Illustration: Dana Davis/Photo: Michael Hession

As summer winds down (sorry, someone had to say it), it’s worth taking a moment now to think about how you want to transition into the chaos of back-to-life season. Carving out a habit or two that forces you to intentionally slow down might help the flurry of fall feel a little less frenzied. So you can keep riding your vacation high even as your beach days wane.

One idea? Take a page out of senior deals editor Nathan Burrow’s book, who hand-grinds his coffee beans each morning using a portable, easy-to-use (and not to mention, kind of sleek) hand grinder.

“In the few minutes it takes to grind my beans,” he writes, “I peer out my kitchen window at birds, power lines, and far-off buildings, all while listening to the distant sound of cars. Nearly two grinding cycles later, I’ve considered the weather and the day ahead, checked in with myself, and also made some of the best coffee I’ve ever had.” Only after this quiet moment does he turn his attention to the daily blitz of Slack notifications and deal-hunting—caffeine in hand, ready to go fast once more.

Yes, hand-grinding your coffee takes time. It’s more labor-intensive than alternatives. But sometimes, that’s a good thing.

“The time I spend preparing coffee every morning is a bit like meditation”→

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Build a bouquet of flowers Our favorite Lego flowers include dainty wildflowers and a realistic-looking orchid→

Make pasta from scratch It’ll take longer than store-bought. But it’s worth it→

We cleaned a filthy old rug on a Queens sidewalk It was extremely satisfying→

Photo: Connie Park

For your freshly ground beans: You don’t have to pay a lot to get a good coffee maker. Since 2016, we’ve tested 18 promising cheap coffee makers, and our top pick brews better-tasting, hotter coffee than the rest of the models we tested. Plus it’s easy to program and use, and it looks great on the counter.

Hot coffee at the right strength→

And for really slowing down: The best meditation apps.

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