Fall isn’t quite over yet, but the holiday season hasn’t quite begun. As we enter the transitory month of November, we’re excited by the opportunity to pause, catch our breath, and get cozy. As we savour the last days of autumn before embracing winter, we’re sharing a list of things to do in one of the quieter months of the year.
1. Go for a hike
The weather is getting cooler, and by now, most of the leaves have fallen from the trees, but that doesn’t mean that you can’t still enjoy your local hiking trails. Whether November brings you crisp, sunny days or cold, cloudy days, this is one of the best months to go hiking and get some fresh air. But before you hit the trail, take into consideration a few things like the day’s weather and what kind of gear you’ll need to hike comfortably.
Featured: Nimbus Long Rain Jacket
2. Decorate your home
With the weather turning colder and, in many places, more rainy and snowy, we find ourselves stuck inside sometimes more than we’d like to be. But there are tons of fun activities to do indoors that bring the colour and liveliness of nature to our doorsteps.
Decorating your home for fall and winter can be as easy as collecting pinecones, setting the mood with candles, making a seasonal wreath from local foliage, or one of our favourite activities – preserving fall leaves.
3. Find a volunteer opportunity
Fall and winter are beautiful times of the year but can be very challenging for some members of our community. Staying fed, keeping your home warm, and making the holidays fun and festive can be very difficult for families in need. During this time, many not-for-profit food distribution centers are in need of donations and volunteers. Consider the kind of positive impact you want to have on your community and begin searching for volunteer opportunities that resonate with your values.
4. Go for a bike ride
It may be colder outside, but that doesn’t mean you have to hang up your bicycle for the season. Riding your bike is a fun and pollution-free way to enjoy the outdoors. Pick quieter neighbourhoods with lots of deciduous trees along the streets for the full fall experience while riding your bike.
We do realize that in some places, the leaves are gone, and things are starting to get snowy, but don’t worry, we’ve got you covered. Here are seven tips for biking safely in winter weather.
5. Get cozy
With the rush of the holiday season lurking right around the corner, November is the perfect time to take some time for yourself. Before diving headfirst into celebrations and fancy attire, get cozy and indulge in some much-deserved downtime.
Whether we’re taking extra time to enjoy our Saturday morning coffee, treating ourselves to a face mask, or settling in for a Netflix marathon, our warm and cozy men’s sweatpants and women’s sweatpants are always our go-to for lounging.
Featured: Organic Cotton Relaxed T-Shirt paired with the TreeFleece Bamone Sweatpant
6. Rake your leaves
It doesn’t matter how old we are, one of our favourite things about fall is all of the crunchy leaves that drop from the trees. While some might consider it a chore, we love the nostalgia of raking them into a pile and then jumping into them. Once you’ve finished with all your leaf jumping fun, think about some eco-friendly ways to dispose of them.
Leaving some leaves around your yard can actually be very beneficial for the environment. The leaves provide a much-needed habitat for local insects and wildlife who use them for protection against the cold winter months, and as they break down, your leaves will enrich the soil in your yard.
7. Prepare your garden
By now, your lovely garden is probably ready to enter its winter dormancy. It’s time to prepare your garden for spring. Before you go ripping out all the brittle stems and cleaning out the old flowers, consider leaving them there for the winter.
Things like leaves and old plants are very useful for local wildlife. Some animals will use your leafy detritus as food and burrowing material, and insects like bumblebees need plant litter in order to nest and survive the winter. If you need to, cut back or lay down the dead plants in your garden, but do your best to leave them in place.
8. Clean out your closet
The changing of the seasons is an excellent time to check out your wardrobe and consider giving up some items that you aren’t really wearing anymore. Are there any shirts, pants, or other garments made for summer that you didn’t wear this year? Do you intend to wear them again in the future? If the answer is no, consider donating them to a charity second-hand shop. Giving your clothes new life is more eco-friendly than letting them sit unused. Check out our go-to tips for sustainable updating your wardrobe.
Featured: Ecoloft Vest paired with the TreeWaffle Henley Longsleeve
9. Visit a farm
Halloween is in the rear-view mirror, but your local farm probably hasn’t closed down yet for the season. Adventure outside the city and enjoy the fresh air, produce, and activities at your local farm or apple orchard before the winter frost sets in.
10. Cultivate gratitude
Ultimately, November is a great time of year to look back on the past months and consider what you’re thankful for. The end of the year offers us the space to look back and reflect. What memories make you smile upon recollection? What people make your life a little brighter? Make a list in your journal or send a text telling someone how grateful you are to have them in your life.
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