Transition Into Fall with Purpose

A Guide to Resetting Your Life and Calendar in Changing Seasons

We all know that feeling.

The one where summer starts to fade—pool days are fewer, school supplies are everywhere, watermelon is harder to find at the grocery store, and football season is suddenly around the corner. You feel that subtle shift in the air—not quite crisp yet, but full of anticipation. You might even notice yourself bracing a little, knowing what’s ahead: fuller calendars, shifting routines, a rush to do all the fall things—pumpkin patches, tailgates, apple orchards.

And the routine can be good. It is good. But those few weeks of transition? They can feel a little tense. Tension in your home, with your kids, your spouse—and even inside your own body. It’s a mix of excitement and overwhelm.

So, how can we soak up the sweetness of summer and prepare for all the goodness fall brings? Let’s use this tail end of summer to refresh your mindset, reset your calendar, and move into a new season with intention.

Revisit Your Summer Bucket List

Before we rush ahead, what’s still on your summer list? Think small moments, not just big trips.

Maybe it’s:

• A family hike

• A Friday movie night under the stars

• Trying a new Blackstone recipe

• Dinner with friends

• A round of golf with your spouse

Now’s the time to pencil those in. If it’s not scheduled, it probably won’t happen. Protect time for those moments so you’re not ending summer with regret—but with presence.

Name Your Fall Priorities

Looking ahead to fall, what do you want to prioritize?

Is it more quality time with family?

More rest at home?

More structure in your days?

More connection with friends?

More slowing down?

Try choosing a word for the season—one that anchors you when life starts to move fast again. That word becomes your internal compass. When life gets noisy, you can ask yourself: Does this choice align with what I’ve said matters most right now?

Make Space for What You’re Looking Forward To

Now, what are you genuinely excited about this fall?

For me, it’s:

• Mizzou football games

• Visiting the pumpkin patch

• Watching the leaves change

• Chilly morning walks with my dogs

• Hot coffee with a dash of cinnamon

• Fall candles (for my non-toxic friends, Fontana is my go-to!)

• Favorite fall recipes—chili, game day nachos, butternut squash pasta

What’s on your list?

Now look at it—does it reflect your priority or seasonal word? Or does it need some edits?

Seeing your fall list in one place can feel…a bit much. It’s full of good things, but even good things can burn us out when stacked too high. So here’s your next step: build in breathing room.

For example, Mizzou has six home football games in a row this year. And while I love Mizzou so much, I know that I’m a homebody, and being away every weekend won’t serve me well. So I picked the games I really want to go to—and blocked out the other weekends to stay home, recharge, and protect some unstructured time (hello, my fellow extroverted introverts!).

You Don’t Have to Do It All

We live in a world that often pushes us to go all-in: all the games, all the school events, all the happy hours. There’s a magic word out there, and it’s a full sentence: no. 

When you’ve taken time to name your priorities, decisions become easier. You can ask yourself: Does this align with how I want to show up this season?

If yes, wonderful—lean in.

If not, you can pass—confidently and without guilt.

The transition into fall doesn’t have to feel frantic. It can feel full—in the right ways.

This season, let’s walk in with intention, not urgency. Let’s create space for what matters, for what fuels us, and for the joy of watching the world shift into something new.

The leaves will change soon. So can your rhythms. You get to choose how you show up.