Let That Sh*t Go: A Fall Survival Guide for Releasing What’s No Longer Serving You

I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but there’s a distinct chill in the air and a color change in some of the foliage around town. The harvest season is upon us, a time that marks the natural end of many things. Farmers gather the last of their crops. Plants begin to wilt and retreat into dormancy. Animals migrate and begin hibernation. All around us, nature is letting go. Pulling back and conserving energy for the winter wind-down. Maybe we should, too.

For many, autumn might feel like the perfect time to stock up. And, in a way, gathering, preparing, and holding tight to what’s ours before winter settles in makes sense. But too often, we neglect the most important part of the season: the reckoning. 

I know what you’re thinking. That sounds kind of threatening. We only really hear the word “reckoning” used by random horror movie harbingers alluding to something vengeful or foreboding. But in actuality, reckoning is the act of calculating or estimating, and the fall season is a time for just that- pausing and taking inventory. Not just of what we’ve gathered, but of what we’re still carrying that no longer serves us. It's time to ask ourselves, what’s actually nourishing and what’s just taking up space?

Harvest Time is Discernment Season

Consuming is easy. We do it all year long, and for many of us, fall is no exception. But harvesting doesn’t mean hoarding. It means carefully choosing what’s worth storing and letting the rest return to the earth. This concept applies to both recent additions and items that we’ve been holding onto for some time. 

How do we begin? By asking ourselves one question: What am I carrying that no longer serves me?

And I’m not just talking about physical stuff. This season is an invitation to consider the value of your relationships, roles, habits, beliefs, efforts, expectations, behaviors, ideas, and self-identities. What feels expired? What no longer fits who you’re becoming? Some answers may pop into your mind immediately. That’s a pretty good indicator that it’s time to phase them out. Others might require more reflection, so be sure to take the time to really consider everything.

The Emotional Resistance to Letting Go

Of course, letting go is not always easy. There are several reasons why this process may be challenging: attachment to certain people, things, or dynamics, a sense of comfort in what’s familiar, or a fear of loss or the unknown. People-pleasing tendencies and an aversion to rocking the boat, even when it might be in our own best interest. A scarcity mindset that convinces us to hang onto things “just in case we need them”. And if this year has already been heavy for you, the idea of releasing anything else might feel like too much to bear, and that’s understandable. But just because something is difficult doesn’t mean it’s wrong. And just because we might be scared to let go doesn’t mean we’re meant to keep holding on.

We often talk about “letting go” like it’s surrender. But the truth is, it takes far more strength to release what no longer fits than it does to cling to something that’s quietly draining you. This isn’t failure. It isn’t weakness. It’s a conscious act of alignment and a way to make room for more of what actually serves you, be it better opportunities, beautiful relationships, healthier habits, a clearer mindset, great memories you wouldn’t make otherwise, or hell, just a sense of much-needed peace. 

Yes, change is uncomfortable. The unknown is scary. But what’s even more frightening is losing years of your life to patterns that are unhealthy, downright toxic, or just a time-suck. Even trees know when to shed their leaves. There’s wisdom in the release. Let that be your permission.

Mini Release Rituals

Here are some small but intentional rituals to help you organize what stays and what goes.

• Start Small and Simple: Clean out one drawer in your house. The act of sorting physical clutter will get those discernment muscles flexing. 

• Take Inventory: Carve out some time to sit down with a journal or notepad. Create two columns. One is titled “What’s Nourishing Me”, and the other is titled “What’s Draining Me”. Write down what fits in each category, and make it a point to be honest with yourself. This is a truthful inventory, one that may help you choose what to keep and what to release. 

• Make a Maybe Box: Struggling to decide whether to let something go? Put it (or a note about it) in a Maybe Box and set an alarm on your phone for a month from now. If you didn’t reach for or utilize it by the time that alarm goes off, it’s probably ready to be released. This works for both thoughts and things.

• Meet With Your Future Yourself: Stand in front of a mirror and ask your future self (who lives in this time next year): What did I let go of that changed everything for the better? Take a moment to listen. Write down what pops up.

• The Sunday Night Shed: Every Sunday for the next four weeks, write down one thing you’re consciously letting go of and one thing you’re definitely keeping.

• Candle Burn Release: If you’ve decided on a particularly significant release, write it down on a piece of paper, light a candle, bid farewell to it, and then (safely) burn it. Allow the smoke to carry it away from you, and envision making space in your life for better things.

• Honor What Stays: Light a candle in honor of something you’re keeping, be it a boundary, a source of strength, or just peace. Sit with the flame and say: You’re staying. Thank you for what you bring to my life. I can’t wait to grow with you. Let it feel sacred, even if it’s simple. 

  
  

Trusting the Die-Off

Nature doesn’t panic when the leaves fall, and neither should you. Endings are natural, and letting go is part of the cycle. Let this be the season you stop tending to what has already wilted.

Not everything you release has to be bad to be done. Some things fade out gently. Others require intention. But either way, you get to choose what stays. And once you do, remember that there’s no rush in replacing what falls away. Trust the pause. Making space is an invitation for better things to come your way.

Andrea is a Vegas-based writer, creative professional, and founder of Ruby Cat Creative, a boutique agency specializing in editorial content, digital storytelling, and general ghostwriting. Her work explores themes like emotional wellness, neurodivergence, self-reclamation, and modern burnout. When she's not writing, she can be found reading, thrifting, buying more plants than she has room for, or upcycling forgotten items into something worth keeping. Got a project, question, comment, or good antique store recommendation? Drop her a message at andrea@rubycatcreative.com.