Hold onto your apple cider donuts—it'll hit home to read this research on why autumn comforts, stimulates, and heals us.
On September 22, the autumn equinox marked the first official day of fall, beginning the transition from long summer days to shorter winter ones. Some parts of the country are already welcoming the most striking signifiers of the season: vibrant foliage, sweater weather, and of course, pumpkin spice everything.
If you’ve ever wondered why fall feels so special—besides serving as your annual excuse to rewatch Gilmore Girls—a Cleveland Clinic psychologist reveals there’s a science to why the sudden drop in temperatures makes you feel so warm and fuzzy. Susan Albers, PsyD, lists five main explanations for why you love fall.
Hold onto your apple cider donuts—ahead, Dr. Albers’s research-backed reasons will hit home.
Fall stimulates our senses.
Every season has its own positive associations, but fall happens to be an especially rich sensory experience—think golden sunlight hitting the red and yellow leaves of a maple tree, the sound of those leaves crunching underfoot, or even the musky scents of damp soil and woodsmoke in the crisp air.
“People love fall because it wakes up all of their senses at once,” Dr. Albers explains. “They notice the changing colors, feel the soft texture of warm clothing, and breathe in the scents of spice and cinnamon. All of these sights and sounds of the fall trigger the reward center of the brain and release dopamine, which makes us feel cozy, calm, and nostalgic during the fall.”
Fall is fleeting.
Because fall is a transitional time between summer and winter, we also view it as more transitory. Thanks to the “scarcity effect”—our inclination to place higher value on things when we can’t have them all the time—that may make us feel even more attached, Dr. Albers suggests.
Limited-time seasonal offerings in shops and restaurants only intensify our love of fall, she adds. For instance, your favorite coffee shop may put a pumpkin spice latte on the menu for just a few months out of the year, ramping up your anticipation, and ultimately your appreciation. (The Starbucks cup says it well: there’s just nothing like that “first sip feeling.”)
For many households, fall provides stability and routine.
For families with children, returning to school in the fall also provides a sense of predictability and routine. Dr. Albers says that during this time of year, kids tend to return to their set schedules for activities, dinner, and bedtime—and notes that all of us tend to thrive with a little extra structure in our lives.
Those who have outgrown a school year routine might still find reassurance from the calm a schedule instills in our colleagues and neighbors.
Fall weather makes it easier to get outdoors.
A blazing summer sun may keep you indoors, but fall’s milder temperatures lend themselves to spending ample time outside. “The cooler air makes it much easier to go outside to take a hike, enjoy the outdoors, and exercise,” Dr. Albers says. “That may be tough to do during the hot summer months. This outdoor activity raises the oxygen level in our brains which helps us to think clearer and feel calmer. So, a few minutes outside during the cool, crisp air can do wonders for our bodies and our brains.”
Autumn also helps us sleep better.
Cooler temperatures and an earlier sunset may promote a more comfortable room and a more reliable bedtime routine—increasing your odds of getting the seven to nine hours of sleep your body needs, Dr. Albers says.
It’s a tried and true notion that better sleep often means a better mood—notes Harvard Health Publishing: “Sleep and mood are closely connected; poor or inadequate sleep can cause irritability and stress, while healthy sleep can enhance well-being.”
For daily wellness updates, subscribe to The Healthy by Reader’s Digest newsletter and follow The Healthy on Facebook and Instagram. Keep reading:
