Autumn that makes staying at home feel like an actual activity. As soon as the evenings start getting darker and there is a noticeable chill in the air, suddenly you want to put on your cosy jumper, fluffy socks, make something hot to drink and settle down on the sofa. Summer might be all about getting out and making the most of the sunshine, but autumn feels like an invitation to slow down a little.

Here are 10 little things that make autumn feel wonderfully cosy.

1. A hot drink on a cold afternoon

Tea, coffee, hot chocolate or whatever your favourite drink happens to be, it somehow tastes better when you are holding a warm mug while it is cold outside. Bonus points for drinking it from your favourite mug or making a fancy pumpkin spiced latte at home.

2. Getting into cosy pyjamas early

There is absolutely no reason to wait until bedtime. Once it gets dark, changing into your comfiest pyjamas or casual clothes feels like officially declaring that the productive part of the day is over.

3. Watching an old favourite film

Autumn is made for rewatching films you have already seen a hundred times. It’s comforting knowing exactly what is going to happen and settling in without having to concentrate too hard.

4. Lighting a candle

Even if the room doesn’t actually need any extra light, lighting a candle instantly makes an ordinary evening feel a little more special. Autumn is the perfect excuse for warm, spicy and sweet scents that make your home smell like the season.

5. Hearing the rain outside

Rain and wind is much more enjoyable when you are already indoors. Listening to it tapping against the windows while you are warm and dry inside can make an ordinary afternoon feel surprisingly peaceful.

6. Putting on your favourite jumper

Every autumn has that one jumper or leggings you practically live in. The moment the temperature drops enough to wear them again, it feels like being reunited with an old friend.

7. Having something warm for dinner

Autumn is when salads suddenly become much less exciting and you start craving soups, pasta, casseroles, baked potatoes and anything else that comes in a bowl and makes you feel warm. It’s like getting a hug from the inside.

8. Dark evenings and cosy lights

It’s so satisfying drawing the curtains and blinds while it is already dark outside and turning on lamps, fairy lights or little tea lights around the room. Suddenly your home feels like a cosy little hideaway from the rest of the world.

9. An afternoon with nowhere to be

One of the best things about autumn is having permission to slow down. A Sunday afternoon spent reading, watching television, baking, playing a game or doing absolutely nothing can be exactly what you need.

10. Getting excited for Halloween

Of course, autumn would not be complete without Halloween. Whether you decorate the house, watch horror films, buy loads of sweets or just enjoy seeing pumpkins everywhere, there is something wonderfully nostalgic about the whole season.

Autumn gives us an excuse to appreciate all the little things we usually rush past in the summer so sometimes, doing absolutely nothing while wrapped in a blanket is exactly what you need.

Written by Siân Alison