Fall is my favorite season, so as far as I’m concerned, September 1 is the beginning of fall.
I completely understand that fall doesn’t officially start until around September 22, and here in Arizona the weather is not in the slightest interested in cooperating with me. It is still hot. Very hot. But once September gets here, my brain has already moved on.
I’m ready for candles, the cooler evenings that will eventually show up, fall flowers, baking, decorating, and all of those little things that make this time of year feel different. The problem is that fall also has a habit of moving ridiculously fast.
September starts, we tell ourselves we have plenty of time, and then suddenly we’re halfway through October wondering how that happened. So this year I thought it would be fun to make myself a little fall checklist—not a list of things I have to do, but a list of things I actually want to make time for.
Nothing complicated. Nothing that requires turning every weekend into an event. Just a mix of small things at home and a few excuses to get out of the house and enjoy the season.
My September Fall Checklist
Bake something that feels like fall
Go on an evening walk
Pull out your fall décor
Visit a farmers market
Start a fall or cozy book
Make soup or chili
Bring home some autumn-colored flowers
Watch your favorite fall movie
Start your cool-season garden
Pick up your favorite fall-scented candle
Visit a pumpkin patch
Make a simmer pot
Plan a day trip to see the leaves change
Have a cozy warm drink
That’s it. I’m not treating this like homework, and I certainly don’t expect to check off every single thing just for the sake of saying I did. The whole point is to notice the season while we’re in it instead of realizing sometime in October that September disappeared.
And yes, I’m fully aware I may be drinking something warm while the air conditioner is still running. Arizona fall requires a little imagination.
If you made your own fall checklist, what would be the first thing on it?
