Autumn invites us to slow down, reflect, and bring fresh intention after the busy summer season, so there’s no better time for a gentle fall reset routine. In this post, I share how you can set grace-filled goals, create an ideal weekly rhythm, and align your plans with what matters most. Walk with me through the simple steps I take to add structure to my fall season. 

It’s back-to-school time. I see it everywhere – at the local office supply store with the twenty-five cent folders and academic planners and backpacks lining the shelves. On social media as parents post pics of their littles holding a chalkboard that says “First Grade” or “Seventh Grade.” I hear about it from parents of college-age students who are a mixed bag of emotions – excited, proud, worried, and sad – all at the same time. And I feel it myself. 

I love this time of year. I used to think it was because I love pencils and notebooks and seeing old and new friends. As a long-time student and a teacher, the fall represented all of that for me. But since I’ve retired from the classroom, I’ve realized that this back-to-school time is my favorite because it embodies one of the things I love and need. Routines.

Your Fall Reset Routine: Finding an Autumn Rhythm 

I’m a believer in seasonal rhythms. Quarterly reflections. Goal setting. It just makes sense and feels right. Summertime is when many of us let go of routines. But by the end of August, I’m craving cooler temps and structure. For traditional productivity planners, the fourth quarter of the year is October through December. But I like to shift it to include September. (That’s why I usually follow this fall reset routine at the end of August.)

Now a fall reset routine can work no matter what your season of life. We all have 168 hours each week, and we can let these precious gifts of time slip away and say, “Why can’t I get anything done?” “Where did all the time go?” We can look back on the past week, month, year and wonder, “What did I do with all my time?” (Remembering and recording what you did with your time is another wonderful treasure that can be accomplished by journaling.

If you are working full-time, you still need to know what to do with your “free” time. Perhaps you are a part-timer, a retired volunteer, a stay-at-home mom with multiple lives to juggle? We all can be served well by considering the time we have and how to spend it. Because if we don’t consider our days, it’s easy to take it all for granted. 

I realize that not everyone thinks this way. Not everyone needs a plan. Some of you are so good at organizing in your head and accomplishing great things. I’m not. I need a structure. I need to write it down. And maybe this could help you too. 

#1. Begin your fall reset routine with prayer. 

I believe that my days are numbered by a Creator who also loves me and redeems my messes. I pray that you know Him too. So it’s a given that all of this should be bathed in prayer. But sometimes I forget and maybe you do too. 

It’s simple. Ask the Lord to guide your decisions and bless the work of your hands. Ask Him to show you where He wants to use you and your gifts in this upcoming season. Recognize that all the planning and controlling should be held loosely. God is in control. We trust, and we let Him work through us. When plans we’ve set don’t go as we had hoped, we pivot and learn and begin again. I’ll mention this again later, but James 4:13-15 reminds us to consider all our plans “if the Lord wills.” Remember the Lord’s Prayer? “Thy will be done.” Not mine. 

#2. Grab a blank piece of paper.

Now, find a blank piece of paper and pen or pencil. Or a notebook or journal. Or a desktop spreadsheet. Whatever you like to use. If you are new to this, then I’d suggest using a journal or notebook where you can continue this brainstorming and record-keeping for the seasons ahead. These jottings can be part of your legacy, even the messy things like this. Write the title on the top. “The Next Season” or something like that.

#3. Consider the big picture for the season. 

Our lives are filled with lots of people and moving parts. How does it all fit together? What should I do with my “free” time? Where might I serve? Who needs my help or love or friendship? 

I find it helps me to think about the big things this way. Here’s a list borrowed from the Cultivate What Matters Power Sheets which I have used over the years: Home, Health, Friendships, Community, Family, Hobbies, Spiritual, Personal Growth, Finances, Work.  

#4. Choose 1-3 focus areas for fall.

Yes, I care about all of these things. So when I choose a few to focus on, it’s not that I’m forgetting the others. Not at all. I’m committed to prayer in these areas, but for each season, it’s best if I focus on a few. Take time to think about this, especially if you have never done that before. Use those earlier questions as a jumpstart. Journal about it. Daydream about it. 

