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There’s a feeling I get when fall comes around. It’s the same feeling I get on a rainy day. The mornings are starting to feel a little different, a little chillier, and the leaves are starting to turn brown. It’s the feeling of cosiness.
The days are getting shorter, and suddenly the year is three-quarters gone. A fall reset checklist is a small clear-out as the season changes, nothing dramatic. It’s much easier to stick to than a January resolution, because you’re not starting from scratch, just tidying up before winter. So here’s my fall reset checklist. Do all of it or only the bits you like.
Table of Contents
Why use a fall reset checklist?
A lot of us wait for January to start over, but January isn’t the easiest time for it. You’re tired from the holidays, it’s cold, and nobody has the energy for new habits. Fall is easier. The weather’s changing anyway, your wardrobe’s changing anyway, and there are still about three months of the year left. Do a little now and November and December feel less chaotic.
Reset Your Space
Start with what you can see.
1. Swap your wardrobe. Put the summer stuff away and get the knits, jackets and boots out. Try things on while you’re at it. Anything that doesn’t fit, or that you haven’t worn in two seasons, goes in a donate bag.
2. Wash the warm bedding. Get the heavy blanket and duvet washed and on the bed before the first properly cold night. Digging them out at 10 p.m. when you’re already freezing is no fun.
3. Clear one drawer or shelf. Just one. Not the whole house. A drawer, a shelf or the pile on your desk, ten minutes.
4. Add a few cosy touches. A throw blanket, a candle, lamps instead of the big light. You don’t need to buy much. My post on making your home feel cosy on a budget has ideas that cost very little.
Reset Your Routines
The light changes, so your routines usually need adjusting too.
5. Adjust your mornings. It’s harder to get out of bed when it’s still dark. Open the curtains and switch on a lamp before you do anything else, or move your alarm by fifteen minutes and see what works.
6. Refresh your skincare. Cooler, drier air can leave skin feeling tight. If yours does, try a richer moisturiser, and keep wearing sunscreen even when it’s cloudy. Not sure what suits your skin? My skin care routine guide might help.
7. Plan a few easy meals. Soups, stews, anything in one pot. Pick two or three you can make on a tired weeknight and add the ingredients to your next shop. A big pot on Sunday sorts you out for a few dinners.
8. Get outside while it’s light. A walk at lunch, or straight after work before it gets dark. Daylight and a bit of movement can make a difference to how you feel as the days shorten.
Reset Your Plans
Most people skip this bit.
9. Check in on your goals. Look back at what you wanted at the start of the year. Cross off what’s done, drop what you don’t care about anymore, and pick two or three to finish before December. A short list you actually finish beats a long one you gave up on. Stick them on a sticky note somewhere you’ll see it.
10. Clear your calendar. Look at the next three months and cross out anything you’re only doing out of guilt. You can say no without a long explanation. My post on saying no without over-explaining can help.
11. Plan one fall thing a week. An orchard trip, a movie night, baking something. One a week and the season doesn’t just disappear on you.
12. Write it all down. Ten minutes of journaling: what do you want more of this season, and what do you want less of? If you don’t know how to start, my beginner’s guide to journaling walks you through it.
How to work through the fall reset checklist
You don’t have to do all twelve. You could do one a day for twelve days, or pick a Sunday and knock out three or four, one from each section. My Sunday reset checklist goes well with this one if you want a plan for the week ahead. Miss a day? Just carry on.
Fall reset FAQ
When should I do a fall reset?
Early in the season is best: late September or early October in the northern hemisphere, around March in the southern. But there’s no wrong time. If it’s already November, start now.
How long does a fall reset take?
Depends how you do it. A little each day over twelve days, or a full weekend if you do it all at once.
Do I need to buy anything for a fall reset?
No. Most of it costs nothing. A throw blanket, a candle or a richer moisturiser are nice extras, but you can skip them.
What’s the first thing I should do?
Pick the one that takes the least effort. The bedding or one drawer is an easy start, and it’ll give you a reason to do the next one.
