Written by Cherie Salonga
Transitioning with Grace and Ease: How to Let Go This Season – There’s no denying that fall is a special time of the year. Cooler and shorter days, the sound of rustling leaves, the return of sweater weather, and, of course, pumpkin spice everything. But, for many of us, this season can feel anything but calm as we transition from warm summer days to the back-to-school grind, holiday prep, and the ever-present pressure to do more, to be more. For those with school-aged children, routines shift dramatically.
Weeks quickly fill with activities, practices, social events, and school functions. It’s easy to lose ourselves and go from grounded to overwhelmed without even realizing it. Our to-do lists get longer, our spaces fill up with items, and our energy drains—we sprint through a season that we intend to savor. We start believing that we need more stuff, more sparkle and excitement, and more output in order to feel content. But, in reality, what we really need is less.
We live in a world of curated perfection—highlight reels of beautiful, spotless homes, amazing table spreads, handmade crafts, and decor. It’s easy to internalize these images as the standard and feel like we’re falling short. Chasing the “perfect season” is unrealistic, but often we aim for it anyway. But what if this season could be different? What if we approached it with intention, clarity, and simplicity instead of hustle?
My Experience with Letting Go
Every year, around this time, I feel it—the urge not just to clean or organize, but to clear. And not just my home, but my head, schedule, and expectations. An urge to transition into this season with grace and ease.
Although I was never the type to chase ‘success,’ the old me still wanted to be someone who could do it all—to make up for the areas where I felt I was lacking. I soon realized there was a huge disconnect between how I aspired to live and what I truly valued and what I could actually handle, both physically and mentally. Many of the items I owned, the commitments I made, and even the relationships I poured into were reflections not of who I was, but of who I thought I should be.
So, I slowly started letting go. A packed drawer here, a calendar commitment there. I learned how to create boundaries. I created healthier consumption habits and created systems to control the clutter. That journey changed everything for me. It’s why I do what I do now. I’ll admit, my life isn’t perfectly curated or always tidy and organized -I’m still very much a work in progress. But I do have a life that feels like mine.
A Season for Subtraction
If I asked you to hit pause for a second and picture what a meaningful season looks like for you, what comes to mind?
Suppose it’s a packed calendar, filled with crafting, baking, and doing all the things you love—amazing! I seriously applaud that.
But if your vision looks a little different—maybe it’s cozy evenings with a good book and candlelight, more time outdoors with your kids, or just a calmer home with less clutter and more breathing room—how do you make that happen?
One way to create that version is to make space for it. That means letting go of stuff, expectations, and obligations. One of the most powerful questions you can ask yourself is: What can I not do this season?
Yes, you read that right. In a world obsessed with more—more productivity, more presence, more perfection, sometimes the most impactful decision you can make is to choose less. That question has become one of my favorites, a way to guide myself and others. And no, it’s not laziness. It’s clarity. It’s freedom.
What if we didn’t send 50 holiday cards this year? What if we bought cookies instead of baking them? What if we did things not for likes or approval, but simply because they felt good? What if we chose the one thing that really matters to us and did just that really well?
What Clutter is Really Costing Us
Transitions—whether in seasons, careers, relationships, or routines—are smoother when we’re not weighed down by clutter. There are so many forms of clutter. Physical clutter is the easiest to spot, so it often becomes the entry point. But there’s also:
- Mental clutter: the non-stop to-do list running through your mind.
- Digital clutter: unread emails, phone notifications, apps that steal your focus.
- Calendar clutter: commitments that don’t align with your values.
- Emotional clutter: expectations, perfectionism, people-pleasing.
Alongside sentimental items and those tied to loss, aspirational clutter can be some of the hardest to part with. When I work with people in their homes, what I often find isn’t just excess stuff, but outdated identities. The craft area that’s never used. The shelves of books tell us we should be more intellectual. The closet full of clothes for a version of yourself you’ve outgrown. The garage is full of ‘just in case’ items. The obligations we keep saying yes to because we should, and the constant comparison and pressure to create the “perfect” holiday, the “ideal” home, and the “next-level” life.
When we choose to let go of these things, we aren’t giving up; we are choosing to say, “That’s not me anymore—and that’s okay. I’m making room for this new version of myself.” When we get to this point, this is when the real transformation happens. Whether it starts with one junk drawer or one commitment, the freedom you feel will trickle into other areas of your life, and you will feel lighter, more grounded, and more like yourself.
If you’re feeling the weight of this season, I invite you to release it. Ask yourself what would make your space—and your life—feel more like you. Let go of what no longer feels right. Choose one thing that feels good, and make that your focus.
That is enough. And that first step, however small, is everything.
I felt this topic was especially timely for September and the start of a new season. I wrote this article as a reminder—to myself and to others—to move into this time of change with grace and ease and to carry that mindset into all areas of life. — Cherie Salonga
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