A Quick Autumn Drawing Exercise to De-Stress in 5 Minutes

Picture this: You finally sit down for a quiet moment, but your mind is racing through all the things you still need to get done.

Sound familiar? We often think we need a huge chunk of time to unwind, but what if just five minutes could help you reset?

That’s where this quick autumn drawing exercise comes in. It’s not about creating something perfect or even beautiful—it’s about the act of doing and giving your brain a mini-break from the mental load you carry every day.

Let’s take a small pause and tap into some creativity with the season as our inspiration.

Why Drawing Leaves and Acorns Will Soothe Your Soul

There’s something about autumn that naturally calls us to slow down and reflect. The trees shed their leaves, the air becomes crisp, and there’s a quietness that seeps into the world around us. Recreating this peaceful feeling through art helps us to mirror that same tranquility in our minds.

The repetitive motion of drawing these simple shapes—leaves and acorns—relaxes your brain and helps you shift from the stress of the day to a more mindful state. And when we add color, we engage both sides of our brain: the logical side (where we decide which colors to use) and the creative side (where we simply enjoy the process). The act of filling a page with these falling leaves and acorns mimics the rhythm of the season, grounding you in the present moment.

Have fun with this quick autumn drawing! Please let me know if you’ve tried it; I would love to see it.

You can find a small video of this exercise on my Instagram @thecreativecooldown

Supplies used:

Bristol paper (BeCreativeShop), Alcohol markers (Ohuhu), fineliner (Ohuhu).

Alternative supply suggestions:

You don’t need to be an artist or have fancy tools. Just grab whatever you have—pens, markers, colored pencils, or even crayons.

Instructions for this quick autumn drawing:

Step 1 – Draw simple leaves and acorns

Start by filling your page with simple leaf shapes and a few acorns scattered throughout. They don’t need to be perfect—this is all about the process. Imagine the leaves falling from the top of your page, floating down in different directions. Some might twist and turn in the wind, while others are gently falling straight down.

Feel free to make the shapes small, big, or a mix of both. The variety will make your page more dynamic and playful. And remember—no extra details are necessary unless you feel like adding some. This is supposed to be quick and freeing.

Step 2 – Add some autumn colors

Now comes the fun part—coloring! Use lovely autumn hues like reds, oranges, yellows, and greens. You can color each leaf a solid color or experiment with blending two shades together.

Your acorns can have earthy tones, like brown and green. There’s no right or wrong here; just let the colors flow.

As you’re drawing and coloring, take deep breaths. Let yourself slow down. Pay attention to the repetitive motion of your hand and the colors filling the page. Even if it’s just for a few minutes, this process will give you a mental break.

Why This Works for Your Mental Health

This exercise helps in a few powerful ways:

1. Shifts Your Focus: When you’re drawing, you’re not thinking about your to-do list, the laundry pile, or tomorrow’s meals. You’re focused on something simple and soothing, which gives your brain a much-needed rest.
2. Releases Tension: The repetitive movements of drawing are known to relax the mind. It’s similar to knitting or sewing, where the rhythm of your hands helps release mental tension.
3. Guilt-Free “Me Time”: This exercise only takes five minutes, which is short enough to fit into even the busiest day. And because it’s so quick, there’s no need to feel guilty about spending time on yourself—you deserve this! And taking a few minutes to de-stress will only help you be more present for the rest of your day.
4. Engages Creativity: Engaging in a small creative act like this reconnects you with your creative side—a part of you that might have been put on the back burner for a while. Even simple shapes and colors can awaken that part of you that loves to create.