Fall always feels like a fresh start. The air is crisper, the vibes are cozier, and something about September just screams “reset.” For me, this season has been about coming back to myself after burnout, a big move, and a summer that left me feeling a little scattered.
I didn’t post much in August, and honestly, I needed the break. But September feels like my comeback. A gentle one, rooted in routines that actually feel good. These are the fall reset mindsets that helped me rebuild my routines and find balance again.
In this post I have guided questions after each section that should help you to think on your priorities this season so you can reset. You can journal about them on paper or voice memo, but it’s just to help you start thinking about how you should structure your fall. And remember this doesn’t have to be a routine for forever, it can be one that is for now and works for who you are and what you need now.
These are the seven things I did to reset my life this fall.
1. Reset My Mindset
First, I had to get real about where my motivation was coming from. Last year, I worked a super stressful job that drained me every single day. Content became my escape, so I went hard on blogging and social media. But when I left that job, I was exhausted.
This summer, even though I wasn’t at that toxic job anymore, I still felt like I was constantly working. Moving to the DMV also took a lot out of me, and I finally had to admit: I needed a mindset reset.
Now, my focus is:
- Progress over perfection – Every small step counts.
- Small wins matter – Wins aren’t just likes or followers. Wins are following my routine, hitting the gym, or finishing a blog post.
- Structure that feels soft and human – I’m not a robot, and my routines shouldn’t make me feel like one.
For me, that looks like giving myself grace in how I structure my days. I know I’m not a 5 a.m. girlie, so I don’t force myself into a schedule that doesn’t fit me. Mornings are for getting ready for work, not for grinding out a whole to-do list. After work, I can hit the gym, but I also know I won’t have the energy to cook a full meal or dive into heavy content creation. So I plan easy dinners, and I build in me-time at night — reading, light cleaning, or sometimes doing nothing at all.
That’s the key: a routine that supports me instead of running me into the ground. Because we only live once, and I’d rather spend my days in flow than in fight.
If you are looking to do a total organization overhaul on your life, look at my Get Organized, Girl! Series.
So the first step for you is to ask yourself: What do you want your day to look like? Once you know that, you can build routines that actually fit your life instead of trying to copy someone else’s.
2. Digital Planning Reset (One of My Core Fall Reset Tools)
I’m a weekly planner type of girl, and my iPad + Google Calendar combo has been a game changer. I keep them synced so everything shows up across my devices. That way, I can make a meal plan on Sunday night and then see it on my phone when I’m at Trader Joe’s.
Psst. I have a Sunday reset routine that may interest you. Check out my Sunday Reset Routine!
Here’s how I reset my planning routine:
- Top Three Priorities: Every day, I write down my three must-do tasks. If I get those done, the day’s a win.
- Weekly Meal Planning: On Sundays, I add up calories and protein for the week before I grocery shop. That way, I’m not just winging it and eating “whatever.”
- Night-Before Prep: Lunch is always packed the night before. Future me deserves that kind of love.
- Deep Work Blocks: I use 90-minute focus sessions for blogging or lesson planning so I don’t feel like I’m juggling ten things at once.
For me, my planner has been one of the most important fall reset tools, keeping me organized without overwhelming me. It’s not about being rigid — it’s about building a structure that gives me no excuses and actually makes life easier.
If you only had three priorities a day, what would they be?
3. Gym Reset
The gym is one of my anchors, and this fall I had to ask myself a real question: Do I want to be a runner girl or a lifter?
I needed to take time to figure out what my gym goal is. If I want to be a runner, my exercise time is going to look different.
Running has been in my life since February, and I enjoy it, but my real goal right now is body recomposition. That means lifting is my priority, with running as supportive cardio. Once I owned that, my routine finally clicked.
Here’s what my weekly split looks like:
- Monday: Lower body (glute focus)
- Tuesday: Upper body + run
- Wednesday: Rest
- Thursday: Lower body (glute focus)
- Friday: Upper body + run
- Sunday: Run
That gives me three runs a week for endurance and heart health, but most of my energy goes into building muscle. I also gave my gym gear a little refresh (new water bottle from Marshalls, updated resistance bands) and found a gym + run club here in the DMV that feels right. Refreshing my gym routine with new gear and a clear split has been another key fall reset tool.
