Making the Most of a Back-to-School Reset
Back-to-school season isn’t just for the kids. It’s the perfect time for the rest of us to hit the reset button as we refresh our homes, our wardrobes, and even the way we connect with our friends.
But where do we begin? We’re sharing a few starting points and hope you’ll find our suggestions motivating as routines shift.
A Back-to-School Reset for Grown-Ups
Start with Your Closet
- Pick a day and mark it on your calendar. Take everything out of your closet and go over every article, piece by piece. Make different piles and label them: Keep – Alter – Swap – Donate – Toss (don’t donate torn or threadbare clothes)
- Before you put back your clothes, wash down the walls, floors and baseboards, then clean off the hanging rods that collect dust and inspect for bugs
- Get rid of the wire hangers and get a consistent look and feel – choose something that will be better for your clothes
- Identify the top five pieces you can’t live without and work around those pieces to create a wardrobe
- Commit to keeping your closet orderly (it will be easier with less clutter and streamlined systems)
Update Your Calendar
We often lie in bed at night and worry about our to-do list. This is the time to schedule all of the appointments we are putting off, such as:
- Dentist
- Annual Physical
- Mammogram
- Lab work
- Vet Appointments
- Personal Care
- Oil Change
- Home Maintenance and Repair
This is also a good time to review upcoming birthdays, anniversaries, and other important dates.
Focus on Relationships
As your calendar changes, leave room for some relationship care. Friendships thrive when intention and effort align.
- Go back through texts, calls, and emails and pay attention to who you have put off
- Send out overdue thank you notes
- Extend lunch or coffee invitations, or invite them for a walk in the park
- Choose a few people you want to get to know better and accept or extend the invitation
- Join a book club, mahjong group, or fitness program and make a new friend
Make a Back-to-School Adult Supply List for Yourself and Share It with a Friend
Let a friend know they’re on your mind and in your heart. A few pretty fall things, some fresh baked muffins, and a handwritten note show how much you care. You can always add a baked treat or sourdough loaf from a local bakery.
- A set of new hangars
- A pretty journal
- A new calendar
- A box of pens to cross things off your list
- A box of Thank You notes
- A basket to collect mail (filled with muffins)
- A favorite olive oil and recipe card
- A hand soap or new cleaning product you want to share with someone else
Wishing you a productive and peaceful September,
Diane
You may also like Back-to-School and New Beginnings for All.
For more information about working with Diane, America’s “Go To” social and professional etiquette authority, please visit The Protocol School of Texas.
See what Diane is up to by following her on Instagram and Facebook and find etiquette inspiration on her Pinterest account. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips, refer to her posts on Inc. and HuffPost.
