The goldenrod is blooming. The days are getting shorter, the evenings cooler. Most kids are back to school in other parts of the world (mine is already in summer school for two weeks and hates me for signing him up for it!). My inbox is filling up with invites for the latest books, book parties, harvests, and farmers’ markets. It’s time to return. To school, to work, to politics, to the city—to all of it.
I recently learned that the French have a phrase for this time, “la rentrée” (literally, “the return”). In France, most people take much of August off for grande vacances (a looong summer vacation). September is when people return to work and life in the city. Part of the reason la rentrée is so palpable in France is that it’s not just families with young kids returning to responsibility in September. Plus, “Whether you’re in Paris, Provence, Brittany, or even Corsica, you’ll see crowds of children and adolescents heading back to class at the same time, which contributes to the feeling of it being a shared national moment.” There’s even a literary rentrée!
I wish we had a more shared la rentrée experience here in Vienna, Austria. Instead, I feel behind talking to a colleague whose kids went back weeks ago. An anxious feeling accompanies the official return to school, which is craziness again. I’ve gotten a little too used to sleeping later, ignoring the news (I will keep doing that for my sanity!), and saying yes to just about anything my kid asks to do. September has always felt like the start of a new year to me. Many people find this time invigorating, and many parents look forward to the start of the school year. So do I.
So, I’m actively working on a mental reframe. I’m thinking about our time away and the more relaxed lifestyle as a chance to refill my reserves for new challenges (including pottery classes I want to take and a new language I want to learn!). I’m embracing September as an opportunity to dig into writing projects I’ve put off.
I know I thrive when my home is in order, so I am also claiming this time as a moment for a next-level home reset. Think: A deep decluttering, an even deeper cleaning—maybe a reenvisioning of some of the ways we have our house or apartment arranged.
Whether you are dreading or looking forward to September, I believe getting your house in order will help you get back into the swing of things. So, I’ve put together a list of ways to get your home (and yourself) ready for whatever is ahead of you this fall:
Do a preliminary clean-up
I took some time to get my house cleaned and tidied to host friends soon, and I recommend a mini-reset to kick things off. That preliminary putting things away and making everything look nice for guests makes the bigger work of a deep decluttering feel more manageable. It also made me feel happy to have my place all spiffy.
Start a serious decluttering streak
I’ve written often about the Snowball Method of decluttering, in which you declutter one item on Day 1, two items on Day 2, three items on Day 3, and so on until you’ve run out of steam or gotten to the end of the month. However, it has been years since I’ve done it myself. I decided to start a snowball on September 1 and document what I let go of–with a full report at the end of the month.
Winnow your wardrobe
Separate but related to home decluttering is cleaning out your closet. I find the end of a season is a good time to take stock of what I actually wore. It’s easy to let go of summer things that didn’t get worn while it’s still warm out. Whereas in mid-winter you might think, “Oh, I might need that.” It’s also a helpful barometer to take a look at the next season’s clothes and see what you’re excited to wear again; you might be able to spot a few things you know you won’t want to wear ever.
Push pause on new purchases
At the start of the school year, it can be tempting to click “buy” whenever a bit of friction arises. Instead of rushing to buy solutions, wait a few days to assess what’s truly a need. Also look for ways to source things secondhand first: You can reduce waste and save lots of money buying things gently used.
Deep clean textiles
I plan to do a deep cleaning of my home after I finish my month-long decluttering, but in the meantime, I will make time for the seasonal washing of fabric items like the sofa covers, outdoor seat cushions, mattress pads, and the decorative cushion covers. Washing those items is an easy way to make everything feel fresh.
Plan something fun
I think part of the reason I get the September Scaries sometimes is that it feels like all the fun stuff is winding down. Putting a few things on the calendar to look forward to this fall makes it easier to remember that all seasons are fun. What awesome things do you have planned this fall? (Seeking inspiration.)
Pick *one* project
Home to-do lists tend to run miles long. I get overwhelmed whenever I think of all the things I’d like to do in my house. So I am recommending that you pick just one project to tackle this fall. Instead of writing a giant (and frankly overwhelming) list of all the things you want to do, write all the micro-tasks associated with this one project. I’m still noodling on what my one project should be.
Shake up your senses
There’s something magical and witchy in finding sensory ways to signal a new beginning. You could do it with scent: Wear a different perfume or buy a new scented candle. Or maybe it’s taste: Swap up your usual coffee brand or reinvent your breakfast routine. Cover the sofa with a brightly colored sheet or tablecloth, listen to some new artists–anything to signal “change” and “new” to your brain.
Pamper yourself a little
You may feel more ready to face all the responsibilities that September brings if you take the time to take care of yourself. Whether it’s a haircut, a trip to the fancy health food store, or a restorative yoga class, I find even a little bit of self-pampering can bolster my spirits.
Move your body—preferably outside
Somehow I found less time to exercise this summer than during the school year. Whenever I’m feeling down or overwhelmed, a run, a walk, or a Yoga class is just the thing to get me back in a better frame of mind. If you tend to let exercise go by the wayside, maybe sign up for some classes or make dates to walk with a friend.
