Back-to-school season is a time to recharge. 30 ways to be your best self this fall.

Labor Day has come and gone. School buses are back on the streets. And while fall doesn’t officially start until the autumn equinox on Sept. 22, back-to-school season is undoubtedly in full swing. For some folks, this time of year is filled with dread and memories of being a kid having to trade their pool floaties for textbooks. For others, it’s an opportunity to reset, and to go into the final quarter of the year with renewed energy and focus (you know, before they all get waylaid by the holiday hustle and bustle to come).

While you may not necessarily need, to quote Meg Ryan’s character in You’ve Got Mail, “a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils” at this point in your life, there are plenty of ways you can tap into your inner schoolkid and seize new opportunities for growth. Think of it as a way to reframe any “autumn anxiety” in a more positive light, get a head start on all those resolutions you’ll probably be making in a few months or just generally feel like you’re really on top of it.

Not sure where to get started? Read on for 30 tips to help you be your happiest, healthiest, most productive self this season.

🩺 Map out your health calendar. Blink and the holidays will be here before you know it, which makes it a good idea to go ahead and book those end-of-year appointments before offices close, slots fill up and life simply gets too busy. Make a plan for COVID boosters, RSV and flu shots and any other lingering annual exams or dental checkups you might need before the year is out.

🩲 Buy new underwear and socks. Maybe you’re past the point of caring about the latest fashion trends — or having growth spurts that necessitate some back-to-school shopping at the mall with mom. But here’s one wardrobe refresh anyone can benefit from: Cleaning out those sock and underwear drawers and replacing anything that’s worn out or missing its match. Even if nobody else knows the difference, having fresh underthings on can put a spring in your step.

🎨 Find a fall hobby. Having a hobby (bouldering, crochet, baking bread) comes with all sorts of mental health benefits, from brightening your mood to encouraging mindfulness. Picking up a new hobby has the added bonus of challenging your brain (good for cognitive health) and building your confidence as you expand your skill set. As we settle into the fall term, consider signing up for a new-to-you class or diving into something you can learn (and maybe even master?) over the next few months.

💻 Clean your desk. Kids start the school year with fresh notebooks, pens, folders and other supplies. Whether your workspace is a corporate cubicle, an in-home office or a kitchen table piled with a laptop and a stack of paperwork, it could probably stand a tidy up. Cleaning up — start by wiping down your desk and other dusty surfaces, ridding your keyboard of crumbs and tossing (or at least filing) random papers — can make you more productive and less stressed on the job. And if treating yourself to fun office supplies or a fancy new pen motivates you to keep your space organized and neat, shop away.

📚 Crack the books (or, a book). No, you don’t have to read The Old Man and the Sea for school credit this year … but maybe you should? Along with all the other pleasures of reading (whether it’s Ernest Hemingway or Emily Henry), enjoying a book before bed has been linked to reduced stress and improved sleep.

👃 Follow your nose. If you need an excuse to stock up on scented candles, this is it. From cardamom to apple to cinnamon to pumpkin, certain scents can make us feel calm, safe and connected to pleasurable memories. Adding potpourri, a cinnamon broom or a candle, soap or body wash in your favorite seasonal smell can make for a simple, low-lift dopamine hit.

😷 Step up your anti-sickness measures. Illnesses like whooping cough and COVID are already circulating as we head into cold and flu season. If you’re trying to avoid being felled by a gnarly bug, there are a few things you can do, including making sure your vaccines are up to date; being vigilant about handwashing (and teaching your kids to do the same, especially if they’re in school); prioritizing sleep and a healthy diet for your general well-being; and wearing a mask in public indoor settings. And because good ventilation makes it harder for germs to spread, get some air flowing during social gatherings by taking them outside or, at the very least, cracking open a window.

💊 But stock up on supplies in case you do get sick. Because illness is sometimes just unavoidable, it’s a good idea to make sure your medicine cabinet and kitchen stocked with all the sick day essentials you’ll need, including honey (for coughs); fluids containing electrolytes (for hydration); COVID tests, which will once again become available free of charge for U.S. households beginning in September; fever reducers and other over-the-counter medications.

🏠 Change your air filter. While there are a number of factors that determine how frequently you should change your home air filter (pets, climate, filter type, etc.), every 90 days is a general rule of thumb. And if you’ve been running your AC all summer long, you’ll want to start this season with a fresh filter to improve air quality in your home and make sure new contaminants are getting trapped (especially if you have allergies).

🎃 Snack on pumpkin seeds. It may be a little too early for jack o’lanterns, but pumpkins will soon be popping up at your supermarket. It’s worth cracking one open as soon as you can: Pumpkin seeds (or pepitas, which don’t have a shell) aren’t just tasty when roasted or sprinkled onto a salad for extra crunch; they’re also a great source of protein, healthy fats and nutrients such as zinc, magnesium and iron and are associated with improved prostate and bladder health and even better sleep.

🍂 Rake leaves. This burns between 350 and 450 calories an hour — and will get your homeowners’ association off your back.

🚶🏼‍➡️ Make time for “movement snacks.” Kids get gym class; you get this reminder that sitting all day is bad for your health. To offset this, go through your work calendar (or phone) and set regular alerts nudging you to get up and move; having a “movement snack” for even just one minute every hour can make a difference.

