Back to school

It’s been a while since I had an official “first day of school”, but the transition from summer to fall always brings out the sense of anticipation, the ideas of new beginning, excitement over fresh new notebooks and a little bit of sadness that my favorite season has passed. Even if you’re not going back to the classroom this year, September may be the perfect time to take advantage of this “back to school” ritual and incorporate some new things into your daily life.

Start a new journal – if you’re like me you’ve been eagerly anticipating any excuse to buy some new writing supplies. Journals can help you organize ideas, create and keep track of plans or just take a break from the day to doodle.

Create a little space that will remind you of the calm, lazy days of summer. Imagine what it would be like to wake up each morning and the first thing you see is a reminder of the warm, sunny days at the beach, or something else that instantly brings a smile to your face. Spend a few moments and put together those things and set them on your night stand or next to your toothbrush so that they can set the mood for your entire day.

Find time to meditate. By now you’ve heard all about the health benefits of meditation, so this “school year” it’s time to take that “class” and make it a part of your daily schedule. Don’t be intimidated by the idea of meditation or the notion that you have to turn your mind off. All you have to do is find a quiet spot, close your eyes and focus on your breath. For example, try to visualize the path your breath takes as it enters your nose and then follow it all the way to your heels and back out. If you find yourself thinking about the events of the day while your eyes are closed, simply to shift your focus back to visualizing your breath. With practice you can stay focused on that one thing longer.

Get a couple of new dishes, cooking pots or cookbooks and get excited about cooking again. Preparing healthy meals will feel fun again when you have new tools you can’t wait to try out. If you’re watching your budget, you can always trade dishes or cookbooks with a friend.

Hope all of you had a great summer and will have an even better “school year.”