And no, it’s not all just Gilmore Girls.
Despite the inevitable cooldown, we tend to associate fall with warmth. The fiery colour palette of red, orange and yellow. Steaming apple cider and hot cocoa. Bundling under a thick, fuzzy blanket, complete with a soothing novel or a cast full of your favourite characters.
Maybe you can’t stand the transition into fall and you’re looking for some escapism. Or maybe you’ve already been gripping your pumpkin spice latte since September. Whatever the case, we could all use some comfort.
To find some recommendations, we asked students around campus about their favourite comfort content for the fall season.
What is comfort content?
Although many of us love a good thriller, daily life can be stressful enough. Sometimes, we just want to know what to expect.
Maybe you’ve been watching the same YouTuber for too many years to count, or you wind down every night with a different episode of the same show. We all have our go-to’s.
Laufey, Steve Lacey, & Thundercat — Gaberiel Haynes
Fall brings a new semester, which can be a difficult adjustment after months of being free from Blackboard. You might have acclimated by now, but does anyone ever really get used to having five assignments due within the same week?
Gaberiel Haynes, a second-year student in the advertising and graphic design program, finds his solace through music.
“I usually listen to Laufey and Steve Lacy, just to have moments of calm,” Haynes says.
The second year of post-secondary studies is sometimes a noticeable step up from the relative ease of the first year. Gaberiel’s choice of smooth rhythms helps carry him through mountains of schoolwork.
He’s definitely onto something — music can provide that much-needed boost of concentration through long study sessions. Your taste sets the pace, but calming, non-disruptive tunes (such as jazz and instrumental music) typically work best.
Gaberiel suggests that people who gravitate toward his favourite comfort artists might also be lovers of jazz and R&B. If you have similar music taste, another song to try is “Dragonball Durag” by Thundercat.
Cats & Soup — Kathryn Nguyen
Kathryn Nguyen, a third-year student in the digital communications program, says they love playing “anything that relates to cats.”
“After everything that you do — if you’re studying and it’s stressing you out — play cat games.”
Their current favourite is Cats & Soup, an adorable, low-pressure mobile game.
Fall makes Kathryn want to listen to calm music and play something, and with Cats & Soup, they can do both! The game has a cheerful soundtrack that would definitely put a little pep in your step, even as your walk to campus gets a bit colder.
“Fall gives me a sense of nostalgia,” Nguyen says, and they’re definitely not alone in that feeling. Fall can bring us back to old childhood traditions and simpler times, when we worried less and ate more caramel apples. (Movies always make these look so common, but when was the last time you actually ate one?)
Connecting with that nostalgia, Cats & Soup also has seasonal events that draw on real cultural festivities and traditions. It’s a little piece of representation that can go a long way.
Cats & Soup continues to make progress even when you’re not playing it, making it the perfect cozy content for busy students.
P.S.: Looking for real soup to go with your feline adventure? Head to the IGNITE Soupbar! Perfect for fall, but serving throughout the semester.
Spooky Classics & Long Narratives — Dawson Hall
Dawson Hall, a third-year music student, is a big fan of variety. “I’m an interesting case,” he states.
This time of year, it’s not unlikely for comfort to come in the form of a spooky classic. “The movies I’m watching kind of depends on the season,” Hall says. “Now that we’re getting closer to October, it’s the horror-movie era.”
As a fan of darker themes, Dawson’s taste blends right in with the season. Classics like The Shining and Silence of the Lambs, mixed with unique picks like Re: Zero. “It’s pretty dark, but it’s one I took a lot of life lessons from,” Hall says.
Although variety is great, it’s comforting to have a familiar landing place to return to. Dawson finds that familiarity in One Piece. It’s known for being extremely long, and Dawson has read the entire manga. (That’s over 1000 chapters, if we’re counting.)
“I’m still always coming back to media as it’s being written to see where this group of characters that I’ve come to grow and love has taken,” Hall remarks.
At the end of the day, this comforting connection to characters is part of what keeps beloved classics and sitcoms running for 18 seasons. We tend to gravitate toward stability, especially during turbulent times.
Fall is comfy-cozy, but let’s face it — the falling leaves and shaky weather smack us in the face with a visual reminder of change every time we step outside. It’s nice to have something to hold onto.
Looking for a hot meal to accompany your next watch? Find soup inspiration from around the world!
Feature image courtesy of alex geerts on Unsplash
