I’m seven years in to #floristlife and it still amazes me how quickly we switch gears from a slow and lazy summer pace to full-blown craziness when we turn the calendar over to September. I still can’t believe it’s October — partly because it’s still 90+ degrees down here, please send ya girl a cold front! — but our busy season is officially here. We designed three small weddings last weekend, worked on three more this week, and have a packed schedule through the end of December. I’m looking forward to having a great finish to the year and then sending 2017 off into the sunset. (I’ll probably give her the finger as she goes.)

1. Fall flowers.

It just doesn’t get much better than the rich colors and textures of the season. It’s one of my favorite times of the year around the flower shop!

2. Audiobooks.

I’m in love with the Audible app, and spend as much time as I can listening to all kinds of books; I play them in the car, around the house, on walks with the dog, during downtime at the shop, and even while I’m falling asleep. I’ll work on a list of some of my favorites from my library to share soon, but in the meantime, I’ll leave you with this: the audio version of the Harry Potter series is wonderful.

3. My gratitude journal.

Sometime last month, I began writing down little lists of things that make me happy and grateful. It was one part of a self-care routine I started to get my mind and spirit back on track after an anxiety-filled spring and summer.

They live in a tiny journal in my nightstand so I can take a few quiet moments to jot them down when I start or end my day. Keeping an inventory of the positive things in my life gives me perspective and helps break the loop of negative/obsessive/fear-based thoughts that my anxious mind conjures up, and they’re handy to look back on when I have a rough day and “can’t see the forest for the trees.”

4. Finishing our fall windows.

Window dressing is not my favorite chore, mostly because I want our storefront to look like Anthropologie window displays — paper flowers! branches suspended from the ceiling! giant papier-mâché  confections! — and I have a perfectionist’s champagne taste on a beer budget. So when I check them off my to-do list, it’s a happy victory. They’re big ol’ windows, y’all!

5. A return to calm focus.

I took advantage of the slow season this summer and snuck away from the shop as much as possible. I needed some time to rest and recharge my batteries, so I left my amazing team in charge and spent a lot of quiet time alone at home. It took a while for me to let go of the guilt of not being at work, and then a while more to actually relax… and then, eventually, the full-body tension I carried for months started to melt away. I’m so glad I gave myself a break to clear my head, reprioritize, and find some fresh motivation.