It's the middle of August and the middle of an "extreme heat warning" here in Seattle. Super hot summers are a relatively new thing in this town so lots of old houses like mine do not have central AC.  It's usually right around now that I start daydreaming about the cooler temps of fall and that fresh-start, back-to-school feeling I love. So, in the spirit of September's approach, I put together 5 easy ways to get ready for fall that I think you will love - even though they do not include having a pumpkin spice latte!

1. Clear the decks.

There's nothing better than getting rid of crap that no longer serves you. Clutter is freaking stressful and we all know that stress is no bueno. Last month I challenged myself to get rid of 30 bags in 30 days and I was pretty ruthless. Books that hadn't seen any action in years were among the first to go. I moved them forward, along with a multitude of board games, clothing, kitchen gadgets and other oddments. Then I waded through several filing cabinets and drawers worth of old paperwork and crap in my desk and schlepped a few truckloads to the dump. OMG it felt so good!! Making space is a great way to get ready for fall and for the impending holiday season.

2. Exfoliate and Rejuvenate.

As we age it becomes even more important to take excellent care of your skin. Schedule a September facial and give your skin a real treat. It's your body's largest organ and could use some TLC after all the summer exposure. Facials are beautifully detoxifying because they stimulate the lymphatic system that's under your skin and help to get rid of toxins that can cause your face to get puffy and blotchy.  I get one every 6 weeks and thanks to the fabulous Ramona at Shine Skincare my skin looks and feels fantastic. Plus they feel incredible, make your skin glow, and they're really relaxing. And if you're lucky you will get to put your hands in those little moisturizing mitts. Gawd I love those!

3. Reassess and recommit yourself to your goals.

Treat the first Tuesday in September (aka the day after Labor Day) the same as you would January 1, by journaling or creating a vision board to get super clear on your intentions for fall. It's really easy to get sidetracked by the day-to-day stuff so starting the season with strong visual plan is really helpful. Whether you want to stay on track with your fitness, start cooking more at home, add in a meditation practice or start saving for a dream vacation, it's a great idea to keep your eye on the prize.

4. Reboot your kitchen.

This is an excellent time to give your fridge and your kitchen cabinets a proper deep clean. You know those spices and condiments that are so old you don't even remember where or when you bought them? Time to chuck 'em, along with that ancient canister of oatmeal that you're never going to finish, that hot chocolate that's a pain in the ass to make, the frozen peas you've had for 3 years and that thing you bought for that recipe you made that one time that you'll never use again. Or better yet, hire me to help you! Check out my kitchen reboot where we do all of the above plus a whole lot more and have a ton of fun in the process.

5. Sit down and get quiet.

This is the one that keeps coming up for me these days. I definitely suffer from SOS (Shiny Object Syndrome) and I find that I'm often so distracted by things like screens, noise (squirrel!) and daily to-do's that I will look up from my desk only to find that it's 3:45 and the day has moved along. I want to get the most out of fall and really enjoy my favorite season, so scheduling time to be still and check in with myself helps me to be more intentional about my time.

These are just a few of the things you can do to get in gear for fall - while still enjoying the long and sunny summer days to come.

Stay cool! 

xo

Lisa