Establishing Routines: Transition from Summer Life to Fall

There’s something magical about vacation mode—that blissful escape from the usual rush. Whether it’s a sun-soaked summer break or a breezy long-weekend retreat, taking time away lets you hit pause, breathe deeper, and take life at a slower pace than your everyday life allows.

However, when vacation mode ends, we all have a hard time jumping back into the swing of the daily routine. 

When the vacation ends, do you have a hard time jumping back into the swing of the daily routine? Is your home still disorganized with stuff you brought home from your trip and haven’t put away? Is the family having trouble getting out the door in time? You’re not alone!

Let’s rebuild the rhythm of your day — one simple habit at a time — to bring calm and simplicity to your everyday life.

1. PRIORITIZE YOUR SLEEP SCHEDULE
During vacation, it’s easy to fall into late nights and lazy mornings. If you’re coming off a longer break, like summer vacation, try easing back into your regular sleep routine about a week before returning home. Going to bed just 15 minutes earlier each night can help your body adjust gradually so waking up at 6am on the first day back at work or school won’t feel like such a shock.

2. UNPACK ASAP
When you arrive home, especially if the travel has been long and tiring, you just want to put the suitcases down and ignore them. Resist this temptation!

You’ll feel so organized and on top of things if you empty the suitcases within a day of getting home. Start by just throwing all the clothes into the washing machine because they’re probably dirty. Then you’re just into the normal routine of doing laundry.

3. NEW STUFF NEEDS NEW HOMES
Did you bring anything home from vacation? Did your kids make a bunch of crafts at summer camp? Don’t let it pile up on random tables and countertops.

Make decisions about what things you’re really going to keep (Maybe that souvenir doesn’t look as great at home as it did in the resort shop.) and then go around your house finding homes for them.

4. GET YOUR CHORES BACK IN CHECK
If you’re like me, vacation mode means getting lax about chores like grocery shopping, cooking, and cleaning.

Kick-start your weekly habits by looking up two new recipes, placing a grocery pick-up order, and wiping down your kitchen counters.

5. PRACTICE AM/PM ROUTINES
No matter what you do with the middle of the day, returning to your morning and evening routines will help you feel like everything is running smoothly. In the evenings, have your family clean up after dinner, do a quick tidy of anything left out on tables or floors (toys, crafts, papers, work), and run the dishwasher before you go to bed.

Get up in the morning and get ready for the day. Instead of lounging around like you did on vacation, get fully dressed. Empty the dishwasher and tidy the kitchen. Set out things that you’ll need for the day and maybe even make lunch and stick it in the fridge for later. Accomplishing these tasks in the morning will make you feel productive all day.

6. ENJOY THE EVERYDAY LIFE
Fabulous vacations sure are fun, but remember that the comfortable rhythms of everyday life provide the structure to propel us forward in life. As you ease back into chores and routines, remember that every small step brings a little more order and calm into your life, helping you create a space that truly reflects who you are.