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With summer winding down and the kids heading back to school, it’s time to get back into a routine. This time of year reminds us of an organized pencil box, crisp new notebooks, new shoes, and a fresh planner. So it’s no coincidence that back-to-school arrives just in time for Virgo season.
Virgo is the sign of mastery: With attention to detail, a penchant for organization (at least they try… those little piles can eventually amount to clutter), and an impeccable work ethic, Virgos are constantly raising the bar for the rest of us. In the spirit of a busy and productive Virgo season, let’s get organized.
Aries
March 21-April 19
Always in the moment, you prefer to take life as it comes. You think you’ll remember everything on your grocery list, what time you agreed to meet your friend for lunch, and which day you were supposed to give your cat his flea treatment, but alas you never do. And while memory isn’t usually your forte (unless you have a strong Moon placement), it’s admittedly hard for anyone to keep track of every little thing in life.
Which is why you need mini sticky notes. Make lists. Go wild with ‘em: tasks, things to order from Amazon, people you need to call back (color coding optional). Stick them above your desk, on the bathroom mirror, or go ahead and file them in your planner—that way if you don’t complete the task, you can move it over to another day.
The best part? Once you have crossed off everything on that tiny list, you’ll have the gratification of crumbling it up and throwing it in the trash. And you’ll be on top of your game.
Taurus
April 20-May 20
Once you gather momentum, you’re on a roll and there’s no stopping you. But the burnout is real. Avoid running yourself ragged by continuing to prioritize your exercise routine—especially when life gets busy. A good sweat will not only minimize stress levels, but all that blood flowing will even help your mind stay even sharper to better keep up with everything.
It’s easy to make the excuse that you “don’t have time” to go to the gym, but we promise it’s worthwhile to make the time. Think of it as a time to process—an integral piece of productivity. Some of the best ideas arrive on the yoga mat or on the hiking trail. So step away from the desk when your mind glazes over and go on that lunchtime jog. You’ll return brighter and even more focused to tackle the week.
Gemini
May 21-June 20
Your mind flits from one thing to the next, which makes it easy for you to stay busy, even into the wee hours of the night. Practice un-busying yourself by prioritizing sleep. Decide on a reasonable bedtime to adhere to during the week (go ahead and stay up late on weekends) and build a relaxing routine around winding down.
Prep a pot of calming tea while you do your evening skincare ritual to enjoy as you unwind. Make a habit of putting your phone in airplane mode at a certain hour so that you are less tempted to browse Instagram or check emails. Eye-pillows and lavender essential oil are always a nice option, too. This simple change will help you jumpstart your day and bring more balance to your life.
Cancer
June 21-July 22
You love being home. So much so that you often wait until the very last second to leave the house. But alas, something is sure to come up (spilled coffee?! missing keys?!) and now you are running late… and stressing about it. We get it. Life is busy and there’s a lot you could cram into your day before leaving the house. But challenge yourself to get to your destination early.
It’s amazing how much lighter the commute is when you’re not worried about time. So instead of stressing about red lights, you can start your day by enjoying your favorite tunes, the scenery, and maybe even set a thoughtful intention for the day. Mood is everything for you, so pick a reasonable time to leave the house and stick to it. You’ll arrive to work centered, mood elevated, and ready to take on whatever the day brings. (Psst, good moods are also contagious.)
Leo
July 23-August 22
With the life-giving Sun as your ruling planet, you know all too well the value of sustaining yourself with the right kind of fuel. When life gets busy, we are more tempted to reach for that mid-day pastry (hellooo sugar!) but we all know what comes next: crash and burn. Save the sweets for a lazy day, and instead, be sure to plan meals that will keep you going throughout a hectic week.
Think high-power grains (steel cut oats anyone?), legumes, nuts, seeds, and protein to level your body on that sweet slow and steady burn. You know your body and what you requires to function optimally. Set yourself up for success by setting time aside to grocery shop and prep your meals for the week. Aim to cook in large quantity once or twice per week so you can pack it for lunch and save some for dinner.
You’ll be grateful you did. Especially when you come home hungry to a fully stocked fridge after a productive (though exhausting) day. Dig in and get your Leo lounge on.
Virgo
August 23-September 22
Anything you put your mind to, you can potentially drive it to the max. You constantly amaze us with your ability to point out those details the rest of us were totally willing to ignore … like when you bust out the Q-tips to clean the knobs on the stove. Essentially, you are fully qualified to take any task to the extreme (well, as long as it suits your standards).
