Your Survival Guide to Fall in the Office
A brightly colored fall themed lounge area in a workspace with autumn decor.
Over here in Michigan, there are two kinds of people. There are our friends who understandably lament the inevitable march toward shorter days and chillier weather, feeling like they blinked and summer was over. We feel you. The first day of school craze and vacation season wrapping up hits us too.
But our other camp of people, they're the ones who grab their pumpkin spice latte, haul out the fall decor, and buckle up to watch the leaves change with glee. This author confesses to being one of the latter folks, for better or for worse.
While the seasons move along, our lives speed up with them, but work deadlines remain and the mental load starts to increase. We're facing the reality of meeting end of year goals, networking season picking up, and before we know it, the holidays (which everyone knows are crazy.)
Is it possible to focus at work in a way that protects your brain from the fog that can settle in between daily tasks, school pickups, family events, and any external activities we're doing?
To help counteract the overwhelm, we've picked a few work-life balance experiences that roll in with the colder weather and laid out what we suggest to keep you not only sane, but able to enjoy the changing season, accomplish your tasks, and head home feeling you're moving forward.
A dad dressed in suit and tie for work helps his two sons into the car while carrying a car seat with a baby inside it.
Back-to-school brain, meet your workday
It's a new school year with a new routine, whether it's a kindergartner or a graduating senior in your care. We know that home-related problems don't just stay out of the office. So here's how to lighten the mental load during work hours:
Give it its own space. Trying to shut out school schedules and family reminders while you work usually backfires. Instead, give them a home on your desk at work, whether it's a tray, a folder, a bin, so you're not holding it all in your head. You can check in when you need to.
Make it visible, not intrusive. A designated spot (physical or digital) means the info is there when you need it and out of the way when you don't. Keep it out of sightlines to what you're directly working on, but not so shoved away that it would be a pain to extract.
Keep it consistent. Same spot, every day. Organization correlates to less stress, and while you're frontloading the habit change, it'll completely pay off long-term.
A colorful fall leaf sits pressed against a glass window.
Beat the seasonal slump
Shorter days. Chillier weather. You're likely putting in more hours at your desk than you did during the summer, and your body notices, seasonal blues or not.
A few easy workspace refreshes go a long way:
Light that adjusts with you. A tunable LED task lamp can mimic fresh morning light and warm up for the afternoon, working with your natural rhythm instead of against it.
Bring in some green. A plant or two (paired with a few fall leaves, obviously) does more for your energy than you'd think.
Layer in warmth. Cozy textiles, crisp fall colors, whatever makes your space feel a little more festive against the gray skies outside.
An overhead view of a young business professional working at his laptop with a coffee and notebooks.
Protect yourself from burnout
Managing all the moving pieces day after day catches up with you. A few things that help:
Upgrade your seat. If your chair isn't supporting different positions, adjusting to your height, and keeping circulation going, it's worth the switch to an ergonomic task chair.
Change your scenery when you need to. Book the conference room. Spread out at a bigger table. A change of location can jumpstart a deep-focus session.
Actually take the break. A five-minute coffee chat or a real lunch away from your desk is precious recharge time. And if solo downtime is what actually restores you, protect that too. Knowing what works for you is half the battle.
Need Help Prepping Your Workspace?
That's the scoop on how you change your daily experience right now in the workplace... but sometimes, it's a larger project that needs to happen to get your team in the right place. If you're ready to get started on the fall prep, let's make this your most productive end of year season yet.