The best fall reset tools aren’t about starting over, they’re about coming back to yourself.
Also if you are a busy girly pop like myself and wondering how you can incorporate fitness into your everyday routine, check out my post, How to Build a Gym Routine with a 9-to-5 (When You’re Exhausted and Over It).
This reset was about getting clarity: I don’t have to be “all in” on one identity. I can run and lift, while still keeping my main goal in focus.
What’s your real fitness priority right now — strength, endurance, or consistency?
4. Meal Reset
Okay, confession time: I gained 10 pounds this summer. And part of my fall reset mindset shift has been rethinking how I approach food now that I’m in a better financial place.
Before, I cooked at home out of necessity. Now I have the freedom to eat out when I want. Which is great, but it also means I need a new discipline that isn’t based on survival mode.
Here’s what my meals look like right now:
- Breakfast: Trader Joe’s overnight oats + Premier Protein café latte shake, with pumpkin spice concentrate and cold foam.
- Lunch: Trader Joe’s frozen meals that still fit my macros.
- Dinner: Crockpot meals, Caesar salads, or rotisserie chicken cooked twice a week. On weekends I eat out a little more, but I still aim for balance.
- Snacks: protein yogurt, bananas, kiwis, protein bars (my fave are the built bars or the walmart pure protein in galactic brownie)
Simplifying my meals with Trader Joe’s staples has been one of the most realistic fall reset mindset shifts, because it fits my lifestyle without overwhelming me.
My nutrition goals are simple: at least 100g of protein and 15g of fiber every day, under 2k calories. Beyond that, I eat things I actually enjoy. Because for me, discipline that feels good is the only kind that lasts.
How can you make meals simpler while still hitting your goals?
5. Reading & Evening Reset
Reading is one of my favorite ways to reset my mind, and I noticed I feel off when I don’t make time for it. So this fall, I built reading into my nightly routine. Every night before bed, I spend at least 20 minutes reading — sometimes a physical book, sometimes an audiobook, sometimes on my Kindle.
To protect that time, I set an hour-a-day social media limit. Being online too much makes me feel like everyone else is more creative than me, when really I just need space away from the scroll.
Evenings now look like this:
- Quick clean-up so I wake up to a tidy space
- My “midnight playlist” of deep sleep music
- Reading in bed before lights out
It’s simple, but it leaves me feeling grounded and recharged for the next day. If you are a reader like me you should check out my Fall Reading List for 2025. It’s got some great recommendations to help make you feel more in the fall spirit.
What’s one small evening ritual you could add to help you feel grounded before bed?
6. Daily Cleaning Reset
One of the smallest but most powerful resets I made was committing to cleaning a little bit every night.
Instead of letting laundry pile up or dishes take over my sink, I give myself 15–20 minutes after dinner to reset my space. It’s not deep cleaning — just small, consistent habits that keep my home peaceful.
The result? Weekends feel lighter, and I don’t wake up Monday morning feeling behind. What’s one tiny thing you could clean each night to make your mornings easier?
7. Financial Reset
This one’s more behind-the-scenes, but it’s been huge for me. Moving out of survival mode meant resetting how I manage my money.
I started paying bills two weeks in advance and setting things up so I never feel like I’m scrambling. It’s simple, but it’s given me peace of mind. The less I stress about money, the more I can focus on my content, my health, and my routines.
For me, this financial reset isn’t about being “perfect” with budgeting. It’s about building a soft structure, one that has enough stability to feel free.
These fall reset tools have grounded me in a season of change, and I hope they inspire you to create your own soft structure.
What’s one habit you could add to your money routine that would give you more peace of mind?
Closing Thoughts
My fall reset mindset hasn’t been about starting over or reinventing myself. It’s been about coming back to the habits I know work, while creating new routines that fit this season of life.
From mindset to meals, from the gym to financial structure, every reset I made was about building consistency that feels kind to me.
If you’re craving your own reset, maybe this can inspire you:
- Pick three priorities a day.
- Give your gym gear a refresh.
- Plan meals that make sense for your lifestyle.
- Create small resets in your evenings and finances.
Because sometimes the best reset isn’t about changing who you are. It’s about coming back home to yourself.
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