Last week, I got a flyer in the mail announcing the arrival of city leaf pickup. It was as if the city was reminding me: Even if you can’t feel the chill in the air yet and the leaves are still green, fall is coming. I came home from a hot day at the beach to the notice, so it felt like an unimaginable projection.
But they used a cute picture of a mouse to demonstrate how to dispose of leaves properly, so I’ll forgive them for the early reminder.
Even over sweaty outdoor dinners, friends are discussing the changes to come — brisker days, longer pants, and an overall turning inwards (and indoors).
It’s only mid-August, but many K-12 schools have already started or will start in a few weeks. And the same goes for colleges and universities.
I haven’t been on a school calendar for years, but the beginning of fall still feels like a transition — a time to pick out your proverbial back-to-school outfit and plan for the season ahead.
Even if you’re glad to be rid of the days of worrying about homework and catching the bus for school, you can still treat the fall as a reset.
For me, with fall approaching, I’ve noticed myself decluttering. Using up the last bits of a tube of sunscreen, going through my bookshelf and getting rid of sweaters I haven’t worn in years. I also started a long novel in anticipation of more nights at home.
The summer energy of bopping around influenced my reading habits — I didn’t have the patience for anything too long or involved, so I gravitated to short stories. But now I’m ready to dig into a more built-out world. Plus, I’m not traveling and won’t have to lug the book around.
What kind of reset do you want to make this fall?
—Clare Marie Schneider, Life Kit editor and producer
To get you started, here are some ideas for a fall reset from the Life Kit team:
🤸 Move your body I'd like to reset so that I'm focusing more on my body. I want to be more intentional about moving and stretching every day. When I'm pressed for time, exercise and movement are the first things to go. But when I'm not feeling present in my body, everything else suffers. So I'd say my fall intention is: move. —Marielle Segarra, Life Kit host
⏰ Make the time My fall reset is to be more intentional with my hobbies and friendships. I've found that I often let work or work-related engagements take over my time. This fall, I want to also prioritize the things I enjoy doing outside of my work life, whether that's going to the movies, taking photos or hosting a get-together with friends. —Thomas Lu, Life Kit producer
🧹 Deep cleaning that can’t wait until spring After a busy summer, my heart is full and my car is gross. It’s filled with sand, trash, warm cans of La Croix and there’s dried dog drool on every surface. The back-to-school energy of August and September is the perfect motivation to deep clean my Honda Fit. I haven’t done it yet (hold me accountable, y’all) but I’m looking forward to a satisfying cleaning session and the sweet relief of a tidy car. If you’re carless, you’re not off the hook. Be brave enough to look inside your backpacks, purses and tote bags. Let’s go 💪. —Julia Carney, podcast coordinator
☀️ Don’t give in to the pressure of this newsletter — it’s still summer! It’s easy to feel like summer is already wrapping up. There are back-to-school ads on TV and I even saw pine cones and cinnamon brooms at Duane Reade last week. I’m trying to focus on living in the moment and savoring every day without succumbing to the end-of-season scaries. Here’s the thing: the official last day of summer is September 23. You have plenty of time to go to the beach, picnic, lie in a hammock and roast some sweet corn. It’s not over 'til it’s over! —Sylvie Douglis, Life Kit producer
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🎒 Congratulations, you're in college! Now what?Getting into college can feel like the hard part. But once you’re accepted, you’ve got to find your way around campus, pick out classes, make new friends and figure out a plan to graduate on time.
🏫 Most students who want to transfer colleges don't. Here's how to start.The process of transferring colleges can be complicated and confusing and differ from state to state and institution to institution. Despite these hurdles, transferring is a common route to a four-year college. So how do you make the process go as smoothly as possible? Start early, stay organized and find a good fit.
And some episodes for after (or instead of) school:
💼 How to get a job after college. Now that you have your diploma, you'll need to focus on a different piece of paper: a resume. Here's how to think about what you want to do and then go out and get a job — maybe even a career.
🧑🔧 Finding your way to a (high-paying) trade job. Many jobs don't require a bachelor's degree and still pay well. Here's what to consider if you're thinking about a job in the trades — from assessing your options to choosing a training program.
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