I’m looking at you, Virginia.

It is October. Where is my crisp, clean air? My leaves changing color? My want and need to bundle up in scarves and layers and fuzzy socks? WHY AM I STILL SWEATING AS I WALK UP THE QUAD TO CLASS?! Whether Mother Nature is ready or not, the calendar does not lie. The fall equinox was definitely September 22. So if you are as ready for fall as I am even though the weather isn't quite there yet, here are a few ideas that will make these (hopefully) final summer days a little more manageable.

1. One word: Pumpkin.

Just because the temperature outside doesn't scream fall, there is no reason why our food and drinks shouldn't. PSL, pumpkin spiced cookies, pumpkin bread, pumpkin cheesecake bars, pumpkin pie, hell pumpkin spice vodka. Go pick those pumpkins; carve them, drink them, cook with them, and eat them. You know you want to, and the hot weather shouldn’t stop you from diving head first into the pumpkin obsession that we are all too afraid to admit we have, but we totally do.

2. Break out the sweaters, flannels, and vests anyway

So what if it is still a little hot, sometimes fashion over function is the way to go! So you may sweat a little at 2 pm while you are walking with your friends to get lunch or are headed to class. But hey, at least you’ll look cute! And the early morning temperatures are at least slightly cooler, so you won’t suffer the whole day, right? Also, who says you can’t get a cute outfit by combining a sweater with shorts? It’s a convincing argument in my opinion.

3. Plan Your Halloween Costume(s)

We, as college students, hold a certain standard when it comes to deciding and creating Halloween costumes. Those ideas take TIME. Therefore it is never too early to start to map out what you’re going to be, especially when it comes to Halloweekend When you’ve got more than one costume involved, you best believe that you need to start planning those as soon as you get back for the fall semester.

4. Put Decorations on Everything and Everywhere

If outside doesn’t feel like fall that just means that inside has to be fall to the next level. So hang that leaf wreath on your door, plop that pumpkin on your coffee table, whip out all of the fall-themed mugs and dishes that are kept in the cabinet for one season and one season only, and light all 26 of your fall scented candles. If your living space is not overwhelmed with the fall season, you’re not doing it RIGHT.

5. Get Hype for the Holidays

IT IS NEVER TO EARLY TO GET HYPE FOR THE HOLIDAYS. Enough said.