Monthly Rituals to Try Before Fall Begins

August is the perfect time to slow down and reset before the busy season ahead. As summer winds down and schedules start to fill up again, making time for intentional self-care is essential for your mind, body, and spirit. That’s where Self-Care Sunday comes in — a dedicated day to recharge, reflect, and realign.

Here are five simple rituals to build into your Sundays this August to help you transition into fall feeling refreshed and grounded:

1. Sunrise or Sunset Mindfulness

Start or end your Sunday with 10 quiet minutes outdoors. Sit with your thoughts, stretch, or do light breathwork while observing the changing sky. This practice helps reduce anxiety and create mental space for the week ahead.

Try this: Use a timer and sit outside with no phone, no agenda. Just breathe and notice what you hear, see, and feel.

2. Create a “Slow Morning” Ritual

Skip the scrolling and schedule your Sunday morning like a retreat. Brew your favorite tea or coffee, light a candle, and enjoy breakfast without multitasking. It’s a small reset with big emotional impact.

Add-ons: Journaling, reading a chapter of a book, or making a nourishing breakfast bowl.

3. DIY Summer Spa Hour

Give your skin and body some love after a sun-filled summer. Use a body scrub, take a cool bath with essential oils, and follow with a hydrating face mask. Bonus: turn on a calming playlist and go tech-free during your spa time.

4. Stretch & Reflect

Even just 15 minutes of gentle yoga or stretching helps release tension. Pair it with journaling a few reflection prompts like:

  • What’s one thing I want to let go of before fall?
  • What brought me joy this summer?
  • How can I protect my peace this coming season?

5. Declutter One Small Space

Mental clarity often begins with a tidy space. Pick one area — a drawer, your car, your closet — and give it a reset. You’ll be amazed how much lighter you feel heading into Monday.

Self-care doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming. It’s about carving out space to check in with yourself and honor what you need. Start with just one ritual this Sunday, and build from there.

Fall will be here before you know it — so give yourself this time to pause, breathe and reset. You deserve it.