The Ultimate Fall Reset Checklist for Your 20s

Even though you may not be going back to school anymore, fall has that "new beginning" feeling, doesn't it? The months of September and October can feel like a natural reset point, with November and December being the perfect time to put this fall reset into action.

Let's be honest, summer totally threw our routine out the window. For this we can thank the late nights, spontaneous plans, travel, and spending more money—just to name a few. But now's the time to combat all of that.

The Fall Reset For EVERYTHING

We're not saying you need to completely reinvent yourself—what we are saying is that this is your chance to check in with your life and make a few small changes before the year ends.

How can you do all that? This checklist will help you cover everything from your apartment to your finances to your social life. Pick and choose what you want to prioritize most!

Give your space a fall refresh

•  Deep clean areas you've been ignoring
•  Clean out your fridge and pantry
•  Wash your bedding/blankets
•  Organize your closet
•  Put away summer clothes you know you won't wear again until next year
•  Pull out sweaters boots, jackets, and so on
•  Get rid of things you no longer use
•  Add a few cozy touches such as blankets, candles, fall decor, warmer lighting

Do a closet reality check

•  Try on clothes you haven't worn in months
•  Pull out things that don't fit your current style
•  Make a donation pile
•  Identify fall basics you're actually missing
•  Don't buy a whole new wardrobe just because it's a new season
•  Make a list before shopping

Reset your routine this Fall

•  Pick a realistic bedtime
•  Figure out a morning routine you can actually stick to
•  Set regular meal times
•  Schedule workouts/movement
•  Limit late night scrolling
•  Decide when you're going to do chores and schedule them
•  Give yourself one or two evenings a week with nothing planned

Check in on your finances

•  Look at your bank/credit card statements
•  See where your money actually went over the summer (and still continues to go)
•  Cancel subscriptions you forgot about
•  Check your upcoming holiday spending
•  Start setting aside money for gifts, travel, as well as events
•  Review your savings goal
•  Pay down high-interest credit card balances
•  Check your credit score
•  Adjust your budget if your income or expenses have change

Do a digital declutter as part of your fall reset

•  Delete random screenshots
•  Clean up your camera roll
•  Unsubscribe from emails
•  Delete apps you don't use
•  Organize your desktop
•  Clean up your social media following
•  Turn off unnecessary notifications
•  Update passwords where necessary
•  Back up important photos/files

Get your career life in order

•  Update your resume
•  Update LinkedIn
•  Add recent accomplishments while they're still fresh
•  Organize work samples/projects
•  Reach out to an old colleague or professional contact
•  Look at where you are in your career compared to where you thought you'd be
•  Identify one skill you'd like to improve before the end of the year
•  If you're job hunting, set a realistic weekly application/networking goal

Make your social life feel good again

•  Reach out to friends you haven't seen
•  Make plans that aren't centered around drinking
•  Plan a cozy dinner/movie/game night
•  Stop saying yes to plans you don't actually want to attend
•  Check in on friendships that matter to you
•  Let some friendships naturally become less involved if they've run their course

Check in with yourself during your Fall Reset

•  Am I actually happy with my current routine?
•  What has been stressing me out lately?
•  What have I been putting off?
•  What do I want more of this fall?
•  What do I want less of this fall?
•  Am I doing something because I genuinely enjoy it or because I think I'm supposed to?
•  Is there something I've been tolerating that I need to change?

Make a fall bucket list

•  Visit a pumpkin patch
•  Go apple picking
•  Have a bonfire
•  Take a fall day trip
•  Make a seasonal recipe
•  Go on a hike
•  Have a Halloween movie marathon
•  Visit a farmers market
•  Plan a Friendsgiving
•  Take cute fall photos
•  Read a book you've been putting off
•  Try a new coffee shop

Make your "before the end of the year" list

Ask yourself "What would make me feel really good about where I am when December ends?" Some goals can include:

•  Saving X amount of money
•  Reading X amount of books
•  Applying for X amount of jobs
•  Take one trip
•  Finish a project
•  Declutter your apartment
•  Reconnect with a friend
•  Establish a consistent workout routine
•  Finally make that appointment you've been avoiding
•  Learn something new

Tip: Keep it to 3-5 goals so it doesn't become too overwhelming for you to complete

Do a health and wellness check-in

•  Schedule any overdue appointments
•  Refill prescriptions
•  Book a dental cleaning
•  Revisit your sleep schedule
•  Stock your kitchen with easy, nutritious meals
•  Find a form of movement you actually enjoy
•  Take stock of how much you're drinking, scrolling, staying up late, etc
•  Give yourself permission to slow down if you're running on empty

Clean up your "life admin" in Your Fall Reset

•  Renew your driver's license/passport if necessary
•  Check your car registration and insurance
•  Organize important documents
•  Update your emergency contacts
•  Check your renters/home insurance
•  Make sure your beneficiaries are up to date if applicable
•  Return the random packages sitting by your door
•  Finally deal with whatever piece of mail  or email  you've been ignoring

Revisit your personal goals

Look back at the goals you made earlier in the year, instead of just making a bunch of new goals. Ask yourself:

•  What goals did I actually accomplish?
•  Which ones no longer matter to me?
•  What did I think I'd have done by now that I haven't?
•  Do I still want those things?
•  What have I accomplished that I haven't given myself enough credit for?
•  Is there anything I want to accomplish before the year ends?

Tip: Pick just one or two goals to focus on for the rest of the year so you don't get overwhelmed.

Final Thoughts on A Complete Fall Reset

When it comes to the fall reset, you don't need to do a complete 180. Instead, just focus on what's working and what isn't. Pick a handful of areas that you realize could use some attention, and actually enjoy fall.

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