| Although the truly hectic part of fall | | | | on entertainment (DVD rentals, movies, video |
| doesn't really start until the end of October | | | | games, shopping, Internet, etc.) than we |
| for most people, you don't want to be | | | | normally do. |
| tripping over summer over the next couple of | | | | |
| months. So, take this time to store, put | | | | While some of these things may translate into |
| away or organize your summer items and | | | | our everyday lives without any visible |
| clothing, souvenirs, photos, etc. It's also | | | | problem, many of these habits are not healthy |
| a good time to shift some of your habits and | | | | ones to carry over into the fall. In fact, |
| those of your family from "vacation" mode to | | | | several of the ones I've mentioned have a |
| "normal" mode. | | | | horrible circular effect. We eat less |
| | | | healthy foods so we have less energy. So, we |
| Summer Items and Clothing | | | | don't exercise as much and we watch more TV. |
| | | | Because of the sugar and caffeine, we end up |
| Once the summer is over, is it really | | | | staying up later and have trouble getting up |
| necessary to keep the beach towels, | | | | in the morning. We feel sluggish, slow and |
| inflatable rafts, and water slides out? If | | | | not up to par during the day, so we consume |
| you are one of those people who live where | | | | more caffeine and sugar and put off doing |
| the weather and lifestyle accommodates these | | | | more of what needs to be done and so on. |
| things year-round, then this section does not | | | | |
| apply to you. For the rest of us, who have | | | | It's a dangerous cycle to get into. The next |
| distinct seasons, we really need to clean up | | | | thing you know, your home is a total wreck |
| and pack away these things until next year. | | | | and you have become a couch potato with |
| The same goes for summer clothing. Ask | | | | little to no desire to do anything and |
| yourself before storing it if you intend to | | | | experiencing little joy in the process. It's |
| wear the clothes next year. Also, check to | | | | perfectly OK to "take a vacation". The key |
| see if the children's things will even fit | | | | is not to take it to excess. |
| them by the time next summer comes around. | | | | |
| If not, why take up the storage space? | | | | Prepare to "fall" into the next season |
| Donate it or get rid of it now. | | | | |
| | | | Even as you are packing away the summer, it's |
| Souvenirs and Photos | | | | a great time to start prepping what you'll |
| | | | need for fall. You don't want to get caught |
| People often come back from summer holidays | | | | off guard by the first bad storm of the |
| with mementoes of their days away. Who wants | | | | season or the first really cool day. Start |
| to deal with undeveloped rolls of film, jars | | | | making arrangements now to turn off the air |
| filled with beach sand and shells, and | | | | conditioning and turn on the furnace or |
| numerous brochures, ticket stubs and receipts | | | | heater. Make sure that your car is ready for |
| from summer's attractions in October? Don't | | | | autumn. Things like windshield wipers may |
| put it off. | | | | have dried out with the summer heat and may |
| | | | crumble during the first downpour leaving you |
| Back to "Normal" | | | | struggling to see out of your front |
| | | | windshield. Begin unpacking, airing out and |
| During the summer, many of us tend to get | | | | cleaning your fall clothing items and linens, |
| lazy on a variety of fronts. Chanting the | | | | checking at the same time to see if any are |
| mantra "I'm on VACATION!", we eat less | | | | obsolete or unusable. Just doing some of |
| healthy, we stay up later and sleep in later, | | | | these things ahead of time can save you a lot |
| we put off chores, we dress more casually, we | | | | of scrambling later, allowing you the time |
| exercise less (except for kids who probably | | | | instead to fully enjoy the season. |
| exercise more!), and we spend much more time | | | | |