As chill-averse Angelenos prepare for hibernation, we’ll begin spending a lot of time inside, meaning we’d benefit from tapping into the five senses. Visually, you’ll want to begin by decluttering your common places: make your bed every morning, put the dishes away and organize your desk. With a clean space, you’re free to decorate for the season, either taking the Halloween and turkey-themed Michaels approach or simply changing the colors of your flower vases, kitchen towels and bedding. Candlelight is the key to a cozy household, but this year, forget about toxic, unsustainable wax sticks and buy a make-your-own beeswax kit. If you’re somehow missing that poisonous fake citrus smell, try boiling a pot of orange peels, lemons, apples and cinnamon sticks to provide a quiet spiced aroma in the kitchen.

Crisp weather calls for crisp outfits, and as the fashionistas say, more layers mean more opportunities to try unique styles. As you look through your closet, relocate your summer tanks and spotlight the puffers and pants for easy access. My 50-degree go-to is a grey fitted sweater with dark wash ’90s jeans, some fuzzy Uggs and gold hoops. To compliment your outfit, walk (or skate) through the chill with a main-character autumn playlist. To create your personal playlist, start with soft, moody artists including Fiona Apple, Bon Iver, Jack Johnson, Sade, beabadoobee and Norah Jones.

A good friend of mine recently told me about this ingenious way to make your mindless obsession with lists productive. Instead of scribbling in a half-hearted “things I’m grateful for” journal for the 5th year in a row, try creating a menu of things that trigger your happiness. When winter blues threaten to hit early, and it seems as if New Year’s will never come, this three-tiered spread gives you a seasonal spark of joy to cure any occasion. Tired of robotic school days? Try an appetizer — a quick remedy, such as a soothing bubble bath. Fighting with a friend?  Pick an entree — something fun you don’t do often, like a day trip to an autumnal forest. Experiencing loss? Choose a dessert — return to your support system by Facetiming a cousin.

It’s no secret that fall is the season of spice. There’s nothing more pristinely autumnal than a freshly baked pumpkin loaf with a crackly top and steamy moist inside, glazed with salty butter and served with tea. Pumpkin is quite versatile in terms of baked goods, especially after Halloween when supply greatly exceeds demand and price plummets, but gourd objectors can experiment with apples, zucchini, carrots and even persimmons. Not a sweets person? Cold-ridden or not, this weather brings cravings for thick, soupy dishes. My worldwide fall rotation always spotlights a pumpkin or squash soup with feta crackers, classic French cassoulet, Italian minestrone and Puerto Rican arroz con pollo. My challenge to you: Get off of the couch and have everyone in the family make a new dish for Thanksgiving dinner — flop or not, the result will surely bring a hilarious day of family bonding.

Whether you’re hibernating or hustling in the harvest season, autumn is a chance to make as many memories as you did in summer, if not more. Your fall bucket list should include a mix of cozy indoor activities such as themed bake-offs, yoga challenges, movie marathons and game nights. Consider adding some seasonal adventures to embark on with friends and family, from rainy ramen dates at a small mom-and-pop restaurant to a weekend road trip to see a national park.

With a fall as fabulous as yours, it’s important to slow down, take three deep breaths and recognize how special this season of gratitude is. To reach that state of “autumn alignment,” try walking without a destination, and see who you meet and what you discover. Talk without technology, and ask your loved ones real questions. Most importantly, document everything: Pour yourself into a journal and take photos of each adventure you go on. This will alleviate your mind and save memories to cherish in the future. Or simply take my fellow reporter Vivi’s advice and do more nothing. You’d be surprised how much clearer you’ll see when the world sits still.