As summer winds down and fall begins to take shape, many leaders are emerging from a season of irregularity. Vacations, disrupted routines, and the natural ebb and flow of summer create a natural neglect and disruption of systems and processes. As we shift into fall, I find many leaders are ready or need a fall reset to refresh, and refocus to get solid momentum and results for the rest of the year. In the fall things start to pick up with more conferences, financial pressures to finish the year strong, customer needs and team requests as everyone gets back into the grind of work, life, school, etc.
An interesting concept is that of periodicity. It is the natural seasons of nature, sports, work, and life. September is one of those seasons where people shift out of the summer zone where they crave sun and downtime, and into fall where people cozy up and settle down to move things forward and have a productive fall. The environmental connections can be subtle and subconscious, but they all play a part in shifting our energy and mode.
In the USA, things like a cooler day (regardless of where you live), the announcement of “Pumpkin Spice Lattes” from Starbucks, the kids going back to school, the sports schedule coming out, the looming budget review and planning, new hires being onboarded after summer, etc. Some things happen more naturally in the fall that all contribute to shifting us into this next season.
It is natural to feel out of sorts as past routines are not quite working. It is natural and common. Rather than just pushing through it, a FALL RESET is a strategic and sage approach to quickly regaining traction and getting momentum for the fall.
10 habits high-performing leaders use to create their fall reset:
- Revisit Your Goals and Set a Fall Focus
Before diving into the demands of the season, take time to revisit your annual goals. What have you accomplished so far this year (celebrate it!)? What’s still on your radar that needs attention before the year ends? Identify 1-2 key objectives for the fall and align your daily actions with these goals. High-performing leaders know that having a clear direction is essential for making the most of their time. Pro Tip: Write your goals down where you can see them daily. Review them each morning to stay grounded in what matters most.
- Audit and Refresh Your Systems
Summer can leave systems neglected and processes in disarray. Whether it’s your calendar, project management tools, documents, desk, or communication flows, now is the time to audit and refresh. High-performing leaders streamline their systems to save time and boost efficiency. Clear out the clutter—both physical and digital—so your systems work for you, not against you. Reflection: What systems are feeling most ineffective? What needs to be cleaned up and purged and where can you clean up processes to make your workday smoother?
- Eat the Frog First: Prioritize Your Hardest Task
Start each day by tackling your “frog”—the most important, and often the most difficult, task on your list. These are the ones that we procrastinate, and they stay on the list day after day. They are stealing your energy. Identify this “frog” the night before and prioritize it as the first thing you do in the morning. Give yourself 30 minutes a day for your frog. This simple habit boosts momentum and prevents procrastination from slowing you down. You will have more energy if you do this. Promise. Reminder: Don’t look at email or small tasks before doing your frog —focus on the frog, then move on.
- Establish Powerful AM and PM Routines
Routines are a high-performing leader’s best friend. Your morning sets the tone for the day, and your evening closes the day. Begin each morning with structured AM habits, like tackling your frog, reading daily inspiration, and reviewing your goals. In the evening, clear your desk, review your progress, and plan for the next day. Once you get the hang of this, consider having separate AM and PM routines for personal and work time. This helps you start and end both parts of your day with intention. Your AM routine might look like this: Frog. Read inspiration. Send an encouragement note. Review goals. Drink a glass of water. Then check your email.
- Declutter Your Physical and Digital Space
A cluttered space leads to a cluttered mind. High-performing leaders know that clear environments foster focus and productivity. Take time to declutter your workspace—clear your desk, organize your files, and tidy up your digital systems. You’ll feel more energized and ready to focus on what truly matters. Action Step: Block 15 minutes at the end of each day to clean and organize your desk and files. (add to your PM habits)
- Refocus with Deep Work and Task Batching
Leaders are often pulled in many directions, but the key to high performance is focus. Dedicate blocks of time to deep work—uninterrupted focus on your most critical tasks. Task batching, or grouping similar activities together, helps streamline your efforts. Protect these deep work times fiercely. In the fall (or any season of reset) it is important to revisit your time buckets (your main 5-7 areas of work) and adjust. Reflection: What are your time buckets, how much time do you need for each and when will you do them? Make a block schedule for the week.
- Schedule Breaks and Protect Your Flex Time
As the demands of the fall season ramp up, it’s essential to manage your energy as well as your time. Schedule short breaks throughout the day to recharge, at minimum block your lunch time. Working through lunch is a recipe for a slow energy slide. Build in flex time for unexpected tasks or last-minute priorities (usually 2 hours a day). High-performing leaders know that without space to breathe, burnout becomes inevitable. Tip: Don’t wait until you’re exhausted to take a break. Plan them into your day, just like meetings. This is the secret to true resilience – breaking before you crash.
- Delegate Strategically
You can’t do everything—and you shouldn’t try. Fall is a great time to assess what tasks are most important for you today verse what would be better to delegate to others. Whether it’s routine administrative work or parts of larger projects, find the areas where others can step in, allowing you to focus on higher-level strategy. This isn’t about dumping your least favorite tasks; it’s about identifying who can complete them more efficiently and with automation in mind. Pro Tip: Start by delegating small tasks that eat up time and aren’t in your zone of genius. Pay attention to what you want to delegate but know you are just avoiding and know YOU need to do it and make that a FROG.
- Refresh Your Environment for Inspiration
High-performing leaders understand the importance of their environment. This fall, refresh your workspace to create a place that energizes and inspires you. Add elements that spark creativity and motivation, like plants, new artwork, or simply a new layout. An inspiring environment can make a huge difference in your mindset and productivity. Sometimes this is updating your vision board, goals, office picture, etc. Create a space you want to be and love working. Action Step: Make one change to your office this week that sparks joy or inspiration.
- Set Clear Boundaries for Work and Rest
Fall can feel like a sprint, but highly effective leaders know that boundaries are key to sustainable success. Set clear boundaries between your work and personal life. When your workday is done, leave work behind. Prioritize time to recharge—whether that’s weekends off, time with family, or activities that help you reset mentally and emotionally. Reflection: How is your mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual (passion) energy? Based on what is draining you, what boundaries can you set this fall to refuel your energy?
By adopting these 10 habits for a fall reset, leaders can boost productivity, refresh their mindset, and create the space they need to lead effectively. Fall is the perfect time to reflect, refocus, and refresh—not just for yourself, but for your entire team. By leading with clarity and intention, you’ll set yourself and your organization up for a productive and successful season. Encourage your team to do this for themselves as well!
What are you most excited to achieve or focus on this fall?
To do that, what habits will you refresh this fall?
What systems need a reset to better support your leadership goals?
How will this help you?
Don’t wait for the new year—start today and lead with clarity and renewed focus this fall.
