After all those autumns of new notebooks and new responsibilities, cooler air and a clean slate, we still tend to see the season as the start of something. Now the focus is less on buying a bangin' backpack and more on creating systems that make life feel manageable as it gets busy again. To set you off on the right foot, we scoured studies and asked experts for the little things you can do right now to get it together and feel ready for fall, y'all.
Take a Ferris Bueller-style day off
Planning a week off from work requires a lot of, um, work. (Managing projects at the office! Researching your trip! Booking everything!) The good news: Even a single day off can help reduce burnout, increase feelings of gratitude, and possibly prevent a mental health crisis, like a depressive episode or panic attack, according to Angela Theisen, a therapist with the Mayo Clinic in Eau Claire, Wisconsin. What to do with your one wild and precious personal day? Anything you want! Do some shopping. Take a hike.
Go to a concert. (Keep reading for more on all three of those suggestions.)
Find more time in nature
Raise your hand if you ever experience "time scarcity"-the official term for feeling like the minutes are flying by and there are never enough hours in the day. Take it outside! A new study from the University of Turku in Finland found that, in some cases, time may feel different depending on our surroundings. When we're in nature, it can stretch longer, and we're also better able to jump between thoughts about the past, present, and future, giving us a more well-rounded perspective on the passing of time. So while you can't technically find more than 24 hours in a day, walking in the woods can at least make your day feel a little longer.
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Denne historien er fra September 2024-utgaven av Real Simple.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Christmas in the Desert
This Palm Springs home may be low on snow, but it's big on holiday cheer.
Treat Yourself
These festive sweets all start with a clever store-bought shortcut, so you can stay as cool as a...log of slice-and-bake cookie dough.
Appy Holidays
Not a typo! We'll be noshing our way through the season on these partyworthy nibbles. And we wish the same for you and yours.
Gift Guide
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Now Hear This
If closed captions have become your best friend and it sounds like everyone around you is mumbling, we've got the latest feedback on why you're having hearing trouble-and what you can do about it.
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A NO-STRESS GUIDE TO GIFT GIVING & RECEIVING
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ELIMINATE PET HAIR
It's time to reclaim your sofas, carpets, and black pants.
