As summer comes to an end, you may feel changes coming to your routines, schedules, and goals. While the temperature starts to cool and leaves begin to settle, our lives begin to settle as well. Normalcy in our routines brings a great opportunity for us to set new goals, achieve them, and strive for a new level of personal excellence and fulfillment. 

It’s easy to look at this time of year as a loss of freedom and fun. This may be partially true. However, there’s always an opportunity for us to view any situation through the lens of what we are gaining versus what we are losing. In order to make the most of this shift in seasons, it’s best to view the change from the perspective of the opportunities that await. 

Now don’t get me wrong, this time of year can be extremely stressful, especially if you have children returning to school. Responsibilities are picking back up, and our obligations of being one place or another can be challenging. 

As much as you may or may not want to hear this, we have the ability to take control over our reality, how we spend our time, and how we react to life happening around us. While it may feel like we are required to respond to every event, be everywhere, do everything, and put others first, we cannot forget about ourselves in this season. It’s important we focus on our own goals too.

While you’re planning out the changes to come, take time to become familiar with your calendar in the upcoming weeks. Intentionally see the gaps and decide what you’d like to accomplish during those times. This could look like scheduling your workouts, planning social events for you, or purposefully resting. The more we can take control of our own schedules, the less likely they are to take control of us.

It’s easy to fall into the pattern of starting new schedules with extremely strict goals all at once, and this can become very overwhelming. Instead of trying to change everything at once, pick a few goals that are most important to you and focus on them until they become part of your routine. This will help you make progress and feel accomplished without burning out quickly. 

You might be thinking, “This sounds great but will never work for me.” The only way it’s going to work for you is if you keep the promises you make to yourself. There’s nobody out there who is going to hold you accountable to your goals more powerfully than you can for yourself. No matter how small the promise, keep it. Each time you do, you teach yourself that you’re reliable, capable, and care. I know you care about other people around you. It’s time you share the love with yourself.