7 Ways to Reset for Fall & Back-to-School Season

It’s officially back-to-school season, and although I’m not a full-time student anymore, I’ve always loved this time of year. There’s something about getting back into a routine or rhythm that feels so necessary after a few months of relaxed schedules and slow summer days.

Bonus: I can finally drink pumpkin-flavored coffee and light my fall-scented candles without judgment.

Yes, it may still be summer weather for a few weeks longer (and I’m okay with that!), but I find myself getting excited for all that autumn has in store.

Along with the fall season quickly approaching, so do busy schedules, packed routines, and the urge to dive right back into the busyness of life.

In this transition, it’s important to take a moment and step back, reset, and prepare for what’s to come. Whether you’re going back to school or simply preparing for the season ahead, here are 7 ways to reset for fall and back-to-school season.

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{ONE} Establish a consistent morning routine.

Your morning can make or break your whole day. If my day starts off on the wrong foot, then I find it’s difficult to get back on track. As often as I can, I try to complete several rituals in the morning so that even if I wake up later than anticipated, I don’t feel frazzled. Some of the elements in my routine include (but are not limited to) brushing my teeth and face (obviously), having my devotions, stretching, getting dressed and making the bed, and brewing coffee. Whether this routine takes me 10 or 30 minutes depends on the day, but what’s important is consistently doing several tasks that help me to mentally prepare for the day ahead.

Here are a few past blog posts if you’re interested in reading more about morning routines:

• My Morning Routine (And How To Create One For Yourself)

• How I’m Becoming a Morning Person

• 8 Things I Do Every Single Day

{TWO} Get yourself a planner (any planner will do).

I’m a huge advocate of planning, whether that happens in a physical planner or in a digital app like Google Calendar. If you’ve been here for a bit you know I’m a huge fan of Bloom Planners and use the Vision Planner daily. Fall is a crazy busy time of year for many, so having a dedicated place to write down any and all appointments, deadlines, homework assignments, to-dos, and personal commitments is critical.

Here are a few past blog posts if you’re interested in reading more about getting organized:

• My Organization System

• 11 Work From Home Essentials

• 10 Daily Habits that Will Help You Stay Organized

• My Top 10 Productivity Hacks

{THREE} Add any and all important dates to your calendar.

I’m making this its own section because it’s that important. Add any and all important dates to your calendar/planner, whether it’s the kids’ soccer schedules, dentist appointments, birthdays, family dinners, etc. You may think you’ll remember, but trust me, it helps to get everything out of your head and write everything down!

{FOUR} Find (or create) a go-to playlist for getting in the zone.

I love finding and creating playlists to help me with various tasks. I have a playlist for working out, cleaning, relaxing…you name it, there’s probably a playlist I’ve identified for it. Music can help set the mood and “vibe” for your space. For example, I listen to Lo-Fi Beats when I need to focus or write, and music with lyrics when I am doing mindless tasks like cleaning. Whatever music works for you, find (or create) a playlist that can become your go-to mix when you need to get in the zone.

Fun fact: In college, I listened to Michael Jackson’s top hits before every exam! Billie Jean and Beat It were my go-to songs before walking into the classroom.

{FIVE} Limit your screen time.

A major way I’m resetting for fall is limiting my screen time. It’s absurd how much time you can mindlessly spend on your phone, and the weekly recap notifications I get on Sunday remind me just how much that time adds up each day! While it may not be realistic to completely ignore your phone all day every day, it is important to set limits. Ways to do this include setting specific app time limits, only scrolling at certain times a day, or adjusting settings so that all of the apps are disabled after a certain time at night. Do whatever works for you, but take steps to limit how much time you’re staring at a screen!

{SIX} Meal plan or batch-bake.

Planning meals is one of those things that I am not great at, but it can be such a lifesaver during busy seasons. Whether you meal prep and plan for the week, or simply always make sure you have ingredients on hand to make your favorite meals, identify what will make your life easier and go for it. This weekend, for example, I decided to bake several loaves of pumpkin banana bread so that I don’t have to decide what to eat for breakfast for the foreseeable future. (This is the recipe I used and it’s amazing!!)

{SEVEN} Make room for rest.

You knew this was coming, didn’t you? In a season of busyness, it’s easy to burn out fast if you’re not careful. Schedule rest for what that means for you. It could mean saying no to commitments that won’t allow you to be home in the evenings. It could mean blocking off Sunday afternoons to take a nap, watch football, or read. What’s important is not what you do during your rest time, but that you actually make room for what resets and reenergizes you. In the season of busyness, don’t forget to take a moment to breathe, rest, and just be.