The leaves changing colors always marks a fresh start for me. New Year’s Eve? Not so much. It is fall that has always made me evaluate my decisions and accomplishments from that year and prompted me to make changes. There has always been something so refreshing about that time of year.

This fall will mark some of my biggest changes yet. For starters, I’ll be heading out of this fall with a new name. This serves as a public service announcement that, starting soon, my byline will appear as “Allison Lynch.” Of course, I had to have a fall wedding. What better time to make a change and enter my new life as a farm wife?

My soon-to-be husband, Ryan, and I also will move into our house that we’ve spent the better part of a year remodeling. Talk about a huge change!

On a deeper level

Beyond the name change and house change is something that can’t be seen or touched: a new perspective. Each fall, I slip into a period of reflection where I evaluate my decisions from the year and consider what I could do differently moving forward.

You see, I leave each fall season with a positive mindset and a goal to slow down and enjoy everything around me. By the time I hit fall again, I feel like I’m barely holding myself together. I’ve just come off a busy summer, and I feel so stretched thin that I just might snap.

This has been a year like no other. Between exiting student life and starting my full-time job, planning a wedding and remodeling a house, I have been pulled in every direction. Sometimes, it just seems like there is not enough time to do everything, and I’m sure that many of you feel the same.

This is why, during fall — arguably the busiest season of them all — I try to be mindful of my actions and consider how I can make more time for myself moving forward. It may come in the form of evenings spent at home and making a go-to meal that requires little effort. It could look like an afternoon watching movies or reading a book. It could be a nice walk with my dogs in the brisk fall air.

New mindset

Aside from the actions I take to make more time for me, I also need to cultivate a new perspective. I cannot be everywhere all the time. I cannot do all the things I want to do. I cannot make everyone happy.

That last point is one I have a difficult time processing. Gosh, why can’t I make everyone happy? Don’t answer that question — I already have somewhat of an idea. Here’s the simple answer: It’s just not possible.

I’ve found that putting me, my family and my faith first is what truly matters. Shifting my focus away from trying to make everyone happy is something I’m going to prioritize this fall. I think that will help cut back on stress and lead to a more positive mindset.

While you’re in the combine this fall, or preparing harvest dinners in the kitchen, consider how you can cultivate a better mindset going into the winter months. Are you doing things for you? To make you happy? How could you create more time for you?

It’s not sustainable to keep up business as usual if it means you need to run yourself ragged to make it happen. Embrace this season of change and ponder what you could do differently.