👜 Clean out your purse/wallet/tote bag. In the spirit of kids starting the school year with spiffy new backpacks, take a few minutes to dump out the detritus (receipts, water bottles that need a wash, long-overdue appointment reminder cards, etc.) clogging up your everyday accessories.

🥕 Pack yourself some baby carrots. Next time you’re craving a midday snack, consider this: Eating about 8 to 12 baby carrots three times a week can increase skin carotenoids, which is linked to better vision, skin protection from UV damage and improved immune function. Chomp away!

🚗 Get your car detailed. Sand, wet beach towels, melted popsicles from that last road trip … chances are, your car’s been through a lot this summer. Show it some love with a thorough detailing or, at the very least, a DIY decluttering. (Bonus: Having a clean space is good for your mental health.)

🪟 Lower your blinds. Want to start the season with a renewed focus at work? Try lowering your shades (if you have them). Research from Princeton University has found that visual distractions can make us less productive.

📺 Tone up during your TV time. Fall means nonstop NFL action and the return of your favorite shows. To avoid getting too sedentary during all that screen time, throw some exercises into the mix. Crunches, planks, squats and wall sits are just a few moves you can easily do without missing a play or plot twist, or do stretches on a yoga mat in front of the TV. And don’t forget to move around during those ad breaks!

🫶 Volunteer. Volunteering is frequently recommended as a way to counter loneliness, boost your mood and make friends. There are a lot of opportunities out there this time of year, from handing out water bottles at a fun run to canvassing for your candidate of choice.

🦩 Start a daily balance practice. Being able to stand on one leg for at least 10 seconds is considered an indicator of one’s overall health, but it’s worth putting in extra time — say, 15 minutes in the morning or between afternoon meetings — devoted to improving your balance. If you’re already doing solo-leg stands while brushing your teeth, challenge yourself to hold the pose longer, or work up to standing on a pillow or adding weights.

🍹 Discover your go-to mocktail for fall. Want to scale back your drinking? Look to seasonal ingredients (apple cider, cranberry juice, pomegranate, etc.) to inspire a booze-free concoction you can turn to on nights when you’re craving something special but want to stay dry. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

🍌 Stock up on (healthy) snacks. Anyone who has ever owned a candy jar understands how tempting easily accessible food can be. But what if you tried that with, say, a bowl on your desk laden with fresh fruit, nuts or even your favorite protein bars? Putting nutritious snacks in plain sight makes it easier to turn to them when hunger strikes.

☀️ Keep wearing sunscreen. You should be protecting your skin every day, in every kind of weather — not just when you’re headed to a waterpark. Store sunscreen in easily accessible places, such as on your bathroom counter, by the front door or on your desk so you have a daily visible reminder.

🚮 Unsubscribe from at least five unwanted marketing lists. You can grit your teeth every time you get another marketing email from that online boutique you ordered from back in 2017 … or you can just say goodbye for good. Take five minutes to ID your worst in-box offenders, click unsubscribe and, if you haven’t already, mass delete all the pesky emails they’ve sent.

🧘🏽‍♀️ Start a bedtime stretch routine. Sneaking in some stretches before you slip under the covers may help you sleep better — and make it less likely that you’ll wake up in the middle of the night with a back spasm or leg cramp.

🚰 Find a water bottle you’ll actually drink from. The Stanley craze has mostly died down, but if that jumbo tumbler is still your preferred way to hit your daily hydration goals, stay with it. Experts recommend drinking half your body weight in ounces (so, a person weighing 150 pounds would drink 75 ounces of water a day), though diet, exercise, medications and other factors should also be taken into account. Bottom line: If you’re not great at drinking water unless it’s carbonated, ice-cold, served with lemon or presented in a trendy water bottle (or all of the above), that’s OK — just do what you need to do to get those ounces in.

🧴 Moisturize. Crisp, cool weather can leave skin feeling parched. Switch up your skin care routine by choosing rich moisturizers guaranteed to hydrate and avoiding hot showers that dry out the skin. A special treat: Rub your feet with a thick, creamy lotion before slipping on your coziest socks.

🚶 Wear a weighted vest on your hikes. Weighted vests come with all sorts of benefits — more cardio, building muscle strength, etc. — and it’s finally cool enough to wear one without melting into a puddle. Layer one on the next time you’re headed out on a hike to soak up some nature and views of the changing leaves.

🙌 Show some school spirit. Research has found that attending live sporting events is associated with a greater sense of well-being and reduced loneliness, making the case that heading to, say, a Friday night high school football game in your town, is good for your mental health. But if sports isn’t your thing, consider finding a different local event — a choir concert, theater production, etc. — to strengthen community ties and a sense of belonging.

🥣 Get your soup on. Cool nights call for steaming bowls of something that’ll warm your belly — potato and leek, good ol’ chicken noodle, minestrone, you name it — so start poring through recipes and stocking up on the ingredients and tools you’ll need. Pro tip: Make a big batch and freeze the leftovers so you have a hearty meal ready to go when you want it, but be sure to follow these food safety tips to reduce your risk of food-borne illness.

📝 Pump yourself up. Here’s an easy way to try an affirmations practice: Grab a sticky pad and write yourself a positive note. Maybe it’s your favorite inspiring song lyric or movie quote, great feedback you got during your last performance review or even just something you want to will into being (“Spending New Year’s Eve in Bali!” “New job” — you get the idea).