Finding Calm in the Chaos: How Art and Nature Can Create an Emotional Balance

Why Fall Is the Perfect Season for Creative Grounding

The changing of the seasons can sometimes bring on shifts in ourselves. Routines have become more established since school has resumed, extracurricular activities have begun, and life may feel busy and chaotic. There is less sunlight in the fall; therefore, our serotonin levels are lower. This brain chemical is linked to our mood and overall happiness.

Life might feel more overwhelming, possibly due to scheduling, homework, and day-to-day activities as the weather is changing and the daylight is fading. If you are able, try a little nature break for yourself and your family. When seasonal shifts bring up heavy emotions, expressive art in nature can often be a calming pathway. It fosters mindfulness and grounding when you are outside; your senses are immediately engaged.

Fall can sometimes stir something deep in us, maybe a mix of nostalgia, calm, and quiet awakening, and much of it comes from the simple shift in light and temperature. Shorter days, cooler nights, and the stillness of nature create a reset that many people feel throughout.

When we think about fall, we may envision the shorter days, a crisp coolness in the air, and gray, cloudy skies, sometimes a glimmer of the sun popping through. The brilliant red leaves on soon-bare trees, apple trees overflowing with crisp, delicious treats, and rows of pumpkins scattered along roadside stands. 

Take a moment, close your eyes, and picture this or your vision of what fall looks like.

Maybe you are standing in the middle of a forest or standing alongside a lake, or maybe you picture yourself in your backyard. Ask yourself these questions?

• What do I hear?

• What do I smell?

• What do I feel?

Using your senses can bring you into the moment and give you time to be present. This is a wonderful activity to try with your children, even for 5 or 10 minutes. Once you have allowed yourself these moments, open your eyes and look around.

• What do you see?

Do you feel like creating some art in nature? 

Making art outdoors during this season doesn’t just feel good; it gently regulates the nervous system.

How do you make art outdoors- by gathering natural materials for collage, photographing your surroundings or an object of interest, or sketching something interesting, which activates sensory pathways that soothe the nervous system.

• Nature-based creativity reduces cortisol, the body’s primary stress hormone.

• Mindful observation centers attention in the present moment.

• Creative flow shifts the brain into a calm, focused rhythm.

  
  

The textures of trees, the cool breeze, the sound of wind through the tree branches or the crunch of leaves,  the smell of damp earth, the touch of a smooth stone- these sensory details create a grounding environment. When your hands move with intention, whether drawing or arranging leaves, your nervous system interprets it as safety and presence. 

Fall provides a rich palette of materials. Using materials that have already fallen to the ground, such as leaves of every colour, twigs, pinecones, acorns, bark, and smooth stones. A mandala or collage of leaves will eventually blow away, reminding us that our difficult emotions are also temporary and will pass. Each family member could create their own collage or creation, or you could create a piece together. 

A Thought to Carry Into the Season

Fall offers a rare combination: environmental calm, emotional reflection, and sensory abundance. Together, they create ideal conditions for art-making that feels both expressive and restorative.

• The natural palette inspires creativity.

• The cool air supports regulation.

• The slower pace encourages reflection.

Art becomes not just a creative outlet, but a way of syncing with the season’s rhythm.. a ritual of noticing, feeling, and creating!

Creating art in nature can have a relaxing effect. Spending time in nature can calm your nervous system. When we experience stress, our bodies release a hormone called cortisol that helps to activate our fight-or-flight response. When we spend time outdoors, we allow ourselves to connect with our senses. Bringing awareness to the sights, smells, and sounds of nature around us. I refer to this as an act of mindfulness, or being present in the moment and focusing on how you feel. Mindfulness can calm our nervous system.

Fall reminds us that change can be beautiful, and slowing down can be healing. When you step outside with a sketchbook, camera, or simply your hands ready to gather leaves, you’re participating in a conversation with the season. One that invites calm, creativity, and emotional clarity.

Happy Creating!

A landscape: a forest I visit often to connect with nature and take in the sights, sounds, and smells. 

 A creation along the shoreline of family using found items, stones, leaves, and sticks.

A balance- just like in life, it takes careful planning and patience to create a balance. The stones often fall, but you keep building them, balancing them through frustration and patience; your balance stands strong!