Autumnize in one click

 That spring was full of dreams about the coming summer and making splendid plans. By mid-August, I realized that I’d lost the summer, spending it on job tasks and meaningless housework.

In fact, it happens each time a new season comes. Psyche’s got inertia, different at each of us. Some people don’t bother because they’re flexible enough. Not me. There was a snowless winter once; for several days I chomped at the bit to ski before it struck me that wintertime is full of amuzements requiring not snow.

Such moments empower and encourage us on changes like it happened to me that miserable summer. I put off all other tasks and spared some time thinking how I can get the most out of my seasons. First, I made short notes on each season. Then, I started doing a simple ritual each time a new season comes. It starts with a memo ringing on my Google Tasks – I’ve got four of them, one per each season, scheduled on the last days of an ending season and set to repeat annually. That’s a reminder that I should spare some 30 to 45 minutes to revising my notes.

There’s much to recall. Take that snowless winter: the moment an avid skier like me stops loafing around and starts looking for opportunities, they can discover ice and skates.

Endless thaws, dull rain? No problemo, go swim in the pool and walk in the rain. Turn on your favourite Les Mills Body Balance 57. It’s nine months since you did it last time and you missed it, didn’t you? 

Snowfall too heavy for skiing? Buy snowshoes.

However, today, I’m looking through the autumn notes. The line about health reads, “don’t sleep under the opened window. Use antiseptic gel before socializing.”

It’s also a good time to add some new tips to the ending summer while it’s still fresh in memories. Like, “Drawing/guitar conflict solved by seasonally switching. More music in autumn.” For years, I’ve been torn between affections of drawing and guitar playing, loving them both but a damn lack of time! Last summer, I was drawing much in the open air while feeling guilty about not practicing the guitar. Nevertheless, drawing inspiration went on decline by the end of September while, in the dark evenings, I took guitar more often than before. Finally, there was an insight that hobbies can be switched seasonally!

These tips help but the mental setup that comes from revising them helps even more. It’s important to accept the old season is off and the new one’s on. Tell myself, whether my summer was spent meaningfully or meaninglessly, it’s over now. So, instead of fixing on regrets, recall the pleasant moments. Then, focus on the coming autumn, get prepared to greet its upsides, and enter the new season self-contented.

Kinda simple, isn’t it? Why I’d never seen it in time management books? Maybe that’s because only few people need this ability to quickly adapt to seasons? To many of us, life cycles are driven by either traditions and rituals or work schedules. To many more, seasons’ change is just a matter of choosing between wearing sunglasses and a coat.

As to me, I type the last dot, open Google Tasks and tap ‘complete’ against “Analyze autumn”. It’s now turned on in one click.