Fall is about you

Fall is a time of transformation. The leaves are changing. The kids are back in school. Summer trips are becoming memories. You’re back in the groove at work. And with the holidays a few months away, it’s the perfect time to take advantage of the seasonal shift and make some changes in your own life. Check out these tips for a fantastic fall reset. 

With the air cooling down, fall is made for getting outside and getting your body moving. And since you’re heading into flannel season and away from beach season, it’s a great time to set some new goals—to just focus on staying active in ways that make you happy. Maybe that means going for a jog, taking a walk around the neighborhood or hitting the gym. But don’t forget that there are tons of great ways to exercise in the fall—from rock climbing and mountain biking to kickball and soccer. If you need some motivation, look local and see whether there is a league or club to join that’ll make the experience more social.

Exercise is important, but there are other aspects of good health that you can focus on during fall. Some of them are automatic—no more summer trips to the ice cream shop. Others could be more intentional. With the kids back in school and routines (hopefully) back on track, fall is a great time to reset your approach to bedtime to be sure you’re getting enough sleep—start by turning off screens 30 minutes before turning in for the night. It’s also a great time to schedule that checkup you’ve been putting off. You could even start planning for future healthy habits by getting your garden ready for next spring—they say “Fall is for planting.” No matter what, the theme here is that autumn is an awesome time to take care of you. 

Those summer vacations were fun, but they weren’t cheap. And the holidays are right around the corner. That’s why fall is for finances. Step back and take a look at your spending. Make a plan for the end of the year—keep in mind the holiday travel, gift buying, parties and more. It might feel daunting, but you can do it. And remember, if you’re using fall to take a step back and evaluate, make a plan…that’s the first step toward financial well-being. 

Everyone talks about spring cleaning, but fall is also a perfect time for fresh starts. As the leaves say goodbye, you can say goodbye to what you don’t need. Get the kids to ditch old toys they no longer play with (bonus: you can donate those toys and teach them a little lesson in gratitude before the holidays roll around with more toys coming in). Have a garage sale and turn junk into bucks (we’re looking at you, countertop bread maker)—that could help with your finances too. Box up summer stuff and store it until next spring. The less clutter you have around you, the more space you’ll have to feel comfortable and calm throughout the fall. 

Summer is all about making memories for the kids. The holidays are about getting the whole family together to celebrate. Fall, on the other hand, is all about you. Don’t feel guilty about carving out some “you” time—it’s important. Maybe it’s as big as getting back on a regular schedule with your therapist. But it could also be as small as just setting aside time to take a pretty fall drive by yourself with the windows down. Or taking yourself out for coffee at your local cafe—pumpkin spice latte, anyone? Be vocal about it too, and be sure your loved ones know you need time and space—communicating about it can help them help you by being sure they’re out of the house when you want to kick back with your book. Just remember to take this season to recharge your mental health batteries.  

Embrace autumn as your chance to reset and reclaim parts of your life that need a little refreshing. At this time of transition, step back and take a breath, make plans, set goals and then set off to achieve them. Oh, and don’t forget to pause every once in a while to look at the leaves before they’re gone.