So when your planner is bursting at the seams for the week, allow yourself to do what you can with the time you have. Don’t have time to do the two-hour mega-clean in the bathroom this week? For today, just clean the surfaces, and tomorrow you can scrub the shower while your conditioner is doing its thing.
Be realistic with how much time you have to dedicate to nonessentials so that you have more flexibility in your schedule (and in your mind) for the chill time you so deserve.
Libra
September 23-October 22
You are a social creature who thrives on the exchange of information (like all air signs). Between all those meetings, texts, emails, and oh yeah, life in general, your mind needs time to shut off. Balance is something you can totally do, so allot yourself downtime.
Create a ritual of checking out for a minimum of 15 minutes each day to do absolutely nothing. We are human beings, not human doings (ironically), though it can still be a challenge to switch off after being “on” all day. When we have a free moment, the temptation to reach for the phone is real, so get in the habit of leaving it in another room if you can.
Sprawl out on the bed to daydream, journal, or just stretch. You’re adept at giving your energy to others, so for these few minutes, offer it to yourself (all that info you absorb needs sorting anyhow)—just the thing you need to feel clear and centered after a busy day.
Scorpio
October 23-November 21
You aren’t the best at spelling out your thoughts and feelings. (In fact, you aren’t even always sure *what* you’re feeling.) We get it, privacy is important. But when it comes to conquering the week, speak up and delegate.
You are tough and no one doubts that you could do it all yourself, but you definitely don’t have to. Don’t wait for someone to volunteer; use those leadership skills and ask for help.
If your spouse is playing video games, ask them to chop veggies while you fold the laundry. Maybe someone else at the office has more time to respond to that email while you close another deal. (Worst they can say is no, and then you’ll at least be justified in grimacing.) Use that inherent strength of yours to delegate tasks instead of pushing yourself past your limit.
Sagittarius
November 22-December 21
For you, life is a journey. There is no need to rush—just breeze through life at your own pace. But then again, this carefree attitude also explains that heaping pile of unopened mail on your desk. So before life gets too hectic this fall, adopt the One Minute Rule: If a task arises and it takes only a minute (or five) just do it.
When you come home from work, hang up your jacket (draping it on the chair doesn’t count) and get in the habit of unpacking your bags when you walk in the door. If it takes one minute to wash your dinner plate or return a phone call, just do it.
“Start and the pressure will be off,” is a yoga mantra that will always come through for you. It’s much easier to tackle things as they arise instead of allowing them to pile up to deal with later—which actually offers you more of the freedom you crave without all those unfinished tasks weighing you down.
Capricorn
December 22-January 19
True, you may not need any more tips on organization. You tend to be a natural at this kind of thing so maybe we should be taking notes from you? Although we still have a tip for you: Condense those calendars! You’ve got your Todoist, Asana, and Google calendar synced, and even still, you love having a physical planner (you’re an Earth sign, after all). Avoid mix ups by reducing the places where you plug your data. (Maybe just one digital planner will suffice?)
Posting a month-at-a-glance calendar on the fridge really helps the entire household get a sense of the weeks ahead; that way, you can prevent overbooking, or worse, double-booking the kids’ appointments on opposite sides of town. Because even though you’d love to master the ability to be in two places at once, you still haven’t quite got it down.
Aquarius
January 20-February 18
Your mind zooms from one end of the universe to the next. It’s hard to keep up with you! So when you’re ready to unwind after a busy day, the last thing you want is to see reminders of unfinished tasks. Set yourself up for a zen home life by minimizing clutter.
This past year has carried a theme of letting go, so complete the process by physically purging unnecessary items from your home. Take a page from Marie Kondo, and ask yourself, “Does this bring me joy?”
Donate clothes you haven’t worn in years or host a yard sale. Recycle old papers (scan the important ones), and clean out the junk drawer. The more organized your environment, the more confident you’ll feel to take on the busy week. Plus you’ll save yourself time searching for things in the future.
Pisces
February 19-March 20
People can always count on you to lend a helping hand (or an ear), even when you really don’t have the time. Your innate empathy often compels you to go the distance for others, but when you’re already spread too thin during the week, it can come at a cost to your own well-being.
So when life gets busy, always give yourself the option to say no. Maintaining a certain degree of peace is vital for you, so when a coworker asks if you can cover a shift for them, check your calendar, and if it doesn’t make sense, just say no. You might feel bad at first, but it’s better than feeling drained at the end of the week. Keep that extra room in your schedule for the unexpected to arise so you can stay calm and flow through the week at your own pace.
Catherine Urban is an astrologer, writer, lecturer and consultant who makes tons of mini lists to organize the week. Find out more about Catherine here and follow her on Instagram.