite crockery. Bring out the tablecloth that you normally save for special occasions.

A Nordic home is often practical, comfortable and connected to nature.

Wood, wool, linen, ceramics and natural materials all have a wonderful warmth that becomes especially appealing as the temperature drops. And don't forget the kitchen. Bake something, make soup or cook a simple meal from scratch and let the smell fill the house.

There is a particular pleasure in returning to these simple, traditional ways of doing things.

Pick up a book

Finally, put your phone away and pick up a real book.

Choose something you've been meaning to read, an old favourite or perhaps a book you've read many times before. Make yourself a drink, light a candle and settle somewhere comfortable.

Reading is one of those wonderfully simple pleasures that asks very little of us. We don't have to respond to anything. We don't have to keep up with anyone. We simply turn the pages.

And perhaps this is the real secret to an unplugged autumn. It isn't about rejecting modern life completely. It is about remembering that we can step away from it. Autumn gives us a gentle opportunity to practise. It's time too spend an evening without our phones. To go outside even when the air is cold and crisp. To notice the changing leaves, the smell of damp earth and the feeling of cold air on our faces. To come home afterwards, warm ourselves by the stove and enjoy the comfort of being indoors.

The more comfortable we become with the changing seasons, the less we need to rush through them.

And perhaps that is one of the loveliest things about living a little more Nordicly: learning not to wait for perfect weather or perfect circumstances before enjoying life. Autumn doesn't need to be something we endure on the way to winter. We can slow down and enjoy it for exactly what it is.

A season of golden leaves, dark evenings, woollen jumpers, warm kitchens, candlelight and crisp walks outside. A season to put down the phone and come back to ourselves.