New Beginnings Start Now

In last week's post, I mentioned that September is my favorite month. Growing up in NH, I remember September as the time when the humidity finally relented, the sky was at its bluest, and the crispness of fall kicked in. Back-to-school, while dreaded by many, meant returning to a familiar routine. 

The same sense of back-to-school energy sticks with us into adulthood. As noted by Jancee Dunn in her recent article in the New York Times, September Is the New January, September brings new energy and possibility. "Back-to-school season is one of those significant calendar milestones that produces what some behavioral scientists call a “fresh start effect.” September invites us to reset, and this feeling can motivate us to pursue new goals.

Quoted in the article, Laura Vanderkam (author of Big Time: A Simple Path to Time Abundance) says, "September is a good month to make “small tweaks,” as opposed to the kind of lifestyle overhauls that people seem to think they are going to do every January.” Your schedule tends to be more structured in September than in the summer months, making it easier to be consistent with a new habit and allowing you to build a routine before the chaos of the holidays arrives. 

The article also suggests making a "to-learn" list rather than a "to-do" list. What are some things you can realistically learn, maybe even through online tutorials? Try something new without pressure to keep going if it doesn't speak to you.  

Get curious about what's working in your life, what you want to keep doing, and what you'd like to change. In September, there's no pressure to make resolutions or become a whole new person. You can make small adjustments based on what makes you feel most like yourself. 

As daylight grows shorter, you might be drawn inward to a place where you can reconnect with what lights you up. View this as a time for reflection and a fresh start that doesn't require a complete overhaul, but simply an invitation to pay attention. Notice which activities leave you feeling fulfilled and which sap your energy. As the trees begin to shed their leaves, you too can let go of anything that no longer serves you. 

September isn't about building something new from scratch. It's a time to notice what's already working and lean into it. Embrace the shorter days and cooler air as an opportunity to steady your pace. Give yourself permission to make the micro-adjustments that make daily life feel lighter, warmer, and a little more yours.