5 Things To Do Now To Save Your Sanity This Fall

Would you like to connect with other women 40+ and make new friends? Find community and inspiration by joining our private Facebook community, The Girlfriend Social Club, today. You'll love it!


You know that crazy moment in late August when pools and beaches are still open, but your inbox is full of back-to-school emails and budget meetings? Welcome to the great seasonal overlap.

“Times of transition, such as summer into fall, can cause your executive function skills to become a bit chaotic,” says Krissy Metzler, an executive function coach and co-founder of The GoaldEn System. “Science tells us that our brains love to know what’s coming and when we are in a time of transition, things can feel a bit chaotic.”

This year, as the chaos kicks in, carve out time to tackle these five quick tasks — from decluttering your closet to fine-tuning your calendar — to transform the transition from overwhelming to oddly satisfying.

30-Minute Fall Reset

Block 30 minutes to review your September and October calendars. Get up-to-date on deadlines, sports practices and Halloween (jot down the date when costumes need to be ordered). “Write them all down in one place — digital or paper — whatever you’ll actually look at,” says Teresa Martino-Woods, the owner of Connections Counseling & Consulting. “Just seeing it all helps your brain stop spinning.”

This includes taking stock of what’s been mentally nagging you, such as unfinished projects, social obligations and forms that need to be completed before the school year. Make a list and give yourself a day to go through that list and check those nags off one by one, Martino-Woods says.

Compile One Big Info List

Put all the lists and notifications you get in one place, suggests Amy Kulisheck, an executive and personal leadership coach and time management specialist with Stand Tall Coaching. “You know the lists I’m talking about: Everything you’ll need to buy, important dates to remember, codes of conduct to sign and volunteer signup forms that you receive from kids’ schools, teams and clubs,” she says. This can be a physical place like a basket or file folder in a centrally accessible spot, or it can be electronic, such as a folder on your device or a label in your email. If you have the energy, Kulisheck says, organize further by family member, information type or due date.

Schedule Blocks of Time

Instead of trying to take care of each chore as it comes up, schedule one or two blocks of specific time when you can pull out all the lists and schedules and get organized. This is your time to put practice schedules, games and performances on the calendar; fill out all permission and health forms; and make one big shopping list, Kulisheck says. You’ll be giving yourself ample time to notice conflicts and you’ll be more efficient overall.

Refine Your Calendar

Manage your calendar now with the benefit of planning with a longer horizon, says Kathy Oneto, a certified life-work coach, founder of the Sustainable Ambition movement and author of Sustainable Ambition: How to Prioritize What Matters to Thrive in Life and Work. Start by jotting down all the activities you want to prioritize, then add important professional commitments. Proactively schedule time for your future achievements. For example, if you would like to commit to exercising for an hour a day, five days a week, then you should put this into your calendar on a recurring basis. This is especially helpful if you completely abandoned your schedule and routine over the summer.

Organize Summer Stuff

Before storing your summer clothing, swimsuits and gear, take the time to declutter and organize them. “Anything that is stained, ripped or torn beyond repair, or does not fit you or your body type, should be donated or discarded,” says Blanka Molnar, a former organizer with the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO), and the founder of an organizing company.

This includes organizing camping gear, pool items and your patio furniture. Molnar suggests getting rid of torn floaties or broken gear and replenishing your hiking first-aid kit with new items.

Your future self will thank you.

Have YOU already done any of the above? Let us know in the comments below.