It’s that time of year to kiss the summer sunsets, travel, and warmth goodbye. Thank goodness for Fall and the beauty of the fresh, crisp, and colorful season that helps with the conclusion of the summer months. We have so many things we need to think about during this transition period between seasons; which isn’t limited to just house prep but also mental preparation too! We are starting to welcome the holidays and it really is such a special time of the year.
Home. After a quick search online I found a ton of helpful lists for what to take into consideration when preparing your home for the autumn chill. Here is a great list that includes taking out A/C units, winterizing your garden, putting away your outdoor furniture, and so much more. I am not a homeowner but I do have several responsibilities as a tenant that I need to take care of around our complex, including the tasks I just listed. Lastly, just like spring cleaning, I believe fall cleaning around the home is equally as necessary.
Gear. This applies mainly to our camping and backpacking items on our gear wall. This time of year I winterize all the summer camping items and I carefully take them off the gearwall to get them organized into a tote that is easily labeled for locating it again next spring. In the winter we typically only snowshoe and stay in local state park cabins. So I tend to thin out our gear wall in the winter and pack away a lot of our backpacking and hiking stuff. I leave out all the first aid kits, snowshoes, trekking poles, gators, camping stove, gloves, hats, ropes, mugs, blankets, seat pads, and backpacks… along with countless other items that we like to bring with us when we go to our favorite cabins in the winter.
Clothing. It is time to swap out those summer clothes for your warmer layers! As a born and raised Washingtonian, I really value clothing that can transition between seasons. I have a lot of t-shirts and tank tops that I wear in the summer but that also transition well under sweaters in the winter. Which means when I put away my “summer clothing” my tote is actually quite small. I usually keep it towards the front of the storage unit in case we go on any tropical vacations during the fall/winter months too *wishful thinking*.
Cozy. This is where the mental preparation comes into play and is key to helping you transition between the summer and fall months. Think “cozy” and warm thoughts when you swap out the above items. Whether that is setting out some candles, a basket full of blankets next to the couch, or organizing your calendar to prepare for upcoming seasonal events that you don’t want to miss. Mentally it is good to give yourself time to think about what this next season is going to look like and how you want it to feel. So go on and close your eyes, let yourself get wrapped up in the smell of orange cloves and apple spices, feel the fresh crisp air, see the leaves changing colors and falling to the ground… prepare your heart and mind for change.
Ultimately, I hope that taking a look at the home, your gear, your clothing, and thinking cozy thoughts helps you prepare for all that autumn will bring. Fall is my favorite season and I welcome it with open arms but it isn’t lost on me that we really do have to prepare for the major change between hot and warm to chilly and cold.
Cheers to embracing the tasks that come with Autumn preparations and may your next season be happy, healthy, and full of coziness!
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The Salty Exchange 