Back to Lazy: Fall Retrospective
Embracing the art of slowing down while reclaiming our rest and resilience, not trying to fall into seasonal depression. Pun not intended.
Dear Lazies,
And just like that, summer is over.
Okay, we’re being slightly dramatic, but let’s be honest... haven’t you noticed that your social media feeds are on the cusp of the autumnal transition, where summer throwbacks are intertwined with the first signs of pumpkin spice and turtlenecks? The premature nostalgia of warm nights and bold sunsets is a nod to our collective unease that we’re not ready to hunker down with our dark and misty realities.
This month’s newsletter is designed to give you tools to cope with the seasonal changes - tried and tested by some of our Lazy community themselves. So really, there is nothing left to do but boil the kettle, kick back and enjoy this virtual love letter filled with new articles and updates. This issue is illustrated by Fdor, a non-binary multidisciplinary artist based in Paris - we’re obsessed!
Your Lazies
Julie here. It’s not my first season out of academia, but it’s curious how I still see autumn as the beginning of a year, in a way. I still view September as a chance to start anew, to come back to my regular study sessions AND to start romanticising darkness at 6 pm in order to survive, unfortunately. As the crisp autumn air settles in, it can feel strange not to be stepping back into the rhythm of academia. The familiar rituals of new textbooks (at times quite pricey), bustling campuses, and the structure of semesters are no longer there to anchor the season. Coping with this change means embracing new rhythms—finding joy in the slower pace and allowing yourself to explore new passions, outside of academic deadlines. Studying for yourself is beautiful, and I’ll always advocate for that :) It’s about redefining what growth looks like, realising that learning and self-discovery continue beyond the classroom, even if the halls and lecture notes are behind you.
Here’s Lazy Lauren’s reflections:
“My summer didn't feel especially lazy or restful. Instead, I was busy getting into a new secondment at work, excitedly fulfilling bridesmaid duties and less excitedly dealing with some ongoing health issues. By the time September was beginning, I had no 'back-to-school' energy; my batteries were running pretty low. Luckily I had a very welcome break in the form of a yoga retreat to look forward to, having booked it a few months before I came back with a better mindset to find more slowness in my days, in my life really, instead of always trying to cram in as much as I can, all the time.
While summer is usually the time to get away, relax and recharge, I can really recommend a start of September break instead, even if just a weekend away somewhere close to your home town. It helps extend the feeling of summer, gives you a chance to pause while it feels everyone around you is pacing, and provides space to set new or renewed intentions for the season ahead. If you're all of a sudden feeling inspired, I'm sure it works just as well at the start of October too! ;) I'm an autumn girl through and through, and as the nights start drawing in, with more of a chill in the air, I'm looking forward to leaning into lazy evenings with books, movies, and home-cooked treats”.
Check out Lauren’s essay on a yoga retreat she’s recently been to🧘♀️
New Lazy Articles alert!
Here are some pieces you might’ve missed:
Meet Home On Me Collective: Dismantling Traditional Hierarchies in the Art World, a shoutout to our fellow female artists in London!
A Lazy Woman’s YouTube Binge List by Lazy Sasha! Find new YouTube recommendations for your fall evenings :)
Liberté, Égalité, Sororité! – Ladyfest Hungary by Julcsi Domján - to learn more about a recent feminist festival happening in Budapest.
More articles are coming your way - follow our Instagram to stay tuned ;)
At the end of August, we had a board meeting to discuss Lazy Women’s future plans, events, and membership offers!
But first, here are the faces of the current Lazy Team running the show behind the scenes, let’s get to know each other better if we haven’t already ;)
On September 26, we had a chance to record the ‘back-to-school’ episode of our podcast, the first one after a long break! It’s also the first one recorded at a professional studio of La Gaîté Lyrique in Paris👇
Can’t wait for you to hear this intimate discussion of emigration, autumn plans, and feelings 💖
And for Paris-based Lazies - we’re planning a creative master class that we’re sure you’ll like will take place this season. Keep your notifications on! ;)
Girls in Pop are storming the charts! Chappell Roan, Sabrina Carpenter, Charli XCX, Taylor Swift, Olivia Rodrigo, and Billie Eilish were IN this summer. Make sure to check out our Spotify by clicking the link below if you find yourself missin’ parties, gigs, and raves 💃
As for now, here’s a freshly baked September playlist #24 from the Lazy Team!
Hi-ya there Lazies, it’s Chaharika. As we swiftly move towards fall, the change in weather always takes a toll!
However, we have compiled a list of a few bits and bobs that might help us all cope with the transition as we leave behind the summer that felt as culturally cognisant as the Summer of 69 (I’m looking at you, BRAT summer). For me, the end of summer usually signifies slowing down and buckling down, but that doesn’t mean the fun has to stop; it just shapes a bit.
I love a good horror movie in the fall to prepare for the spooky season. Binge-watch your most nostalgic scary films—for me, it was the Bollywood classic Raaz (translated as The Secret). And of course, the Mia Goth trilogy of Pearl, X, and Maxxxine.
Art really has a way of helping us all cope, especially when release dates are perfectly timed to usher in autumn. Get your hands on the new Sally Rooney Intermezzo to curl up with. Also, it is a great conversation starter for the upcoming festive season; read up on a few reviews like this if you don’t want to sound like a total Rooney-fiend (or do if you’d like to).
As we move into the latter half of the year, it's always common to hit a bit of a slump – professionally or personally. So to make things a bit lighter and even just get some clarity on how the year is going to wind up, crack into your tarot cards. Maybe get a reading or analyse your chart! If astrology isn’t your thing, journaling always helps.
Nippy weather calls for baking! It doesn’t have to be complicated – I love this quick Bon Appetit recipe to whip up some cookies. I also always add a dash of cardamom.
Getting some movement really helps. Walking or a quick run keeps away the autumn blues, and usually, forcing a friend to tag along makes it way harder to procrastinate.
This is just my list of things which keeps me from reminiscing about the summer, fall, at least for me symbolises many things coming to an end, and it's quite easy to get caught up in looking back. But the aforementioned help me romanticise the time! Let us know your fall coping tips as well.
p.s. Our newsletter team is fully volunteer-based. We work on every issue throughout the whole month—picking a topic, collecting submissions and illustrations, writing, and editing.
If you like what we do, you can support our work here 👇