5 Ways to Have Fun While Practicing Self-Care This Fall

Ah, sweet summer: three glorious months of unbridled freedom. But wait, hold up. In actuality, summer can be a little stressful. Whether you’re stuck on a wheel of bridal showers, bachelorette parties and weddings or attempting to entertain two children for 14 hours a day, it isn’t always a vacation. However, now that the invites have dwindled and the kids are back in school, here’s hoping you’ll have more time for these five activities that will surely bring you back to life—just in time for a refreshing fall breeze.

How much takeout did we eat this summer? The limit does not exist. Now that the weather is getting cooler and we’re back in a routine, it might be time to dust off those pots and pans and learn some new skills in the kitchen. Created in a former warehouse in Prospect Heights, Cook Space was imagined to be more than just a place to take cooking lessons. In addition to the roster of classes highlighting seasonal fare and foreign flavors, you can sign up for their signature Culinary Confidence Series—a five-week course designed to arm home cooks with the tools and techniques acquired in culinary school but in an intimate environment where play and creativity are encouraged.

For some people, self-care means drinking a gallon of water a day and getting eight hours of sleep. For others, it’s saying, “Whatever, we’re getting cheese fries.” Whatever group you belong to, there’s a spot for you at Mean Girls on Broadway. The hilarious new musical from Tina Fey brings the iconic film to life eight times a week and has something for everyone in your clique (yes, even the “Karen”). You’ll laugh, Regina will make people cry, fetch will happen. Trust us, this isn’t a regular musical, it’s a cool musical—so grab your tickets today.

Looking for a spa day with your girls? We’re going to let you in on the little secret that is a 140,000-square-foot Korean spa paradise spread over four floors in Edgewater, New Jersey. SoJo Spa is a fantasyland for those who love to relax. Think a rooftop infinity pool overlooking the Hudson River and Manhattan; dedicated charcoal, salt, red clay and infrared sauna rooms; an ice room; a foot massage path; silk, carbon and hinoki baths; and plenty of other hydrotherapy opportunities. You could (and should) easily spend a full day here. To make it even easier to get to, SoJo runs a complimentary daily shuttle with pickup from midtown Manhattan every other hour.

With locations in NoMad, Hudson Yards and midtown (inside Saks Fifth Avenue), this nontoxic salon offers the ultimate combination of manicures and meditation. With the availability of headsets that guide you through a meditation session during your beauty treatment, you’ll leave this place feeling not only chic but also seriously relaxed. Don’t forget to grab some of the house-brand vegan and cruelty-free polishes on your way out for at-home touch-ups. Might we suggest No. 04 pink?

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably seen Megan Roup grace your Instagram feed this summer. Roup’s workout, the Sculpt Society, gained popularity as a way for models to prep for the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, but she’s recently hit it big with the influencer set, spending the past three months traveling back and forth between the Hamptons and NYC. Now that fall is here, she’s back to her normal schedule and you have a better chance at booking her as your instructor. The class is divided into portions that include dance cardio, ankle weights, sliders and light hand weights. Roup does the entire workout along with the class, which can be taken at Studio B and Project by Equinox and online on Obé.