This article was originally published on Big Cheese Coaching’s blog and is reprinted with permission. 

Feeling a bit daunted by the looming month ahead?

Feeling overwhelmed with so much going on — all at once?

Feeling a bit sad to see summer go?

Over the years, I’ve written frequently about the return to the ‘busy season’ marked by September. Here are a few of my favourite tips. I’ve also included some resources and links to articles from the past — and even a chapter from my book, Ease: Manage Overwhelm in Times of Crazy Busy. As well as, some wonderful advice shared by a good friend who offers tips to parents who are juggling the loads of getting the kids back to school.

#1 Enjoy the now as best you can. With the flurry of activity and planning ahead it is easy to get swept up into the busy season and get lost in our tasks. It’s equally important to set some intentions to enjoy what is on offer — right now. Fall has a lot to offer right now. The beautiful foliage (soon to come); the bounty (apples, corn on the cob, and other yummies). And the weather is still warm enough to enjoy the outdoors. What is on offer that is good in your world right now?

#2 Get organized. Watch out for that Overwhelm Gremlin that comes when you are loaded up a quadrillion things to do and you keep them floating around in your head. Don’t keep it in your head! That will drain your energy and lead to frazzled territory. The key is to get the loads ‘out of your head’ but keep your priorities top of mind. Huh? How? Write it down! Here’s an excerpt from my book, Ease, that might help:

Tool #1: Get it Our of Your Head — Write it Down.

This tool offers 13 neuro-savvy ways to do this in a way that works with your brain and not against it.

Also, here’s a related article for more (written a while back but still relevant for our times): “In Defense of the Lowly To Do List.”

#3 Set some mojo-sparking goals. Ahhh goals. The magic of setting good (meaningful) goals is that we can fuel up our spark, our ‘mojo’ and add to our fulfillment. I’m not talking about goals that burden an already full plate of responsibility, I’m talking about something else entirely. A lot of people have lost touch with their goals or forgot (or don’t know) how to set good goals. Here’s an article on how to fuel up with some good goal-setting tips.

#4 Look forward to…something! As we wrap up summer, we say goodbye to many things we enjoyed. And that can sometimes feel like a bummer. Reset your gaze and look ahead to a few things you will enjoy. They may already be in place (special events, fall adventures, etc.). But if not, make sure you create something. One of the things I tend to look forward to in September is “Tiff time” (Toronto International Filmfest). I don’t always get to see lots of films each Tiff season but I make sure to see at least a few. I love the buzz, the films, and the overall ‘Tiff vibe’. What does your ‘look forward’ list look like?

#5 Sleep well, rest, and practice self-care. Your energy might be challenged in the weeks ahead. Less light, busier days, and more demands on your attention. Make sure you sleep well (amply as best you can); commit to regular rest (tiny breaks and bigger breaks), and level up your self-care on all fronts (nutrition, activity, social connection, mental/emotional) – and more. Your mind and body will thank you for it!

#6 For parents: My good friend, Naomi Ashkenazy, MSW, Family Therapist (in Montreal), offered some fabulous tips for parents who are juggling the busy season with getting kids back to school. I loved her tips! Tame your perfectionist gremlin and cut yourself some slack (she says) – ease back into the new routines and stop worrying about doing everything perfectly. Order-in dinner instead of feeling pressured to cook a perfect full meal every night. Be compassionate with yourself. And talk to your kids about their overwhelm and challenges.

She said it all so beautifully. Check out the 12 minutes at the top of the video here: September’s Worry Flurries – Tips for Parents.

I hope you find these tips helpful as you head into the fall!

Eileen Chadnick, PCC, principal of Big Cheese Coaching. An ICF-credentialed coach, workshop facilitator, team coach, and writer, Eileen serves mandates in leadership development, team and culture-building, communications, and career management. Drawing from a myriad of disciplines including emotional intelligence and Conversational Intelligence®. Eileen brings more than 20 years of experience to her work. She is the author of the book, Ease: Manage Overwhelm in Times of Crazy Busy, and an active contributor to the media. Read more and join her in conversations about leadership, learning, life at  www.bigcheesecoaching.com.