Five Things to Do This November
Photo by Olivia Gündüz-Willemin, York 2015.
“November is a time for the strange, for the quietening of the landscape”
Last year, our Culture Editor Eliza wrote that “November is a time for the strange, for the quietening of the landscape” and she was right, putting that very seasonal feeling into words. There is a calm about November — the post-October frenzy, pre-holiday madness. It is a strange time indeed, where the excitement of early autumn wanes and the pressure to complete every seasonal to-do list fades away. Like a post-deadline relief, there is nothing left to do but enjoy the season until the next one comes around. So we enjoy this time of quiet, of home, of comfort. The calm before the storm that is December, with all of its parties and present hunting, November is a time of getting together in a quieter way. Dinner parties at home offer more warmth than glitz, more nostalgic foods and beloved desserts than fancy appetizers or elaborate cocktails. Found family gatherings with loved ones. Nights around the bonfire or the fireplace, roasting marshmallows or warming your toes as you read. It is a time of caring, for others but also for yourself, making sure there is a bit more kindness in the world with every passing day.
And so, this November, we’re focusing on that warmth – time with friends, with family, or alone when need be – and looking at all we can do to make coziness the central entity of our experience. In case you’ve missed its introduction last month, we will be continuing our latest series, Autumn at The Attic With... where Attic members all over share just that, along with their routines for celebrating our favorite season. You can read every entry (so far) here!
Along with us, here are five things you can do this November to make the most of these final golden autumn weeks.
✼
Gather Your Loved Ones.
Not a big fan of family dinners? Change it up and reclaim the concept! Invite some of your favorite people – blood or not – over for a meal and celebrate your found family! You never know – when you actually like the people around you, big dinners and parties can go from being stifling to becoming a favorite event. Gather as many or as few as you can and plan together. This’ll help relieve stress if you’re not a cook or low on free time.
✼
Light a Fire (Safely).
If you have a fireplace or know someone who does, take advantage of it and plan an entire evening around it. Get hands-on about it – gather some wood locally if you can (again, safely). Pop some corn, roast some marshmallows. Plan a hearty meal and your favorite warm drinks. Gather some blankets. Read books around the fire or better yet, tell your own stories – fictional or real. Use it to connect to those sharing in the experience with you. If you decide to take things outdoors, be sure to look up local safety practices and take every precaution! If you live in a warmer climate or can’t do it, turn to candles, real or artificial.
✼
Look at Your Linens.
A lovely and effective way to prepare for the season, especially if you live in a colder climate, is to swap out your linens if you haven’t already done so. Flannel sheets. Wool throws. What have you. It’s a nice way to feel warm and toasty in the evening and make your down time cozier.
✼
Create.
There’s no better time to sit down and make something with your own hands as in November. Whether cookies or scarves or paper goods, taking raw materials and turning them into something new can be a gratifying experience and a good way to clear your mind and connect with your body and environment. Bonus: with the holidays coming up, anything you make can help you with giving gifts!
✼
Give Back.
With expected consumption and the height of holiday sales, it can be far too easy to get wrapped up in our own worlds of more, more, more. Along with whatever you need or want for yourself, your friends, and family, invest time in practicing gratitude, and if possible, helping out your local community. Food donations, outgrown clothing, a few hours volunteering. It doesn’t have to be money, and you never know how the experience might help you too.
Olivia Gündüz-Willemin is Editor-in-Chief of The Attic on Eighth. She is dedicated to reading her way through the world and trying to stay as calm as possible.
Raquel Reyes is Creative Director at The Attic on Eighth. She enjoys styling photo shoots, dramatic hair accessories, and old fashioned cocktails.
The five things we’re doing to make the most of February 2021 to reconnect with both ourselves and our loved ones after a long winter.