How to RESET for Fall | Fall Series Vol. 1

Hello Faith Love Life & Style Family!

We’re less than one week away from the start of fall season, and as mentioned in my previous post, it’s been a journey for me to willingly relinquish the summer vibes and make that quick switch over to fully embracing autumn. In fact, with the temperamental changes in weather, it feels like I’m indulging in both seasons. One day, it feels like the peak of summer and the next, I’m ready to cozy up on the sofa with a blanket and a cup of tea or hot chocolate.

This is that transitional time where (depending on where you live), we’re pretty much managing two seasons, all while mentally preparing to make the shift. With back to school, the end of peak wedding season, the closeout of the fiscal year for various agencies and companies, as well as advanced planning for the holidays, pre-fall is not to be underestimated. It’s like a subtle conversion over to fall that sometimes feels anything but subtle. So much happens at this time of year, it’s almost impossible to not be overwhelmed. But as I always say … let summer have her final bow. And while she’s doing that, it’s perfectly okay for us to prepare for the new season at our own pace. Let’s call it recalibration and our chance to reset before fall. Here’s how …

MINDSET SHIFT

It’s the last Monday of summer 2019 … Tuesday’s eve to be exact. And while Monday usually gets a wrap for being one of the harder weekdays to navigate through, I like to constantly remind myself that it’s a fresh start and a new opportunity to accomplish my current goals (as well as defeat and tackle any incomplete items from the prior week). A new beginning. Another chance to execute and show up as my best self. Another moment to be grateful for where I am and celebrate getting through the prior week (yasssss).

But let’s be real. We don’t just arrive at this state of mind every week without a conscious effort. Going into a new week, month or even year isn’t always zen. The same goes for a new season. Sometimes it can be stressful. But notice the aforementioned “defeat” in my reference to incomplete task/goals from a prior week. Mindset is everything. A positive mindset is even more powerful. So shifting your mind to believe that you’re going tackle everything you set out to do can be a game changer.

When I think about the new season, I’m already identifying what I want to do, places I want to go, things I look forward to experiencing and claiming the goals I hope to accomplish — despite last seasons challenges or personal struggles. I love living in the moment and embracing the present, but in order to reset for the new season, I believe that envisioning ourselves in the next … has tremendous power on how we enter it. Going into this new season (your new season) with a positive and optimistic mindset is an absolutely effective way to reset yourself and start anew.

LOOK BACK AT IT

No, it’s not what you’re thinking. Or are you? Maybe you’re not – maybe it’s just me assuming that you’re thinking what I thought you were thinking. Oh gosh! But I just love this subtitle, so we’re sticking with it, okay. Lol! Keep reading …

One of my favorite quotes states, “the only time I’m looking back is to see how far I’ve come.” Read that again. One more time. I just love this! To me, it suggests taking a quick note of the progress you’ve made, say, over the past few years, months, weeks or maybe even days. It facilitates the notion that there’s power in looking back. But, only as is necessary; only for a specific purpose. That is, moving forward, yet consciously looking back for the purpose of assessment and reflection.

At the end of each month, I spend a brief moment looking back at my prior month to see what I accomplished (this gives me motivation), what I did not accomplish (this keeps me humble but still motivates me to create a plan for areas of improvement) and what I plan to do differently for the next. I try not to dwell on what went wrong or what I was unable to achieve. Instead, I find myself reflecting creatively and finding fun ways to encourage myself to meet the mark for the upcoming month/season. Simply put, looking back doesn’t mean going back. It just means that in order to progress forward, a glance at the former is a great juxtaposition for fostering self-development, growth and success for the new. Keep going!

PLAN IT OUT

Another way to reset for fall season is to review your calendar and map out a plan for success. Whether you’re an early bird who plans for the season (months in advance) or the one who likes to take it day by day (or week by week), planning is a great way to visualize your success and manifest the goals you want to achieve throughout the season. For some, this might simply entail sketching out a big picture of what you hope to accomplish for the month; while for others (myself included), it involves seeing the big picture AND writing out general details for individual days each month. Planning not only keeps us organized, but it stimulates creative satisfaction and motivates readiness for each day.