Let me give you an example. During the summertime, family and friends are always my top focus since we live in a summer beach community and often have out-of-town guests. It’s not that I don’t prioritize family and friends during the other seasons, it’s just THE priority during the summer. Other things like remodeling a bedroom or starting a new hobby can be set aside for another time. 

Here’s another example. Let’s say you want to nurture new friendships. Maybe it’s someone who just moved to your neighborhood or church. You’ll want to consider ways you can connect with her whether in person or via phone, email, text, letters. I’ve learned that this doesn’t “just happen.” I need to be intentional. 

Start a new page. Write TOP THREE at the top of your blank page. Now list them or write them in bubble letters or draw clouds around them. (That’s what I do.)

#5. Brain dump must-dos and want-to-dos.

The next step is to brain dump all the things. It’s my favorite thing to do when my mind feels all cluttered with to-do’s. Just get it all down, even the things that don’t fit the “top three” you just chose. Random. No structure yet. Brain dump all the things you need to do in this upcoming season. And all the things you hope to do. 

Write down the ordinary things. Chores, cleaning, groceries. The activities and projects and volunteer responsibilities. Make a messy list. 

Also brainstorm all the special things you’d like to do in the next few months. The things you really want to do but can’t seem to find time for. Hiking that canyon. Organizing your photos. Taking that online class on watercolor. Learning a new language. Writing a book!? Visiting an art museum. This is where you can think outside the box. Dream big. It’s just a list. 

#6. Set your fall goals.

Okay, I haven’t even used the “goal”word here, but this is really what we’re doing, right? Setting intentions. Dreaming. Planning. Looking ahead to how we will fill the open spaces in our calendars. Again, if you’ve never done this before check out this post on How to Set Goals.

Give your ideas room to breathe. 

Set these brainstorming pages aside for a day or two. Give it all time to breathe. Give yourself time to process all the ideas churning in your head.

Then return. Review your top three. Read through your brain dump lists. 

Refine what matters most.

Pray once more. 

Next, take a bright marker or colored pencil and circle or star the things that sing to you. Not all of them. They may all be great things, but they aren’t all for this particular season and that’s okay. Save them for another time. 

Then, begin a fresh page and write AUTUMN INTENTIONS. Or fall goals. Or plans. Your choice. 

Choose and reflect on your fall goals. 

Write 3-5 of them on the top of the page. 

Now journal a bit about these goals. Don’t let that word “journal” scare you. Just write random sentences or bullet lists for now. Here are a handful of different ways you can journal.

Why are these things important to you? What’s your “why” for each one? If you didn’t do these things, what would change? If you did do these, what would change? 

Trust me that the writing process will help you think about them more deeply than if you just think and stare out the window. 

You can also talk about your intentions with a trusted family member or a close friend who knows you well. Oftentimes, having a conversation with someone else will help you clarify your plans. 

Confirm and hold them loosely. 

Finally, turn to a fresh page and write AUTUMN INTENTIONS again. Then write the 3-5 goals that have been sticking through all of this. There you go. 

And remember. This is not carved in stone. You can refresh and change tomorrow.

#7. Create your ideal week template.

The next step in your fall reset routine? Create your ideal week template.

Now that you have your intentions in mind for this upcoming season, you can take some steps to make them happen. There’s so much to all of this! For example, it helps to have SMART goals – Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound. But instead of getting into the nitty-gritty of goal planning here, for now, let’s just take a step forward. (If you want to dive deeper into each of your goals, check out this post on How to Create an Action Plan for Your Goals.)

Start with a simple sketch (or use my free template). 

Sketch out a simple table for a week with 12-14 hours for each day. Or here’s a downloadable template so you can print a few of these. It’s nice to try different scenarios. To be able to play with it and start fresh when something doesn’t quite work.

Tip: use a pencil or an erasable pen like this one. Trust me. You will want to play with the ideal week. 

(This is an investment pencil someone gifted to me, and it’s awesome. Here’s a cool video about the pencil.)

Add your must-dos. 

