Whether you have kids or not, there’s a good chance that September has you feeling those back-to-school, fresh-start feelings. Why not capitalize on those September vibes to help you make self-care your priority as you prep for another busy year? It’s the perfect time to reconsider your routines. Refresh them now, and you’ll be striding into fall with a bit more spring in your step. Try these five-minute resets today.

Set the alarm five minutes earlier
Best-case scenario: you’re awake five minutes earlier, which means you’ve got time for a quick stretching routine, a brief meditation or to scribble your morning pages. Worst-case scenario: you got a guilt-free snooze button session!

Power-up your breakfast
Everywhere you turn, people are talking about the power of protein. Memes (and sales pitches) aside, the nutrition doesn’t lie: eat more protein in the morning, enjoy steadier, longer-lasting energy throughout the day. In five minutes, you’ve got time to boil an egg, add a spoonful of flax or chia seeds to your yogurt bowl, or spread some almond butter on your toast. You’ll reap the rewards for the rest of the day.

Make your move
Save the “new year, new me” zeal for January – in September, remember that small, incremental gains can really add up! Adding just five minutes of movement to your daily routine can have a positive impact on your health, and now that it’s fall, you won’t be braving temperatures in the mid-30s to make that lunchtime walk happen.

Find a glimmer
Meditation retreats and gratitude journalling have their place, but a smaller, just-as-powerful practice is to notice the “glimmers” in your daily life. Maybe it’s a new bird in your backyard or noticing the steam wafting from your coffee cup in the cool morning breeze. Collect one a day and soon you’ll have a host of small memories that make you smile. (Want to make the memories tangible? Here’s a fun way to do just that.)

Play around
Whether you prefer a quick game of pretend (almond milk, anyone?), an impromptu family dance party or working on a colouring book or jigsaw puzzle, engaging in a bit of play is a great way to bring fun and colour into your life – even if you just have five spare minutes while you wait for the kettle to boil.

Set yourself up for success
Cleaning the kitchen is the last thing anyone wants to do at 11 p.m., but taking just five minutes to wipe the counters and wash the day’s last dishes after you finish making tomorrow’s lunch will help you start tomorrow feeling ahead. Kitchen already under control? Use that last five minutes for a quick toilet scrub or to fluff the pillows on the couch – whatever helps you end today (and start tomorrow!) with a quick win.

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