Remember when you were a kid, and fall meant starting over? New sneakers. New backpack. New headband you just couldn’t wait to show your bestie?
To borrow a phrase from Anne of Green Gables (hey, we’re talking childhood), fall was like starting over on “a new day with no mistakes in it yet.” And it felt good!
But you don’t have to be 9 and have a pack full of freshly sharpened pencils in hand to get that fresh feeling of fall. According to one survey, 45 percent of Americans look at fall as the perfect time of year to get organized, and that doesn’t just mean your desk.
Here’s how to take on fall like the fierce woman you are:
Sleep on it.
With shorter days fast approaching, it feels like Mother Nature is urging us to move indoors and stay there. Maybe she’s onto something? Sleep is an essential part of a healthy you, and the urge to curl up under a warm comforter in the colder months could be just what you need to finally kick off that improved sleep routine.
Even better? Fall weather can actually help you fight insomnia. It turns out the best temps for getting a good night’s sleep are somewhere between 60 and 70 degrees. Try setting an alarm to remind yourself when it’s time to go to bed, and make yourself stick to the same bedtime (more or less). When it comes to morning, resist hitting that snooze button, and get up at the same time each day. Regular sleep and wake schedules alone can make all the difference in how you feel.
Cut the clutter.
You don’t have to go full Marie Kondo, but you know what’s coming? The holidays. And you know what the holidays bring? Stuff! That cute little turkey centerpiece you just can’t resist. The holiday office party Secret Santa tchotchkes you really don’t want. Cut stuff now, and you’ll thank yourself later.
Treat yo’ skin.
That chill in the air doesn’t just mean you can hit up your local coffee shop for a pumpkin spice latte. Skin also tends to dry out when the weather turns colder. Set aside your summer routine and amp up the moisture. You don’t have to abandon everything that’s been working, but if you’ve been skipping the moisturizer, it may be time to add it back in.
Feel like trying a hydrating mask? Now’s the time. And while you’re at it, take a stroll down the cosmetics aisle to stock up on a few fall colors. A new lip color alone can make you feel like an all new you.
Make your wardrobe function for fall.
When you were a kid, fall meant hitting the mall while your mom moaned about how fast you were growing. Thank goodness those days are over! Your favorite jeans can now last years, and they’ll have to pry that sweater you bought in college from your cold dead hands.
But that doesn’t mean you can’t indulge in some fall shopping. While you’re putting away your summer clothes, do a quick evaluation of which favorites from last fall have seen better days. A great knit scarf or that pair of boots you’ve been eyeing will bring back that first-day-of-school-wardrobe feeling. And since you no longer grow 2 inches a month, you’ll even be able to wear them straight through the colder months.
Kick your cooking up a notch.
So you had ice cream on the boardwalk, fried Oreos at the fair, and way too much [linkbuilder id=”6443″ text=”fast food”] on that summer road trip? It’s a good thing fall calls for warming up your home.
Get thee to Pinterest for a menu reboot, and start making food at home again. You’ll be warmer, and all those wholesome eats will make your body feel better too.
Bonus: Think of all the money you’ll save eating food at home again.
Make (old) friends.
Fall used to mean meeting the new kids (or maybe even being the new kid) and the potential to make new friends. But with 657 Facebook friends you almost never see in person, you don’t have to get sweaty palms wondering if the new kid will want to come to your sleepover.
You already know these people; you just need to make some plans that involve seeing someone face to face. And if you really want to change things up, you could even try placing an actual phone call to make the date. Now that’s a reboot!