Once the temperatures plummeted and the foliage began shifting hues, an odd sensation took hold of me. I acquired a brand-new bed—it was as if my previous one was suddenly revolting and antiquated. I donated a substantial portion of my wardrobe—over a third remains a puzzle as to my former belief that all that coordinated linen rendered me “sophisticated” and not akin to Nigel Thornberry. I hastily arranged a hair stylist visit—I don’t recall enlisting their aid to invoke Rod Stewart’s aura previously, but such must have transpired somehow. It felt as though, with autumn’s onset, emerged the impulse to rejuvenate my existence completely. Enter something I solemnly endorse: the grand autumn revamp.
Traditionally, spring is the time designated for overhauling our lives, which, on paper, is logical. It symbolizes fresh starts and warmth, and you cease feeling like a semi-frozen, lumbering medieval crone each transition from one room to another. Yet, I’ve persistently realized that, practically, fall stands superior for reinventing one’s whole life. During this period, your wardrobe transforms utterly. The declining temperatures permit actual thought (in the blazing summer, “getting out of bed” suffices to urge an Aperol Spritz and a solitary cigarette). Additionally, it’s likely because many of us still associate autumn with beginning a new school term. Vaguely recalling school days, I nonetheless inexplicably face the compulsion to purchase new stationery every September. Thus, it has been advantageous to channel that distinct energy as an adult.
Additionally, autumn seems the most pragmatic for a comprehensive life reset because come winter, ventures are few. The period is lengthy and wintry, spent lounging on your laptop till the afternoon, indulging in Oreos while leisurely half-viewing The Holiday on your mother’s sofa and browsing Instagram. It’s not conducive for a complete transformation. Naturally, there are New Year’s pledges, and I do relish the tidy symmetry of commencing anew on New Year’s Day, but making significant life adjustments during deep winter’s bleakness, when unveiling the curtains resembles a Silent Hill teaser, is daunting. Indeed, all indicators suggest autumn is the prime moment for hitting the reset button.
To clarify, when mentioning “grand autumn revamp,” I don’t imply obsessive brooding over physical or mental enhancements that often just diminish our self-worth (although I’m endeavoring to care less about others’ opinions, and aspire to acquire notably strong arms). It’s more about practical and lifestyle-related shifts. Procuring a quality winter coat. Conducting a comprehensive fridge cleanout. Assembling and donating unneeded books to charity. Through experience, I’ve discerned that decluttering your life generally initiates a chain reaction on a mental and physical level. You’ll find no necessity to pledge vague assurances of “becoming more optimistic” or “prioritizing rest” when a comfortable new mattress already conveys that notion.
Ultimately, you’re under no obligation to perform any significant reset at any time of year if you’re disinclined (understandably). Amid constant bombardment with directives promising to enhance our selves à la The Substance, occasionally lounging with a substantial bowl of pasta while viewing YouTube—our desired plan—brings relief. But if you’re mulling over a bedroom remodel, exploring a novel hairdo, aspiring to embody a trench coat and leather gloves-wearer, or at last tackling that peculiar “everything” nook in the kitchen, delay not until spring. Give it a shot now—you won’t lament it.
