Summer has a way of giving us permission to throw aside some of our habits and routines. Long days, relaxed schedules, and spur-of-the-moment plans can be wonderful for our spirits, but they often leave our habits a little scattered. As we move into fall, life naturally picks up speed. Children head back to school, work demands ramp up, volunteer groups shift back into high-gear, and the calendar starts to fill again. This seasonal shift is the perfect moment to pause, take a breath, and intentionally evaluate your habits and routines. Decide habits and routines you want to carry forward, which ones to leave behind, and which new habits might bring you greater balance and joy in the months ahead.
Pause and Reflect
Before making changes, it’s important to understand where you are now. Take a few minutes to think about your current daily and weekly routines.
Did you drop any habits over the summer? Do you miss them, or were they more of an obligation than a benefit to you? Which habits did you continue to use this summer season, and why?
Ask yourself:
- What’s working well?
- What’s draining my energy?
- What would make my daily life smoother?
Answering these questions and any others that occur to you gives you the clarity to make choices that will work for you.
Prioritize What Matters Now
Once you’ve reflected, decide where you most want to focus your energy this fall. It’s tempting to overhaul everything at once, but that’s a recipe for burnout. Instead, select between one and three focus areas.
Here are a few ideas to start off:
- Decluttering – Clear both mental and physical space by letting go of items you no longer use, need, or love.
- Repurposing a Space – Create a meditation nook, a hobby table, or a quiet reading corner.
- Exercising More – Boost your mood and energy with regular movement, even if it’s just a 10-minute walk after dinner.
- Cooking at Home – Explore new recipes, improve your health, and save money in the process.
Think of these priorities as your compass for the season, they’ll help guide your decisions and keep you moving in the right direction.
Ease into Your New Habits
With your priorities in place, it’s time to weave them into your life. Try to avoid the “all or nothing” mindset and instead start small so it’s not overwhelming.
Schedule a single decluttering session, try one new recipe this week, or add one extra workout to your calendar. Make it easier for yourself and pair new routines with existing habits, like meditating right after your morning coffee or doing a quick tidy-up before heading to bed.
Being consistent is what matters.
Accountability Helps Solidify Your Habits
Find a way to hold yourself accountable. Consider tracking your progress in a journal or app or sharing your goals with a friend who’ll cheer you on.
Speaking your intentions out loud creates a sense of accountability to yourself and to the person with whom you’ve shared your goals.
Accountability isn’t about guilt; it’s about encouragement. Celebrate the small wins along the way. I encourage my clients to reward themselves as they celebrate each win.
Revisit and Adjust
Life is unpredictable, and what works today may need tweaking tomorrow. Set aside time each month to review how things are going.
Ask yourself:
- Is this habit helping me feel better?
- Does it still fit my current schedule and priorities?
- Is there a different approach I want to try?
Be kind to yourself when things don’t go perfectly. A reset doesn’t have to be rigid; it should be flexible enough to grow and shift with you.
Embracing the Fall Reset
Think of this as more than just getting “back on track.” It’s an opportunity to design your days with purpose, to make space for what truly matters, and to enter the busy months ahead with a sense of calm and control.
Whether your focus is decluttering, nurturing your health, or simply carving out time to breathe, your fall reset can be the fresh start you need to thrive, not just survive, in the season ahead.
So, grab your calendar, your favorite pen, and maybe even a cozy blanket, fall is calling, and your refreshed habits and routines are waiting.
What about you? Which habits or routines are you excited to refresh this fall? Share your thoughts in the comments or tag me on social media. I’d love to hear how you’re making this season your own.
Diane N. Quintana is a Certified Professional Organizer®, ICD® Master Trainer, owner of DNQ Solutions, LLC and co-owner of Release Repurpose Reorganize. Based in Atlanta, she specializes in helping clients with ADHD, hoarding behaviors, autism, and chronic disorganization. Diane is the author of five books and a contributor to ICD’s latest publication on chronic disorganization, where she wrote the chapter on Aging. She is the current President-Elect of the Institute for Challenging Disorganization and is passionate about teaching practical organizing strategies that stick.
As much as I hate the high heat of summer, I dread the dying of the light as autumn approaches. Because of traveling (as well as the two hit-and-run attacks on my car within 48 hours), I’ve spent the last month at odds with all my usual systems. I still walk, but I’ve gotten out of the habit of getting steps in early in the day. I still do laundry, but I’ve been putting it off for a day or two. And knowing that I have travel coming up in mid-September means that deep-down, I don’t feel like focusing on my habits knowing I’ll be taking a multi-week break again so soon.
With your guidance, I’m going to be thinking about what kinds of changes to my systems and habits I can reframe and refresh, particularly as I come back from my travels. More focus on marketing, long-term writing, and exercise, with “homes” in my schedule for each, is what’s called for! And I always find that accountability is the best way to keep me focused, so I’ll be calling on my support to put that front and center. Thank you for the reminder!
Oh, Julie! I feel for you. I like the approach you are taking. Good luck!
I often struggle in the fall, as I try to continue activities I started during the summer while others are starting a new season. You’ve offered some great food for thought!
I love a good reset, and you shared excellent ways of doing that. I’ve been noticing the leaves starting to turn color. It seems early, but it’s nature’s cue that a new season is coming. So as you said, this is an ideal time for making shifts, too.
I’ve been working on integrating a new exercise routine. Admittedly, I don’t like to do formal exercises. Instead, I prefer walking, kayaking, swimming, or doing yoga. But strength training stuff isn’t a favorite. However, for a variety of reasons, I’ve been developing new habits with support. It’s helpful to change one habit at a time. If I pile on too many, it’s hard to sustain consistency. I’m in the early stages, and things are coming along.
One thing I noticed is how having a goal and some accountability is very helpful. Also, focusing on the process rather than the results are more helpful to me. The results aren’t as obvious because much of the change is internal and more subtle. So I have to have faith in the process and focus on doing something now to help my future self.
I love that you’re placing faith on the process and focusing more on the intent rather than results. That’s hard to do. It’s so much easier to keep pushing yourself when you see big results. I’m proud of you for sticking with it.
I love the idea of a Fall reset. Even though it’s still early we are looking ahead to seasonal traditions and celebrations. What can we start doing now to help us ease into these?
I also agree that we should not take an all or nothing approach. I am working on improving my health. I have started a couple of routines and plan on adding more when I feel the time is right. Trying to do it all from the start would be overwhelming.
Adding new things is a great way to go, Jonda! Thank you for commenting.
I love your point about a reset and organizing not having to be rigid. In fact, it should be not only flexible but fluid. I know my life is changing every day. I tend to get a bit “stuck in the mud” with my routines, but when an event or situation necessitates a change, I can flip the switch. Embracing this idea that we can be constantly evolving and tweaking is very optimistic, hopeful, and productive!
The turn of the season is a great time to do a bit of reevaluating. One small thing for me is considering how I might add more light to my spaces. Waking up in the dark this morning reminded me how much darkness can get me down. At the same time, I don’t love bright/overhead lighting. So I’m going to consider how to add light for my mood and for my activities, while also having a space I want to be in.
I, too, can get a bit stuck with my habits and routines. I try to push myself to try new ways of doing things from time to time because I’m aware of my inclination. I’m also light sensitive and totally get needing to have light but not harsh light. I know you’ll find a good solution to bring more light into your spaces.