Fall is a Great Time to…

Go through the summer clothes before you store them away and cull what no longer fits and what you no longer wear.
Ditto with the cool-weather clothes. Sort through everything before you hang them up or stash them in a drawer.
Thin out your fall decorations and accessories by getting rid of anything you no longer love, or that doesn’t fit your current lifestyle.
Rethink Christmas giving strategies. Is this the year to revamp expectations on gift giving? Begin an Everyone-Picks-One-Name family gift exchange? Think through it now before the season gets into full swing and it’s too late to change.
Plan ahead for the holidays. Think through who is hosting what. Check holiday supplies (lights, wrapping paper, etc.) now so you have time to shop for what you need. Consider what you can do ahead to make life easier in December.
Create wish lists and communicate them. None of us need more random stuff. Giving family a list of things you need or want helps prevent needless clutter and wasted money.

Savor a cup of warm apple cider (or your favorite hot beverage).
Do a fun fall outing. Corn mazes, orchards, harvest festivals, foliage hikes… Get outside and enjoy some facet of autumn.
Feast on your favorite apple or pumpkin treat.
Then try apples or pumpkin in a new way. They can be used in many recipes, from breakfast to desserts to savory dishes.
Throw a party to celebrate your favorite aspects of autumn. A harvest feast. A pumpkin-carving contest. A costume party. A pie bake-off. A fall craft night. A brisk hike followed by warm drinks and savory stew… Who doesn’t love an excuse for a party?

Cooler days means drier air. Make sure you are giving your skin moisturizers to compensate.
Also, make sure you drink sufficient liquids. You actually lose more water through breathing on cold days than you do on hot ones, so drink up.
Shorter days means you need to be more intentional about getting enough sunshine in your life. Even if you don’t suffer from SAD, exposure to sunshine will boost your mood.
Enjoy a hot bath. Chilly weather makes a long soak in warm water more appealing than ever. Relax and let stress drain away. Ahh.
Sit by a crackling fire. If you have a fireplace or woodstove, fall is a great time to enjoy it. There’s something unique and wholesome about sitting with friends staring into the ever-shifting flames.

Make a final push to complete a project that is close to being finished.
Get serious about a habit. There are 70 days to the end of the year. That’s enough time to get a mini-habit established. Then in the New Year you can up your game and take that habit to the next level.
Evaluate how things are going. The craziness of summer is over. The rush to face a new school year is past. Things have (hopefully) fallen into a rhythm. Now is a great time to take stock of what progress you’ve made this year, what has changed, what isn’t working, and what dreams or goals have fallen through the cracks.
Review your accomplishments. Think back over the past few months and make a list of:
- The fun things you’ve done.
- The places and people you’ve visited.
- The projects you’ve completed. (work, home maintenance, hobbies, etc)
- The hurdles you’ve faced and overcome.
And then celebrate your hard work. Take time to read through the list and find satisfaction in all you have done. Relive the happy memories and pat yourself on the back for checking chores like staining the deck or sealing the driveway off your to-do list. Good work!

I hope these 21 ideas will help you live a more intentional life this fall.

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