Crisp mornings and darker, cooler nights: October is in full swing.
With the ever-encroaching darkness comes more evening hours to fill, and more opportunities to notice how we’re spending our time. Nearly half of women in our audience (41%) admit they regularly doomscroll throughout the day, and the majority (86%) say social media affects their mood or self-esteem.
When asked how they shift habits to protect their mental health, one respondent shared, “I go through phases and often use social media to get ideas, however, when I find myself just aimlessly scrolling, I put guardrails up and if I can’t find a good idea, I put it down in three scrolls.” A reminder that while social media can inspire, it also drains if left unchecked.
That’s the catch with deleting apps and going on do-not-disturb—social media holds many of our memories, inspiration, ideas, and learnings. This month, we invite you to balance the digital with the tangible. Embrace October as a time to return to physical memories you can touch, keep, and experience. Think: taking back your power, becoming an enchantress of your own life, and finding magical, grounding rituals that exist offline.
Your first spell is simple: Create a box of physical familiar comforts. Fill a jar or box with objects that spark joy—a handwritten card from your mom, a favorite tea bag, a travel keepsake, an old family photograph—and keep it somewhere accessible. Make a habit of pulling it out during moments when you need calm or connection.
Take a deep breath and keep reading to create everyday magic.
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Recreate this Mood Board for yourself:
- Take a walk in your neighborhood and find the entire alphabet
- Gamify your work tasks to make your job more magical
- DIY a few charming upgrades to your home: wine glass vases, chessboard jewelry holders
- Curl up with this atmospheric read set on an enchanted isle
- Harness your inner power with this dopamine menu
- Craft a bag charm laden with stories of the past
- Hex your ex while listening to witchy classics
- Say “boo” to unwanted negative thoughts
- Hallmark your home for girls’ night
Life, unplugged
🧙 Imaginative activities to spark creativity
Magic isn’t always manifested as fictitious spells and potions. Often, it hides in real, small rituals, sensory play, and imagination. These charming activities invite you to see the everyday with a new perspective and touch of fantasy:
Pairing ceremony: Pick three edible things (a cheese, fruit, drink) and taste them alone, in pairs, and all together. Keep a personal alchemy log and take note of what feels harmonious, what clashes, and what surprises you.
Imaginary voyage: Choose a city you want to travel to and start saving all of the restaurants, coffee shops, bookshops, thrift stores, and parks you’d want to visit on Google Maps. Write out your ideal itinerary for a long weekend and experience the thrill of traveling without leaving your desk (building anticipation for the day you finally go).
Perfume pilgrimage: Head out to a perfumery and smell three bottles without looking at the names or scent notes. Write down what each perfume evokes (salty summer nights, fresh linen, flowers in bloom) and what you would name it.
Whimsical workshop: Pick an ordinary object (a spoon, leaf, mug) and spend five minutes imagining it as part of a story, painting, or poem as a reminder that even the simplest things can hold extraordinary magic if we slow down and embrace wonder.
Familiar comforts
☕ A beginner's taste in tasseography
Tasseography, the centuries-old ritual of reading tea leaves, is part of the art of divination, the practice of uncovering hidden knowledge. You don’t need to decipher tea-dredge shapes to enjoy a little magic. Instead, simply spice up your next cup to brew your own remedy:
Calm: Add a dash of vanilla extract to chamomile tea. A hug in a cup for winding down.
Focus: Stir green tea with fresh mint leaves for a bright boost of midday clarity.
Comfort: Mix black tea with a cinnamon stick and slice of ginger for a cozy defense against dreary days.
Peace: Rooibos, honey, and splash of rose water give the vibe a mystical garden for fanciful daydreams.
Restore: Combine warm milk, turmeric, black pepper, and a drizzle of maple syrup for a soothing anti-inflammatory to reset your system.
Help desk
🧹 Simple life hacks that feel like magic
Everyday hacks can feel like real-life magic when they lighten your mental load, turn chores into big wins, and give you back a little brain space. Try these:
🗂 ️Organization tips
- Use a “one-touch” rule: If you pick something up, put it in its designated spot right away to avoid clutter build-up
- Label new cords, chargers, and extra hardware immediately so you never have to second-guess what’s what
- Create a “landing zone” basket near your door for keys, wallet, mail, and other essentials
🍳 Cooking tricks
- Roll fresh herbs in a damp paper towel and tuck them into a resealable bag to keep them fresh longer
- Use a bowl on the counter to collect food scraps and trash during meal prep
- Place a damp paper towel under your cutting board to keep it from slipping
🧽 Cleaning hacks
- Toss a dryer sheet in your vacuum bag for a fresh scent
- Rub a walnut over wooden furniture to disguise scratches
- Polish dull silverware with a small amount of non-abrasive toothpaste
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Reader insights
🪄 Sayings & spells for confidence-building on solo trips
Traveling solo is its own kind of sorcery, and a majority of our audience (77%) say they feel comfortable wandering alone. But if you’ve never done it before, here’s your confidence starter pack for venturing to enchanted places near and far:
Tips from seasoned solo travelers:
- “Know that flexibility and adaptability are going to be your best bets when traveling solo. You might mistake a plan or expect one thing and get something else but that’s the beauty of traveling solo. You learn and enjoy the journey!”
- “Have a goal. Whether it’s a new bag or a fabled dessert, be on the hunt for something exciting and be flexible and curious on the way.”
- “Life is too short to wait for someone to go with you. See the world while you can! Try the food, talk to the locals, and if you're afraid of being judged for going alone you can pretend to be a journalist writing for a website or something.”
Confidence spells to calm your quest:
- Realm realism: Press your thumb to your fingertips in sequence, or place a hand on your heart. This gesture grounds anxiety.
- The visionary: Close your eyes for 30 seconds and picture yourself navigating the high-pressure situation successfully—like a scene from a story where the hero rises.
- Potion of perspective: Sip a small drink slowly—tea, water, or coffee—and remind yourself: “This moment is temporary, I can handle it.”
- Amulet of assurance: Touch a small object you keep with you (ring, bracelet, keychain). Say silently: “I am brave and protected.”
- Cloak of calm: Wrap yourself in an imaginary cloak (or warm jacket or blanket). Breathe deeply three times while imagining a shield of calm surrounding you.
- Spark of clarity: Snap your fingers or tap on a hard surface once. Take a single, focused breath and name the one thing you need to focus on next.
