Fresh Starts

Like most of you I spent my summer outside, enjoying nature, meeting up with friends and soaking in the sun (with sunscreen). Summer is great but I’m completely in love with the Fall – maybe because I’ve always considered September to be about fresh starts. My birthday is in September, the Jewish New Year is in September and there is a crispness in the air that clears my brain. And whether or not you have children, the idea of Back-to-School is a concept that never quite leaves the system. It’s a time to learn, to take stock of what we need to do in the next year to succeed, to leave the past year’s flaws at our feet (which is pretty much the idea of Yom Kippur – the Jewish holiday when we atone for our sins and try to make things right with ourselves and our higher power).

In addition to all the psychological shifts this season brings, let’s figure out what this upcoming time of year means for you when it comes to getting organized.

Clothing:
Now that summer is over, there are accessories and seasonal pieces that will need to be packed away. Please take an hour and evaluate the quality of your bathing suits, beach towels, sun dresses, sandals, sunglasses, flip flops and any other items that scream Summer to you. If any of these have seen their last hurrah, say good-bye and be grateful that you’re saving storage space by getting rid of these pieces. Now you can pack away the keepers in a labeled bin in the back of your closet and have them ready and available for next year.

Food:
As the seasons change, so do our choices in fresh foods. Take a half an hour to clean out your fridge and weed out any funky fruits and veggies that didn’t quite survive to see the Fall cycle. It’s time to restock your supply with Fall-centric foods. Wipe down the fridge, toss any unused leftovers and take a mental note of what did and didn’t get consumed by you and your family.

Shelter:
As it’s still quite beautiful out so use this fantastic in-between weather to do any home repairs that require you to be exposed to the elements. Roof issues (including gutter cleaning), terrace repair, autumn gardening efforts and anything that requires preparing for cold weather treatments while it’s not yet too frigid out.

These are just a handful of areas where you can use this shift in weather and sensibilities to get back into swing of things after your summer vacations and retreats. What else comes to mind when you think of Fall?

With love, light and less clutter…
Jeni