In an attempt to have so much family summer fun while staying on top of work, I have once again neglected myself, my body, my sleep, and my house, and am so excited, desperate even, to get back to a routine. So now that the kids are back in school, I’m hunkered down for a bit, doing the routines that I know make me the better version of myself (not the burnt-out, scattered one I’ve been presenting the last 6 weeks). So here’s what I attempt to do for a fall reset – physically, spiritually, and mentally. It’s a long list and likely is unachievable, which I realize is ironic, but most of these things are so easy and I actually really enjoy doing all of them. I may only stick to it til Halloween, or hell, maybe it’s just a September reset, but I’m so looking forward to introverting for a while and getting my life together 🙂 It’s like a mini January before the holidays begin (sorry, it’s not up to me; Q4 is almost here). But for now, here’s my September fall reset.

Fall Reset: Meal Prepping Food And Snacks On Sunday

We’ve alllllll let it slide, if you know what I mean. Overindulging in all the ways. I have my favorite cookbooks that I like to thumb through on Sunday morning and fantasize about all the healthy choices I’m going to make and force upon my children. Then I put on a podcast or audiobook in the afternoon after Brian has done the shopping and usually make at least one big soup, boil some eggs, make energy bites for the kids, and chop salad veggies for our lunches. This ends up being alone time, even if Brian is in there with me (which he usually is) because we both listen to our podcasts and “parallel play,” as they say 🙂 The kids usually get screentime after chores, so it tends to line up. I have my favorite cookbooks that I have referenced for years (I swear no new ones have come out).

Bowls: Vibrant Recipes with Endless Possibilities | Clean Soups | EatingWell Soups

Fall Reset: The Skylight Calendar

My algorithm is full of parenting experts and psychologists touting the “Set up, Support, Step away’ method to help tween kids train their executive function and to just give them more ownership over their lives. Since our kids are almost 11 and 13, they are capable of doing anything, so we had a big family meeting about mornings, and I’m happy to say we’ve solved all our problems (lol). Last year wasn’t actually too bad (having their school times be an hour apart was oddly peaceful), so I know they can do it, but this year we want to step away even more (break the cycle of the badgering that they just can’t seem to hear until it’s super elevated). Brian still wants to help with meals mostly to ensure they eat healthy, but this is the year badgering ends! The Skylight Calendar gives them the clear list and leads to rewards that they’ve come up with. As they check off their tasks, they are working towards some goals (read: squishies and video game skins, and trips to Plaid Pantry with $2 to spend on garbage). This will also track their weekly tasks for the allowance. I really wish that I had a 6-month review to assure you that this is something we will stick with, but all I can say is that over the summer we tried it, but our schedule was so week-to-week that it didn’t stick and these kids are so excited to do it this year (one more than the other, lol).

Fall Reset: Moving My Body

Weighted Vest

In the winter/spring I had a pretty great routine – nothing groundbreaking or strenuous, but it felt achievable and enjoyable while prioritizing sleep. I work out from 7-7:30, and Brian goes at 8:30 so we stagger with kids. Mondays I do a long 4-5 mile weighted walk (to get my head straight before the week and shake my anxiety), Tuesday/Thursday morning group Pilates from 7-8 am, and Wednesday 30-minute weight training (I phone it in, but I’m always sore). Weekends are also for long walks (add in some hills or stairs with the weighted vest, and go for 5 miles with a friend and you’ve checked a serious box). I will admit I’m not really pushing myself; it’s not like doing Orange Theory, and I should totally be doing more strength training, but I’m focusing on what I can actually achieve that I look forward to doing.

Fall Reset: Back To My Romance Novels

My TBR list is so long, and my current life doesn’t sustain deep literature right now. I blame the children. We used to put them down at 8-8:30, and Brian and I would both read from 9-10 pm, then lights out. All summer they’ve been staying up til 10:30 or 11 on the weeknights even, so the second I hit the bed I’m 2 pages in and then OUT. We still put our kids to bed, which I know we don’t need to, but I like the cozy chatting time, and they are still wanting us to lie with them for a bit (and I can’t bring myself to “no” knowing that they won’t ask forever). Anyway, hoping to shift it back at least til 9:30 so I can get 1/2 hour in at night. If you haven’t checked out my post about the best romance novels and how it changed my life and marriage (that I probably need to update), check it out. If you need something cozy, comforting, and with little to no anxiety (unless happy endings give you some sort of anxiety – which I get!), then join me hunkering down and snuggling up. I’ll read denser novels on vacations or after the kids graduate 🙂

Fall Reset: Organizing + Audiobooks

There are a few places in the house that are driving me absolutely bonkers (not shown). So while I don’t have time to do the whole house right now (that’s “January Emily’s” job), I’m going to tackle my closet (big purge – Community Warehouse Sale coming in October), the pantry, and re-organizing the prop garage. Gripping audiobooks really help. I’m writing a whole post on the books that are specifically good audiobooks, the ones that make time FLY, so if you have any suggestions, leave them in the comments, and I’ll include them.