From mapping, to journaling, to recreational planning with a buddy or group, or solo planning with products designed for better productivity, planing allows you to set a blueprint for the season. It creates accountability for you to execute the necessary steps to achieve your goals. The ultimate goal for planning is to have a routine you follow each week and using your planner to list the steps you plan to take to accomplish each of your goals. If you’re an entrepreneur who uses social media for business, you can also plan out your content (or manage pre-planned content) for the season or months in advance, using apps like Planoly or Trello. Both are unique in their own right but do a great job at helping you sort out your visual content, planning your aesthetic and prescheduling posts ahead of time.

Resetting by way of planning also stems beyond standard planning tools. A fun way to get into the fall mindset is to plan your wardrobe for the season (for work, fitness, recreation, etc.) and any upcoming events that you’re excited about. Maybe it’s just me, but I find this one to be extremely exciting. I could have absolutely no where to go, but pulling a few looks in advance for work or play, is an instant pick-me-up. And if you’re not the type to be thrilled by playing dress up or coordinating weekly outfits, I say try at least once. Worst case scenario … I can’t think of one. This practice will simply save you time. The idea might seem daunting to some, but the daily reward of not having to worry about what to wear, far outweighs the task of planning.

If you’re not the type to get excited or motivated by any type of planning, I challenge you to take a leap and try it out this season. Set realistic goals for yourself (professional, business, personal, etc.) and look to see if affects your productivity day to day. Then be sure to circle back here in the comment section and let me know how it went. Plan ahead, stay ready and have fun with it!

PURGE. DECLUTTER. ORGANIZE.

Now that you’ve planned out your vision for a winning season, it’s time to make space, literally. Depending on your approach to preparation for change, you might prefer to complete this step prior to planning. But the key is to do whatever, works best for you! Organization is key to productivity. However, organization is personal to you and your space. Your home, your office, your car or even that gym locker all play a role in how you function throughout the day.

One option is to purge, declutter and organize your home, room by room. This allows you to work on each space as a separate project in itself and to keep the organization specific to what is in each room. Assess what can be tossed, what you can donate and what you actually want to hold onto. Another amazing method that I used earlier this year (going into the spring) is the “KonMari Method” developed by Marie Kondo. “The KonMari Method™ encourages tidying by category – not by location – beginning with clothes, then moving on to books, papers, komono (miscellaneous items), and, finally, sentimental items. Keep only those things that speak to the heart, and discard items that no longer spark joy.” (www.konmar.com). I’ll be going in depth about this process on a later date but here’s a link to get you started. Click here.

Additional ways to reset via organization are to go through and sort your mail, organizing files at home or in the office, cleaning out your purse and/or wallet, or a work bag. Decluttering your digital space is just as important as decluttering your physical space. This includes includes but is not limited to cleaning out your computer drive or cloud files, sorting and creating new computer folders, managing email inboxes (important correspondence for the new month), deleting unused apps, and doing a social media sweep of your contacts (deleting and resetting as needed). Read that last part again.

Freeing yourself of unnecessary tangible and intangible items creates a sense of confidence, freedom, and self-efficacy. It can be invigorating, energizing and may reduce stress and anxiety. What better way to reset and get set for the upcoming season?

MAKE IT PERSONAL

Even right now, we all have some sense of what fall means to us. Each of us uniquely associates fall with something that is personal to us (for other seasons as well). So as the commencement of fall approaches, explore the idea of choosing a personal theme for the season. It might be inspired by a scripture or meditation, a book, a color palette, a song, a fragrance, a loved one, a favorite memory or an important milestone or event.

I find that doing this actually inspires me to get through the previously discussed ways to reset before the change of season. It encourages me to reflect, to plan and organize myself in a way that makes me commit to the present season without added hassle or stress day to day. It not only gives me something to look forward to as partake in the season, but it becomes easier to truly enjoy myself and focus on creating even more special memories with loved ones and friends.

SCHEDULE YOUR REWARD

In the words of “Donna” from the hit TV show, “Parks and Rec” … “treat yo’ self.” That is, once you’ve managed to get through the process of resetting for fall, make plans to reward yourself throughout the season. I like to set one reward for the end of the week as a motivational tool for accomplishing my targeted goals. Try a new hairstyle, new makeup or simply refresh your current stash. Pre-book a self-care appointment well in advance or choose a book to read for the month, alongside your favorite wine. Whatever you choose, commit to celebrating yourself for every win throughout the season and make it count.

Thanks for stopping by!

Love and light,