So you haven’t had that back-to-school rush since you were 10. That doesn’t mean you can’t take advantage of this transitional season and get your mind, body, and soul ready for the upcoming year. Amanda Young, a holistic health counselor at Centerpoint Yoga Studio in New York City, shares a few tips that will help you feel focused and energized before the first leaf drops to the ground.

1. Define your future. Coming into fall, it’s easy to feel stuck in a rut. "If you are at the same job, if everything in your life is the same, then you can start feeling depressed and heavy," Young says. To avoid this seasonal pitfall, Young says to try a future-building exercise.  Start by making a list of things you want to accomplish over a short period, like in the next week, then extend it to list more long-term goals. It sounds basic, but by defining what you want to happen in your life, you feel more focused and have a better sense of where you want your life to go, which is the first step in making your goals a reality.

2. Mix up your yoga. "According to ayurveda, Fall is a time for your energies to be grounded inward. Yoga is a good way to make you feel more stable and more grounded," Young says. "But if you are always going to the same yoga class, performing the same type of yoga with the same teacher, then your yoga practice can become a habit and you’re not as present in the moment."

Try going to a new yoga center, taking class at a different time, or trying a different instructor. The change will make you more alert and help you stay in tune with the instructor and your movements, which will improve your form. Or, if you are looking for a way to stay warm, Bikram will surely do the trick.

3.  Make your house a home. Is your living space a mess? Clean it up. Because you will be spending more time indoors as the weather cools down, it is crucial to create a nesting place now to help you stay centered going into the new season. Here are some more tips to help you get organized.


4.  Give thanks. Why wait until Thanksgiving? Try to make a list every day, either in the morning or at night, of 10 things you are grateful for. "When you shift your focus away from what you are complaining about to what you are grateful for, you start to notice the little things like the sun cutting through the trees, the love you get from your partner, and you start to see the positive things. We are so fortunate, recognizing that can be life transforming," Young says. For more on making gratitude your attitude, click here.