August | a head start
This month’s theme is focused on prepping for what’s left of the year. It’s August, and before we know it, we’ll be ringing in 2024. The last 1.66 quarter of the year planning, if you will. A weird title for something - the last 1.66 quarter of the year. But by the time we get to the actual last quarter of the year, we’re in holiday mode and at least for my family, it’s mass chaos of school functions, holidays and everything in between until you get to the new year!
I like to get a head start on the 4th quarter of the year a couple months ahead of time (where that .66 or ⅔ came from …I like math). I like to prep ahead as much as possible, so I’m sharing how I do that both for the studio side and home side of life.
shift from the SUMMER TO FALL SEASON
While temperatures may not follow suit (here in Louisiana), the shift that happens around August/September is often geared around my little ones starting a new school year. For me, this also shifts my mindset into thinking about how I want to take the energy of the summer into the rest of the year. It’s a shift from a state of rest to a state of activity and often requires the right mindset.
This is where goals for the kids, the home, and our work/life balance are made to apply to the rest of the year. We often get SUPER organized knowing school lunch boxes, backpacks, and papers are about to flood the surfaces of every “dump zone.” Baskets solve all the problems …and coat hooks. If you’ve got little ones about to start school, solve those dump zone areas.
Photo: @luisabrimble
new layers IN THE HOME
My only hope is that summer brought you rest, joy, weekenders, and good times. As I shift into new seasons, I like to fossilize little mementoes - a photo from the summer, a framed sand dollar from that beach trip.
New seasons also allow the opportunity to give your home a fresh update to transition into a new headspace. How you feel in your home plays such an important role in your energy.
Photo: @veronikajorjobert
getting ahead FOR THE HOLIDAYS
However you celebrate the holidays, prepping ahead will free up some space in that mind of yours. If you know you’ll be visiting family in the fall or winter months, ask yourself what white space might be needed in order to not overbook yourself.
It’s never too early to start holiday shopping. I love to shop local. A Gift Guide is in the works for later this year, but here’s last year’s guide for your liking.
long term PLANNING FOR 2024
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve started my goals with the phrase “One day, I want to…”
Plan the damn thing. Book the trip, launch the wallpaper line, take the leap, take the job. Make it happen. Planning way far in advance takes the pressure off too. Start thinking about those 2024 goals. I’ve already got a list of them for both studio launch and homebody goals.
Photo @alexazabache
These are all the different areas that I focus on that help me walk into the last quarter (and 2/3) of the year with a clear mind, setting my next season up for success. I hope these little antidote and methods help you do the same!
