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