Fall Reset: Nighttime Cozy TV

Yes, this is actually a goal we try to achieve:) I’m going to write a whole post about the TV shows we watch together because it’s my hypothesis that nightly family TV time is actually a really bonding shared experience. We are allllll tired at the end of the day. The kids have sports almost every night til 7, and since the kids stay up later (we didn’t do this when they were 4 and 6), we find that having a good show that we all look forward to watching together feels good to all of us. No double screens, of course, just us in our dark family room engaged in Modern Family, The Office, Survivor, or our current Veronica Mars.

Fall Reset: Cozy Blanket + Candles

I don’t do a ton of “fall specific” decorating, especially this early (sometimes in October when the leaves start changing). We are a year-round blanket family, but tis the season we each have our own cozy fur blanket. I’ve loved the ones from Anthro (also because the colors are the best) and the size is great. And then I’ve started burning candles at night again, which creates a vibe, especially in the family room. Nothing groundbreaking, but my goodness I love putting on my PJs and slippers and cosplaying fall even when it’s still 85 degrees out.

Fall Reset: Masks – So Many Masks

CICA Collagen Daily Mask

Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo | Deep Conditioning Mask | Hydro Rush Intense Moisture Hair Mask | Twinkling Tulip Shea Sugar Scrub | Vitamin C Shea Sugar Scrub

Body Butter | Body Wash | Foaming Bath with Pure Epsom Salt | LIFE-FLO Magnesium Bath Flakes

The LIFE-FLO magnesium flakes and the Dr. Teals foaming bath are just my usual nightly bath additions. They are drugstore prices, and I fly through them.

LIFE-FLO Magnesium Bath Flakes | Exfolikate Face Mask

I’ve been using the Kate Somerville Exfolikate for so many years – my entire adult life. It’s called the 15-minute facial for a reason. It’s just highly effective, tightens, smooths, glows for days.

After meal prep and before family movie night (Sunday), I used to do a quick DIY hour-minute spa that felt so good before the week. Bath with deep-sea magnesium flakes, hair mask, face mask while I blow out my hair (which I only do in the warmer months if I’m going to be wearing a lot of shorts). It helps me be more camera-ready, and I feel like I’ve checked a few boxes just for me while my kids are likely on screens.

Fall Reset: Red Light Therapy – Hat + Mask + Wand

Collagen Jelly Cream | Real Glass Glow Beauty Massager | Red Light Hat

When I use the red light mask, I see a clear result in a couple of weeks, but I forget all the time!!!! In January/February I used it very consistently, and the texture of my skin was clear and tight (in a way that felt more like age reversal, not just healthy food/exercise). It’s hard to know how much the RLT hat is working because I’m also on Nutrafol and minoxidil, but it’s so easy to put on multiple times a day, and if I can see that red light therapy works on my face, why wouldn’t it work on hair follicles? The wand thing is the best beauty tool I’ve ever bought – it’s so easy to use and very effective (you can see your face kinda fill and tighten immediately after). You have to use it with Medicube gel, and I like this collagen gel the best. There are a lot of settings, but I use “booster mode level 3” at least once a day, and I love the results and how it feels.

Fall Reset: Walking Dates With Brian

We are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary in a couple of weeks (going on a trip in the spring – fall is just too busy), and if there is one thing I can shout from the rooftops is to prioritize spending time with your partner, doing new fun things because life is LOOOOONG, folks, and we have to keep it interesting. Now, a walking date isn’t that fun or new, but it is a really easy Friday night for the family. Here’s how it works (and not sure why it took us so long to find this hack): we choose a restaurant 2-3 miles away and walk there with a roadie (wine or beer), then have an hour dinner and walk back (while talking, obviously). Sometimes dinner is just too short to connect, but going to a movie or staying at a bar and just having drinks isn’t the answer for us, so these walking dates have been so awesome (especially when it’s 75 at night). Full disclosure, sometimes we find a lime scooter and scoot home, which makes us feel like we are 27 again (SO FUN).

May you fall reset however you feel good (maybe it includes napping more, which I cannot seem to do!). I’m about to be the “after” version of my August “before”, I swear. Time to hunker down (until all the sporting events, fall parties, and holiday bonanzas start :)). It’s a busy season of life, for sure. xx

Opening Image Credits: Photo by Kaitlin Green