Welcoming September With a Fresh Start
We've been chatting in the studio today about how much we all love September, and how we've all been secretly longing for cosy season.
Sure, summer was lovely with her hazy days, salty hair, sandy toes and slightly feral evening adventures. I love summer.
But when September rolls around, I'm so ready for a fresh start.
So Why Does September Feel Like a New Year?
Despite being 3/4 of the way through the year, September almost feels more new year than actual New Year, if you know what I mean?!
Even though I'm 42 and haven't gone back to school for... ahem...well, let's not do the maths... I cannot help but get that back to school feeling every September. And that's the thing- we've all grown up with the education system and the academic year starting in September. After almost 2 decades in education (sometimes longer, if you're a sucker for punishment like I am), the routine of starting afresh in September becomes engrained.
There's also the changing of the seasons from Summer to Autumn that brings about a desire for change in us. Summer is all about unstructured chaos, fun and sun. We spend our summers easing off work to take holidays, we have late night adventures, we socialise and we play. Schools shut down, parliament takes a summer break, our TV channels are full of re-runs; sometimes it can just feel like any routine goes out the window in those summer months. But as the season starts to shift, we feel it. Cooler weather drives us inside, and I don't know about you, but my house is always upside down after a summer of fun, so I always get this uncontrollable urge to clean and organise.
I reckon September is the new New Year. It's more new-yeary (yes, I made up that word) than January 1st. Hear me out on this. January 1st happens in the middle of winter, when we're all exhausted, burned out and skint from Christmas. January is cold, dark and depressing. New year can feel like a chore, with the expectation to be a better person, lose the weight or give up the bad habits. But September, well, that just feels exciting!
As September rolls around, it feels almost a bit magical. We've had a long summer of being unruly and free, and we are refreshed and ready to lock in and get back to the comfort of routine. It's a choice we willingly make, unlike January which can feel like a punishment for over indulging at Christmas.
So How do you have a September Reset?
An excellent question! I think there are many ways to have a September reset, but here are my favourites:
1- Have a De-Cluttering Session
I think I must do this every autumn and it feels so good! I literally go through my house one room at a time and get rid of anything that I don't need or love. Summer is a magnet for crap in my house, so there's no better time to clear out and declutter than the start of autumn. Tidy house, tidy mind, and all that.
2- Go Stationery Shopping
I mean, any excuse, right?! Channel those back to school vibes with a fancy new notebook and pen, because, well, how else are we supposed to plan our lives and write our to-do lists?!
3- Make Seasonal Switches
Embrace the autumnal vibes with a new scented candle, dig out your autumnal clothes and get cosy under a blanket with a good book and a pumpkin-spiced hot beverage. Say goodbye to summer and step fully into autumn. Treat yourself!
4- Do a Digital Detox
See point number 1 regarding decluttering, but online. Unfollow accounts you're not interested in, delete the 764 screenshots on your phone that you don't need, remove unnecessary apps. Anything to reduce the screen time as we move into the winter months.
5-Start a Journal
Journaling is a fantastic tool for organising your thoughts, tracking your progress and even offloading troubles. Read more about journaling here.
Final Thoughts
If anyone needs me, I'll be under a blanket, hugging a cup of my favourite herbal tea, journal and fancy new pen in my hands and Gilmore Girls will be playing in the background. Does it get more September than that?!
How will you be embracing a September reset?
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