At The Kim Phillips Real Estate Team, we absolutely love fall and the change of season. During the summer months, life tends to feel busy with vacations, visits with friends and kids activities. When September rolls around, we start to go back to our regular routines and focus on our goals. While it may be tempting to once again fill your schedule with obligations, why not consider a slower approach to the fall season? Here are five ways you can relax slowly into the coming months and live each day with intention.

Set Manageable Goals:

Setting lofty goals may seem like a great way to kick off the new season, however when you create goals that you can’t realistically complete, it can lead to feelings of disappointment. Instead, create a list of intentions and focus on what really matters to you. For instance, if one of your goals is buying your first home, make a commitment to put a certain amount of money away each month. Maybe that looks like ordering takeout one less day a week or doing your nails at home instead of getting a manicure. These small changes can make a big difference. If your goals are fitness related, why not make them more specific? Instead of saying I’ll work out every day this fall, why not say, I’ll walk 4 evenings per week. Once you achieve your manageable goals, you’ll be inspired to push further.

Refresh Your Closet:

Take a slow Sunday afternoon to go through your closet. Look at each piece and decide how it makes you feel. Do you feel confident when you put it on? Keep it. Haven’t worn it in two years? Time to donate it. Consider putting together a capsule wardrobe of pieces that all work well together so planning outfits is easy and quick on busy mornings. Planning to take your kids back to school shopping? You can be more intentional by avoiding fast fashion and instead selecting fewer high quality pieces from sustainable brands. If you’re trying to stick to a budget, thrift shops and consignment stores are great places to shop for kids clothes. They will outgrow them quickly anyways.

Make Time For Yourself:

Make it a priority this fall to check in on yourself on a daily basis. Especially given the last year and a half we have all had, it’s important to take time to focus on both our physical AND mental health. Take time away from screens to curl up with a good book, a cup of tea and watch the rain fall outside. Finding moments in your daily life that bring you joy is an important part of living in the moment. True self-care looks different for everyone and it’s key to find what works for you.

Don’t Be Afraid To Say No:

Just like in the summer, it is easy for our fall schedules to get out of control. Work dinners, parent-teacher meetings, coffee dates, sporting events, play dates… the list goes on. One simple way to avoid a jam-packed schedule is to take a moment to pause before committing to something. Part of living intentionally is leaving yourself space to breathe, live in the moment and enjoy life’s simple pleasures. You don’t have to fill every moment of every day with the illusion of being “busy”. Commit to things that align with your goals, bring value to your life and feed your soul.

Make Time To Eat Well:

Fall is a wonderful time to explore new flavours and embrace a more seasonal approach to eating. Head to the farmers market, local veggie stall or your local grocer to see what’s in season. It can feel so much easier to grab something quick from a drive-thru on a busy work day, however, it’s not fuelling you up in the ways you hope it will. Instead, make time to meal plan at the beginning of the week. Roast up a big tray of root vegetables, potatoes and batch cook your favourite protein option. This is an activity that you can do with the whole family. Get everyone involved in prepping healthy and tasty lunches for the week. You’re not always going to have time to meal plan, but the more healthy meals you can sneak in, the better. It’s not about being perfect, it’s just about making an intentional effort. 

We hope that you enjoyed these tips and tricks to embrace slower and more intentional living this fall. At Kim Phillips Real Estate Team, we truly love the spirit of the fall season. Spending cozy nights at home, cooking, getting back into healthy habits and focusing on the future ahead. If one of your goals this fall is a new home to embrace for the winter season, give us a call (604) 537-4281.  September and October are a great time to grab a hot latte and go shopping for a home!