For many of us, the change of season from summer to autumn arrives without warning. One day we’re walking around with bare arms, sipping iced coffee, and the next we’re digging around in the back of the closet for a warm sweater to ward off the chill. For me, it immediately feels like fall when the famous pumpkin spice latte returns to the Starbucks menu. Despite the fact that I don’t particularly like pumpkin spice latte, its mere presence as an option announces the arrival of autumn as effectively as any billboard.

While autumnal events like Halloween are undeniably fun, this time of year offers far more than this. Jo et al. (2021) found that viewing images with autumnal foliage induced physiological and psychological relaxation in women in their 20s, reducing their heart rate and increasing parasympathetic nervous activity. As well as the potential impact on relaxation, the season also offers an opportunity for transition. Just as the trees shed their leaves and nature prepares to undergo rest and renewal, this time of year provides an ideal opportunity to reflect, adapt, and........

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