I love fall. The sweaters, the soup, the cozy routines. It’s the season that makes me want to slow down and feel grounded.
As a women’s-health dietitian, I always think of fall as a reset season: warmer meals, gentler workouts, earlier nights. But this year, Hot Girl Fall hit a little differently.
My Halloweentown Reality Check
This past weekend I drove to Halloweentown, ready for a cozy, content-worthy fall moment. I had the outfit, the latte, the whole day planned.
But it was raining, my hair frizzed, and every photo looked off. I wanted to make it warm and aesthetic for my audience. To capture that “fall wellness girlie” energy. But instead I just felt weirdly disconnected.
That’s when I realized: my former inner perfectionist was back in this moment. And I don’t hang with her like that anymore.
When Perfectionism Sneaks into Wellness
Perfectionism doesn’t always show up as counting calories or over-exercising anymore.
Sometimes it’s trying to curate your life into an effortless brand of wellness…the cozy meals, the pumpkin candles, the “balanced” everything.
But real wellness isn’t aesthetic. It’s accessible.
And it’s not something you can stage for a photo.
The Lesson I Took Home
The most nourishing part of that day wasn’t the seeing the real-life Benny in his taxi cab. It was going home, taking off the outfit, eating something warm, and not making it content.
Sometimes “self-care” isn’t the picture-perfect version you’d post online. It’s therapy. It’s grocery shopping. It’s resting when you’re tired instead of trying to be inspiring.
You don’t have to perform being well to be well.
What Hot Girl Fall Really Means
This fall, I’m redefining Hot Girl Fall to mean something simpler:
- Less curated, more lived.
- Less proving, more presence.
- Less content, more comfort.
If you’re craving that too, this week’s Pretty Plates Club menu was built for real life. Comforting meals for busy women who want to feel good again, no performance required.
Feeling the pressure to make “Hot Girl Fall” perfect? You’re not alone.
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