Things to Do in October

Like L M Montgomery’s Anne of Green Gables, “I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers”! The leaves have begun to change in earnest and I start to feel it’s time to draw hearthside with family and friends. Get yourself and your family ready for the cooler weather and the busy holiday season to come with these ideas for great things to to in October.

Things To Do In October

Refresh and update your wardrobe

This is the perfect time of year to refresh and update your wardrobe

Is your winter coat still in good condition? If so, see if you have a pretty scarf on hand that might give it a new lease of life. Make sure your boots are still up to cold weather and rain as well. If you need a new coat or boots, there are lots of pre-season sales on now. Bring cool weather clothes closer to the front of your wardrobe or store your summer gear in a spare closet if you have room.

Does everyone have cool weather gear that fits?

Has everyone in the family got winter coats, boots, hats and mittens that fit? There is nothing like discovering your child’s coat is too small on the first cold day of the year! As children grow so fast and are usually too big for their clothes before they are worn out, why not have a coat/cold weather clothing and accessories exchange with friends who have kids of similar ages? It can save a fortune and is good for the environment as well. If you do need to go shopping, now is the time as there is a wider selection of styles and colours available than there will be later in the year.

Things To Do In October – Self Care

Adjust your skin care routine

When the weather changes, your skin care needs change too. You may find you need more moisture in the winter months or perhaps a product to calm the redness cold weather can cause in sensitive skin. If you are not already using an eye cream, now is definitely the time to start. Use a hand and body cream every day to prevent dryness. Check out more of my fall beauty tips here.

Remember children may have dry and sensitive skin too so make sure you have kid-appropriate products available.

Restock the medicine cabinet

Another one of the important things to do in October is to restock your medicine cabinet and update your first aid kit. Make sure you have over the counter remedies on hand to treat minor cases of cold and flu in children and adults. It’s also a good time to check there are no out of date medicines.

Be sure to check that your first aid kit is in date and fully restocked if you have used any of the components. It is a good idea to have a first aid kit in any cars you drive as well as in your home. This is the first aid kit that I purchased for our home and cars this year (affiliate link).

Buy new toothbrushes

When did you last change your toothbrush? If it’s more than 3 months ago, it’s time for a new one. Keep fresh toothbrushes on hand as you should always change toothbrushes after any illness.

Things to Do in October – Home Decor

Make your home cosy for the cooler months

Now is a great time to freshen up your home for fall and winter or try some of my fall decorating ideas. 

Display an autumn wreath on your door or enjoy some colour fall flower arrangements. (Both the arrangement in the photograph above and the wreath below were designed by Green Parlour.) Or pile some squash or gourds in a pretty bowl and display them on a table. Fall is rich with inspiration if you enjoy decorating your home for the seasons.

Also, be sure to take care of any outdoor maintenance before it gets too cold, including getting your garden ready for the winter.

Things To Do In October – Homemaking

De-clutter your home where you can and do a deep clean – or book a professional cleaner to do it for you.

Kitchen

This is a good time to sort through cupboards and pantries to make sure everything is in date and you have all you need.

Make sure the oven is clean in preparation for fall celebrations and Christmas.

Start thinking about comfort food recipes and bring your slow cooker (affiliate link) out of the cupboard if you have not already. My favourite slow cooker recipes include Short Ribs in a Sweet and Spicy Sauce, Honey and Garlic Chicken and this Chinese Style Beef recipe.

Make Bedrooms a Sanctuary

Add cushions and throws or blankets to make beds look extra cosy and encourage snuggling up. Change beds once a week, more often if someone is not well as germs can lurk on the sheets.

Keep bedrooms fresh by open the windows to air the beds for 10 to 15 minutes every morning before they are made. If it is really cold, then even a few minutes is fine. I always close the bedroom doors when airing the room so the house does not get cold.

Things to Do in October – Fitness

Get out and enjoy the weather when it’s nice

Get outside whenever time and weather permit and encourage your kids to do likewise. Walking is great exercise and with the dwindling light we need to get as much vitamin D as we can while we can. Wrap up warm and enjoy exploring with younger kids or take the opportunity for a long walk and a chat with older ones. It’s a great way to clear your head and enjoy some time together as well as keep fit.

Other great things to do in October outside include visiting a pick your own apple orchard or pumpkin patch, exploring the gardens of stately homes (in the UK, the Royal Horticultural Society and National Trust have lots of gardens you can visit) or taking part in a local parkrun.

Things to Do in October – Pre-Christmas Preparation

It’s not too early! If you start now, things will not seem as overwhelming as the date approaches.

Update your address book and think about Christmas greetings

Go through your address book or contacts and make sure you have an up to date list of everyone who you will be sending cards or gifts over the holiday period. If you have family and friends abroad you should definitely do this before the end of the month.

It may seem early, but if you are planning to send Christmas cards with a photograph on them or include photos in a Christmas letter, start to go through your camera roll and see if you have good photos to use. If not, now is a great time to have some taken.

If you are planning to order personalised Christmas cards for your family or business, this is a good time to do it. It can also be a good time to start your Christmas shopping to help spread the cost.

Make The Most of October

Take some time to enjoy the beautiful parts of autumn – from crisp mornings to cosy rainy days, coloured leaves and comforting suppers. If you celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving or Hallowe’en, there is even more to look forward to. Have a wonderful month!