Free Printable: Simple Fall Reset Checklist to Get Organized

Fall has a way of sneaking up on me every year. One minute I'm enjoying the slower pace of summer, and the next I'm looking at a calendar full of appointments, activities, deadlines, birthdays, and all the other things that seem to show up once September arrives.

The change of seasons is a good time to do a little reset—not because everything needs to be perfectly organized, but because taking care of a few things now can make the next few months feel a little easier.

If you've been following along with my recent fall planning posts, I've already shared some ideas for getting your life and schedule organized for the season ahead, along with ways to prepare your planner for fall. This checklist is meant to be the next step—a simple way to actually work through some of those little tasks and get yourself ready.

This isn't a giant fall cleaning list or a plan to reorganize your entire life in one weekend. It's just a collection of small things that are easy to overlook when life gets busy, and I've put together a simple Fall Reset Checklist to help you get started.

Take a Look at What's Coming

Before making a bunch of plans, take a few minutes to look ahead.

Check your calendar for the next couple of months and make note of appointments, birthdays, school or work commitments, events, and anything else you already know is coming up.

Pay attention to things that will require some preparation. If you know you have an event in October, for example, you may be able to take care of a few things now instead of realizing at the last minute that you still need to shop, make something, or find an outfit.

You don't have to plan every detail. Just getting a general idea of what's ahead can make a busy season feel much more manageable.

If you haven't already, take a look at my post 5 Simple Ways to Get Organized for the Season Ahead for more ideas on getting your schedule and everyday life ready for fall.

Clear Out a Little Everyday Clutter

This is not a deep-cleaning challenge. I'm talking about the little things that tend to accumulate during the summer.

Clean out your purse or everyday bag. Tidy your desk. Go through the papers sitting on the counter. Delete the screenshots on your phone that you no longer need.

If there are things you've been carrying around, looking at, or moving from one place to another for months, this is a good opportunity to finally deal with a few of them.

You don't need to tackle the whole house. Pick the areas that you use the most and give them a quick reset.

Get the Things in Your Head Onto Paper

One of the easiest ways to feel overwhelmed is trying to remember everything you need to do.

If you have a bunch of little tasks floating around in your head, grab your planner or a piece of paper and write them down.

• Appointments you need to make.

• Things you need to buy.

• Home projects you've been putting off.

• Ideas for upcoming events.

• Random things you keep reminding yourself not to forget.

They don't have to be organized into perfect categories right away. The important part is getting them out of your head.

Once everything is written down, you can decide what actually needs to happen now and what can wait.

If you're using a planner to keep track of everything, I also shared 7 Simple Ways to Prepare Your Planner for Fall, with ideas for giving your planner a seasonal reset and making it work better for the months ahead.

Start Thinking Ahead About the Holidays

You don't need to start decorating for Christmas in August—or even have your holiday shopping finished.

But fall is a good time to start making a few notes.

• If you have people you buy gifts for, start a gift idea list.

• If you make handmade gifts, write down what you'd like to make and how much time you'll need.

• If there are supplies you know you'll need later in the year, make a note of them.

This kind of early planning isn't about rushing into the holidays. It's about giving yourself more breathing room when they eventually arrive.

A few notes now can save you from trying to remember everything in November.

Give Your Everyday Routines a Quick Check

Summer routines don't always work once fall arrives.

Maybe your mornings need to start earlier. Maybe your evenings are going to be busier. Maybe meals need a little more planning because everyone is back to their regular schedules.

Think about the parts of your day that tend to become difficult when life gets busy.

• Is there a routine that could be simplified?

• Are there a few easy meals you could keep on hand?

• Is there something you could prepare the night before that would make your mornings easier?

You don't need to create a complicated new routine. Sometimes changing one small thing makes a surprisingly big difference.

Choose a Few Things to Take Care of Now

After looking at everything on your list, resist the temptation to do it all at once.

Pick a few things that will have the biggest impact on your life right now.

Maybe it's scheduling appointments, cleaning out your workspace, making a holiday gift list, or finally taking care of that task you've been avoiding.

The goal of a reset isn't to finish every single thing on your list. It's to make things feel a little more manageable.

Pick Your Top Three Fall Priorities

One thing I like about a seasonal reset is that it gives me a chance to think about what actually matters over the next few months.

Instead of making a huge list of goals, choose three priorities.

Maybe one is personal, one is related to your home, and one is related to work. Or maybe all three are completely different.

There isn't a right answer.

The point is simply to have a few things you can come back to when your calendar starts filling up, and everything feels important.

Download the Fall Reset Checklist

To make this easier, I've put together a Fall Reset Checklist that you can print and work through at your own pace.

It includes the little tasks we've talked about here, along with space to choose your top three priorities for the season and one thing you can do this week to make fall a little easier.

You don't have to complete the entire checklist in one day. Print it, keep it in your planner, and work through it whenever you have a few minutes.

Download here ↓↓↓

A seasonal reset doesn't have to mean starting over or completely changing the way you do things.

Sometimes it's simply taking a little time to look ahead, clear out what's no longer needed, and give yourself a head start on what's coming.

And if all you manage to do this week is check a few things off the list, that's okay too. A little progress now can make a busy season feel a whole lot easier later.

Before you go

Here are a few more posts you might like:

• Free September Planner Printables for a Fresh Start to Fall

• Why Paper Planners Are Better Than Digital Planners for College Students

• Fall Bucket List Free Printable: Get Ready for Cozy Adventures!

• 10 Must-Have Printable Inserts for Your Planner

• How to Create a Bedtime Routine That Will Help You Combat Stress

SUPPLIES I RECOMMEND FOR PRINTING

A PRINTER

If you’re going to be printing in color, I really recommend investing in a Canon Mega Tank Printer. The quality of the finished product is amazing! If you don’t need a color printer, I highly recommend a laser printer like the Brother L23 Series. You will save hundreds on ink. You can also get a color laser printer, which I would LOVE to have!

PAPER

For everyday printables, planners, and coloring pages for the kiddos, I normally use Hammermill Printer Paper, 20 Lb. I love that you can get a small box of 3 reams instead of having to buy one at a time or a whole case of 10.

If I want something a little nicer, I use this laser paper, which is incredibly smooth and has very little to no ghosting on the other side. This is perfect if you like to use pens/markers that are prone to bleeding through to the other side.

For printing on A5 paper, I use this Blank 6-Hole Punched A5 Paper. You can also get it without the holes, but it’s $6-7 more. Which I think is odd because it’s usually the other way around, and you have to pay more for the hole punching.

See my Link Party Directory for a current list of blog parties I attend each week.

FOR PERSONAL USE ONLY – Please Read Freebies Terms of Use.

(This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, see my disclosures here.)

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