A few days ago, I walked outside to load the kids in the car for a morning playdate and, to my dismay it was actually chilly. And there were leaves on the ground. I was so surprised. But then I remembered I don’t live in the center of North Carolina anymore where fall is a true season. On the coast there are essentially only two seasons: HOTHOTHOT or relatively cold. Fall and spring only last about two weeks each.
Even though it’s been blazing outside since May, I’ve tried my best to keep the kiddos outside. Not to mention out and about for playdates as much as possible–we had three just this week!
If you follow me on Instagram, you’ll know that the efforts I’ve been making to take advantage of the weather has left my house in mmm shambles. Walking outside today, I realized that “fall” and, in turn, winter aren’t far off. Which made me think: I will soon be stuck inside with the mess for months if I can’t get it under control. It’s time to prep for fall.
Are there any moms out there that are coming to this realization, too?
Starting now, I’m on a mission to overhaul the chaos before those long winter months arrive. Just in time for when it becomes more appealing to stay inside… I’ll be ready.
So what can you do to be ready to enjoy the indoors once summer is over? Here are 4 ways you can prep for fall:
Re-create your cleaning schedule
Cleaning can often be at the back of our minds during the summer months, but as the weather starts to turn we can begin to notice where we’ve missed things when it comes to cleaning. (Like… a LOT of things.) This is when you need to sit down and create a new cleaning schedule. A well-planned cleaning schedule can help you hit the hotspots daily, and also ensure that you get back into a routine. You will feel much better for it, even if it is only done in baby steps. There are plenty of templates and suggestions online to help you get started with yours. Check out Money Crashers for a starting point: https://www.moneycrashers.com/weekly-house-cleaning.
Do a seasonal assessment on problems you may not be able to see
One of the things you may need to do is tackle some of the issues you might not have been aware of before. (Come to think of it, isn’t it our job as moms to ignore MOST of the issues around us?) For example, at my house, we had a faulty exhaust fan issue we weren’t aware of until one day we noticed black mildew growing on the ceiling around the bathroom vents. Whoops! Even if you don’t run into a problem like that, changing seasons mean changing temperatures. Changes in temperature can create humidity in the home, which can affect the air quality or even lead to things like mold. If you spot the signs then companies like The Fresh Air Companies (https://www.thefreshaircompanies.com/) could help you out. Examples of other out-of-sight-out-of-mind issues could be things like blocked drains or gutters. Basically, once you notice the weather starting to get nippy, it’s time to start making those bi-annual assessments.
Tackle the clutter for good (or die trying)
I proceed with caution as I face a crowd of moms and say this, but… it’s time to tackle the clutter. You and I both know how miserable we’ll be if we are stuck inside for months on end with the piles everywhere. Trust me, I am preaching to myself. I am planning to slowly peck away at the clutter over the month of September. You may be like me and like the idea of removing clutter each day, dedicating five minutes to go around your home and find things you no longer need. Or you may want to spend more time on it, deciding on things that could be worth something by selling online or maybe donating to charity for some of the bigger items. I myself plan to have a yard sale within a month or so.
Change the theme and get ready for winter
Finally, as the cold weather approaches it is a nice (((idea))) to start changing some of the styles in your living area. It doesn’t mean completely redecorating, and honestly, as moms, who’s got the time… To me, breaking out the fall/winter furnishings means getting out all of the fuzzy blankets and treating the house to some new candles. Small things like this can really help to make a home feel cozy, warm and inviting. Just what you need when the weather starts driving everyone inside.
I don’t know about you, but I’m stoked for fall to be approaching. Football, leaves, pies and pumpkins. It’s my favorite season. I hope these tips have helped get you in the spirit for that first crisp fall day and gotten you thinking ahead for the months we’ll be stuck indoors. With the kids. Ohhh, the kids. We can do this, moms!