Pencil in the things you must do every day. Wake-up time. Bedtime. Supper. Shower. These all take time, and it helps to know how much time you really have each day and week.

This is so interesting because it requires us to be realistic. We all have 24 hours in a day, and we need to sleep, shower, prepare food, eat, move. These daily living activities gobble up more than half of your day. 

Block the unmovable commitments. 

Next, jot down the rest of the unmovable things. The commitments that are regularly scheduled like your 9-5 work schedules, commutes, and appointments. 

If you are a stay-at-home parent or you are retired, then maybe your Bible class is always on Wednesdays. Or you watch your grandkids on Tuesdays. Or your own kids have to be out the door by 8:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. Or you go to a gym to workout on Tuesdays and Thursdays. 

Explore the open spaces. 

Now, look at the open time slots.  If you could control everything, what would those minutes and hours fill up with? How much time do you have left? And what will you do with it? If we don’t plan for those empty spaces, they can be devoured by mindless scrolling or binge watching Netflix. I know. I’ve been there. 

Align with your seasonal goals. 

Keep your Big Three for the season in mind. Consider your goals/intentions. Make changes accordingly. Do you have more or less time than you thought? Make it a Big Four or a Big Two. You’re the boss right now. Make your plans work for your life.

#8. Experiment with Theme Days.

Some people practice “batch days” or theme days. These days (or parts of these days) are dedicated to a specific task or project. For example, you could schedule house cleaning or laundry on one day. Errands on another. Write cards and letters on another day. I typically try to do administrative tasks one morning each week. That’s the day I pay bills, balance the checkbook, and really clean out my email inbox. 

If you want to have fun, your Big Three might be turned into theme days. For example, if you are working to get your finances in order, then one day each week could be your Finance Day. It could be the day when your free time is dedicated to working on insurance things, calling the accountant, working on and reviewing your budget, talking to your spouse about investment goals. 

Or let’s say one of your Big Three is friendship. You could plan for one day each week to be the day you meet a friend for coffee or lunch. It could be the day you make long chatty phone calls. Or write letters. 

These have worked for me in some seasons. Other times, not so much. Try it to see if it might help you structure your weeks. 

#9. Make a simple plan you can stick to.

So now what? Go back to your fall goals and brainstorm steps to accomplish each one (I recommend you work through How to Create an Action Plan for Your Goals). Look honestly at your Ideal Week and see how much time you really have each day. Maybe it’s just 30 minutes. Great! What can you do in those 30 minutes to move the needle on your intentions?  Get out your calendar or planner and schedule one week ahead. Then see what happens. I hope this fall reset routine gets you a little bit closer to using your time with intention.

#10. Trust the Lord with your plans.

I’m not going to close this post with the expected Bible verses about plans. (“For I know the plans I have for you . . .”) Because sometimes those verses are pulled out of context to fit into a planner post like this. 

Here are some things I’ve learned.

One: I don’t want to be anxious, and planning helps that. My scattered mind and missed opportunities sometimes make me sad or anxious. I fret about not finishing a project I really wanted to do, I worry that I’m not loving my friends and family well, or I feel bad when I don’t reach out to old friends often. I’m sad that I don’t always appreciate every minute of every day. I don’t want to be like that. God doesn’t want us to be like that – all stressed and anxious. He tells us to cast our “anxieties on Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7 ESV). 

Two: Plans don’t always go as planned. This fall reset routine is no guarantee that your plans will. Life happens. Seasons change. Plans go awry. One day I may have a goal to write 2,000 words. Then a friend I haven’t heard from for a long time calls to connect. So I listen and laugh. Then I only write 500 words. Or 250. Or none.

Three: Tomorrow is in God’s hands. 

“Come now, you who say, ‘Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.”

James 4:13-15 ESV. 

Four: It’s okay to plan. And then hold those plans in a healthy perspective. And when I don’t do that. When I miss an opportunity to listen or serve because I held too tightly to my routines? Or when I procrastinate? When I don’t set intentions? I turn to my Savior, repent of my self-centeredness or my laziness or my fear. He forgives me, and I begin again.

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