Transitioning into fall

This has always been my favorite time of year. I love summer – don’t get me wrong – but we have a lot of uncomfortably hot days in New York during the summer months, and I always look forward to the cooler days and evenings in the fall.

I’ve always felt that the New Year should be celebrated in the fall instead of January 1st , when we’re all miserably cold. After all, for the first big chunk of our lives, fall is when we start a new school year. If you’re a parent to school-age children, this time of year definitely feels like a new year, as you help your kids transition into the next grade.  And at work there’s a fresh sense of purpose as we all seem to be ready to re-engage in the projects we postponed during the summer.

I’d like to offer a suggestion: pretend that the new year is starting now instead of on January 1st . This may mean you set a resolution or two, if you find resolutions work for you. Or spend some time just thinking about changes you’d like to make in your life. Or perhaps you may even celebrate the “fall new year” in any way you would enjoy.

And now is an excellent time to think about your fall wardrobe. Pull out your sweaters, jackets, and long pants. Try them on and make sure they still fit well. Also, take the time to fix any issues. Sew on missing buttons, adjust hems, and remove stains.

Take a look at your fall and winter shoes and purses. If any of them are looking a little worn out or sad, you might find that a good shoe repair person can give them a refresh. Sometimes the sole needs to be re-done or parts need to be replaced. This can be expensive. But at least find out what the cost would be and then decide if you are better off repairing or replacing them.

As you sort your clothes and shoes, be honest with yourself. I’m guessing you have some items that you have never worn but you have kept because you feel guilty getting rid of them. You spent money on the purchase, after all. Now is the time to donate these items and let go of the guilt. These clothes could make someone else happy and instead they are just weighing you down and taking up space in your closet (and in your head).

This is also a great time of year to do things you have been avoiding all summer, like making doctor’s appointments, or an appointment to have your hair cut. Somehow during the summer months these kinds of chores can feel taxing and hard to manage. I think this is partly due to the fact that we’re all in vacation mode and when we’re in vacation mode we want to avoid boring chores.

But I also encourage you to inject a little fun into your fall routine. Use this fresh new season to do things you wouldn’t normally do. This may be something small like inviting someone you know casually at the gym to have coffee or reaching out to a good friend you have lost touch with. Or consider something bigger like taking up a new hobby or sport. Whatever you do, try to approach it with a sense of fun and optimism and see where it takes you.