Sept. 22 marks the first day of autumn. While Summer has a way of loosening the grip we keep on our schedules, the change in seasons is the perfect time to reappraise our lives and start fresh.
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Whether you’re traveling, wrangling kids, spending time with family or simply enjoying longer days outside, the season often takes on its own vacation mode. Even if you don’t have kids, long sunny days tends to invite a more relaxed pace. The to-do list shortens, routines get skipped and life becomes a little less structured. That’s the beauty of easy living, but eventually, it’s time to reel things back in; that’s where the fall reset comes in.
Fall reset
A fall reset is about getting life back under control without overcomplicating it. It’s a chance to tackle the parts of daily routine that get neglected in the summer rush, so you can go into the cooler months feeling organized and ready.
This isn’t just about cleaning the house. A reset can help improve your mental health, reduce stress and provide a clear path forward. From deep cleaning to meal planning, get back on track and clear your mind at the same time.
Housecleaning
If you’ve been skimping on housework all season long, you’re not alone; most of us do it too. Now is the time for a deep clean. A good fall cleaning sets you up for months of easy maintenance.
While you’re scrubbing, take a look around the house. Are there items you no longer use? Pack them up and send them to the thrift store, pass them on through a local buy-nothing group or recycle what you can.
Laundry
Summer laundry often means doing the bare minimum just to keep up. Now’s the time to take control of the laundry room. Wash everything, clear out piles and look for worn-out clothing. Retire them to the rag pile for cleaning and skip buying extra paper towels.
Fridge refresh
A deep clean now will pay off later, especially when it’s time to fill the fridge for Thanksgiving or Christmas. Remove everything, scrub and sanitize the shelves and discard any expired or past-prime items. You’ll be surprised how much easier meal prep feels when your fridge is fresh and organized. Plus, you can see what’s left and what’s missing.
Meal planning
Speaking of meal prep and planning, now that the fridge is clean, it’s the perfect time to see what’s left and ready to be used up. In fact, that’s the best way to meal plan. The chicken you bought without a purpose is now going to be chicken skewers, and it’s the first recipe on your list.
Old bread makes great French toast and brown bananas can be tossed in the freezer for banana bread or cake. Planning and creatively using foods on their way out not only saves time but also money.
And if you’re stuck on what else to make for any meals, it’s always a good time to ask anyone in the house what they want to eat and add it to the meal plan. While you’re at it, assign them a couple of days to be in charge of the kitchen to keep things fresh and moving along. No one person should be the sole cook in any house.
Window washing
Spring and fall are prime times for window washing. Just in time for fall rain, but clean windows still look and feel nice, whether or not they’ve been rained on.
Clean those screens while you’re at it. They’ve been busy keeping out bugs all summer long, but by now they’re covered in dirt, dust and silt and could use a good cleaning.
Outside clean-up
Depending on your climate, September might be the start of fall yard work or even winter garden prep. After a season of play, it’s time for cleanup, raking, pulling weeds, picking up windblown debris and making sure outdoor spaces are ready for the months ahead.
The work is worth it
A fall reset doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Pick a few areas to focus on, make a list and work through it at your own pace. By the time the leaves start to turn, you’ll be glad you took the time to get life back in order. Getting back on track after summer doesn’t mean losing that easygoing spirit: it just means setting yourself up so the rest of the year runs a little smoother.
A fall reset is less about perfection and more about making space for what matters most. Clearing clutter not only makes your home easier to manage, but it can also ease stress and give you a clearer mind before the busy holiday season arrives.
Laura Sampson is the writer behind Little Frugal Homestead. She and her husband, Jack, are two Gen-Xers living in a 90-year-old farmhouse in Alaska. They keep chickens and honeybees, and grow a garden and small orchard; their dream is to live well within their means on their little piece of land.