8 Ways Autumn in Michigan Boosts Mental Health (plus 27 fun things to do)
Walking through crunching leaves can reset feelings of anxiety, anger, or hopelessness.
I missed my annual trip to Grand Rapids this October. But I can’t forget the dappled sun shining through a tunnel of yellow oaks; it inspires wonder. And wonder, awe, and gobsmackedness are good for mental health. Studies show that the awe we feel in nature benefits the body’s defense system. A walk in nature, especially when the surroundings fill you with wonder, reduces pro-inflammatory cytokines. Cytokines fight infection, but sustained high levels of these proteins are associated with heart disease, arthritis, and type-2 diabetes.
Looking at beauty can also reduce cortisol levels (the primary indicator of stress). We have all experienced heightened levels of stress in 2026, but a walk in Michigan autumn reduces anxiety and depression. Can’t get outside? Even when housebound, looking out the window at a fiery orange maple improves your mood and your health!
The Mental Health Benefits of Fall in Michigan
At Sanford Behavioral Health, we take therapy outside whenever possible. Our 19-acre campus includes a trail through the woods and a therapy circle of cut logs for nature immersion. Let’s face it, fall in Michigan, whether in recovery or not, brings good old-fashioned joy. And for better mental health and wellness, it is important to take advantage of moments of happiness. Walking through crunching leaves can reset feelings of anxiety, anger, or hopelessness. These moments of God’s bounty are a gift that will remind you to step out of your head and take the leap toward mental health.
Fall in Michigan brings good old-fashioned joy!
8 Ways Fall in Michigan Boosts Mental Health (plus 27 fun things to do)
1. The colors of fall inspire creativity
Michiganders discover what artists and poets already know – nature’s beauty inspires reflection. Journaling, painting, and writing about an ephemeral outing let us relive the experience, boosting positive thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.
2. Gratitude
The season’s unexpectedness makes it easy to feel grateful. When your everyday neighborhood is transformed for a season, it is a magical experience. Don’t we all need a little magic in our lives? Experiencing gratitude makes people more optimistic about the future. In her article, Gratitude Therapy, Finding Happiness in Recovery/Life, Sanford Founder and addiction therapist Rae Green says, “Positive psychology, the scientific study of strengths that enable individuals and communities to thrive, suggests we look first to the things we are grateful for. Because positive thinking is a learned behavior.”
3. Fall creates a collective community
Sanford Behavioral Health’s signature Excursions program incorporates outside recovery meetings, recreation, creative expression, and other activity-based techniques to restore physical and psychological health. Being part of a thriving community supports mental health. A walk around Reeds Lake in East Grand Rapids, or a trip to Lake Michigan, reveals others enjoying the spoils of fall. A hearty “Good morning” or “Beautiful day” exchanged with a stranger brightens an otherwise humdrum routine. The cooler temperatures and pure air make it a great time of year to exercise outdoors.
4. Fall in Michigan fosters creativity and reflection
Michiganders discover what artists and poets already know – nature’s beauty fosters reflection. Journaling, painting, and writing about an ephemeral outing let us relive the experience, boosting positive thinking, problem-solving, and creativity.
5. Dopamine rush for a natural high
Awe and beauty stimulate the brain’s reward centers, causing the release of dopamine and endorphins. This response can evoke feelings of joy and appreciation, much like the emotions that arise when gazing at a loved one. Leave the smartphone at home and appreciate the moment. Or peruse our most-read article of 2026, “Dopamine Rush – 27 Things to do Fast Instead of Scroll”
6. Michigan autumn stimulates appetite and healthy sleep patterns
In Michigan, in the fall, fruits and vegetables are displayed at old-time farmers’ markets and orchards, ripe for the picking. Apple, pumpkin, and squash picking adds a fitness component. One of the first things I do when apple cider season arrives is to find an orchard with a cider mill. The smell evokes childhood memories and takes me back. Similarly, a brisk walk in the technicolor woods can increase appetite and support healthy sleep patterns. At Sanford Comprehensive Treatment for Eating Disorders, relearning healthy eating patterns is key to recovery.
Up North beauty!
In yellow wood…
Sentinels along a park roadside.
7. Leaf shuffling!
Remember ironing colored leaves with wax paper and saving them? Do that again. Don’t think about it, get outside, rake up a pile of leaves, and jump in them or find a path, kick up a storm, and flood the senses.
8. Fall in Michigan brings more joy to your life!
We’ve come up with 27 things to do to bring joy to your life and a spring in your step (spoiler alert – none of them involve alcohol or your phone (except 27).
- Put away the summer clothes and get out your favorite fall sweaters, mittens, and socks. Try them on.
- Shop online for Halloween and Thanksgiving decorations and anticipate the fun you will have this year!
- Review your photos from past Octobers and relive the joy.
- Sit on a balcony, park bench, or backyard chair and breathe the cooler air.
- Have a haiku contest with autumn as the theme. (Orange, yellow, brown; rustling in my winter boots; harbinger of snow.)
- Build a fire in the fireplace, curl up, and reread a moody gothic novel like Jane Eyre.
- Drink something hot and delicious – hot chocolate, cider, or Queen of Harvest tea.
- Visit a cider mill, take a hayride, and enjoy a doughnut!
- Grab your favorite furry lap blanket and take a nap outdoors.
- Get up early and head for the nature center (Blandford Nature Center in Grand Rapids). You might catch a deer family or spooky vultures lurking in the trees.
- Pop popcorn and watch It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown, or another movie you’ve seen so many times you can quote along with the main characters. (Linus: “You’ve heard of the fury of a woman scorned, haven’t you?” Charlie Brown: “Yeah, I guess I have.” Linus: “Well, that’s nothing compared to a woman who has been cheated out of tricks-or-treats.”)
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Take a stroll on a messy, leafy path and shuffle.
- Pull out the holiday cookie cutters and make cookies from scratch. Get a friend or family member to help decorate.
- Go to Frederick Meijer Gardens and walk or take the bus through the sculpture garden.
- Celebrate autumn with the kids – collect gorgeous fall leaves and iron them with waxed paper.
- One of the best sober activities is to rake leaves into a pile! Jump in leaves! Make leaf angels!
- Make a hearty stew, light all the candles in the house, and invite friends and family for dinner. Or eat solo and savor.
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Take an awe walk. Spectacular views are around every corner. Invite the dog. Hold a child’s hand.
- See a sunrise and sunset in a single day. Remember what and who you are grateful for.
- Plant marigolds and mums in pots – add small pumpkins or gourds for an artsy autumn look you will enjoy every time you pull into the driveway.
- Take a drive. Stop at a gas station or drive-through and buy a classic road-trip snack (Slim Jim, local jerky).
- Dare to be scared at the local ZOO or a haunted house.
- Volunteer at the local food bank or soup kitchen for Thanksgiving.
- Get a big box of crayons and paper and sit at the kitchen table with the whole family. Draw and color your favorite fall things.
- Make and eat something that contains pumpkin, yams, cinnamon, or sugar.
- Read the interview with Chief Medical Officer Dr. Singla on “Feel Good” brain chemicals and how to activate them!
- Follow the peak color season in October from Benton Harbor to Copper Harbor! Visit the places you can’t get to in person, virtually!
If you or a loved one is struggling with a mental health condition, including addiction and eating disorders, click the link below to speak with an admissions specialist today. Experience 24/7 EZ Admissions: talk to a real person, get a free assessment, and start treatment 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Walk-ins are welcome.
