September: A Fresh Start
There’s something about September that feels like a reset button has been pressed. This year my son has started college and my daughter is back at school, which means the house suddenly feels quieter, calmer, and a little more grown up. After the blur of summer — with teens drifting in and out, late nights, constant food shopping, and endless dishes — September arrives with its cooler mornings and new routines, and it feels like a chance to start again.
I love these first days of the autumn term. The mornings feel more purposeful, the house stays tidier for longer, and there’s a sense of everyone getting on with their own thing. Even my inbox feels more manageable, as if it too has had a summer clear-out.
But if I’m being honest, the transition isn’t always as smooth as I imagine it will be. A few years ago, while I was running my fitness business, I wrote about the “back-to-school funk” I fell into — that strange mix of exhaustion, overwhelm, and complete lack of motivation. I wanted to do everything and nothing at the same time. I made endless lists, reorganised spreadsheets, scrolled Pinterest for “how to get out of a funk” ideas… and achieved absolutely nothing. It was the ultimate form of procrastination.
What I eventually learned is that fighting it doesn’t work. A fresh start doesn’t come from forcing yourself into high gear. Sometimes, all you can do is stop. Stop trying to fix it. Stop piling more on. Stop expecting instant energy just because the calendar has turned a page.
So now, when September rolls around, I take a gentler approach. I think of it less as “snapping back” and more as easing in. That means:
Simplifying my routines. In the first week or two, I only focus on the essentials — meals, home life, and a few key work tasks.
Keeping plans realistic. Instead of cramming my diary, I give myself just one or two priorities each day.
Letting go of the pressure. If the energy isn’t there, that’s okay. It will return in its own time.
Building in rest. A cup of tea in the garden, an early night, or a dog walk without my phone all count as small resets.
And it works. By the second or third week, I find my energy has returned — not because I pushed through, but because I allowed space for it to come back naturally. My jaw unclenches, the headaches ease, and I find myself ready to sit down and work with a clearer head.
Now that my children are older and needing me less, September feels like more than just their fresh start — it’s mine too. With the house a little quieter and my time a little freer, I’m rediscovering what routines, goals, and priorities look like for me at this stage of life. It’s not always comfortable, but it does feel full of possibility.
September has become a reminder that fresh starts don’t have to be dramatic. You don’t need to overhaul your entire life or tackle a huge new project. Sometimes it’s the smallest shifts — a tidier desk, a planned-out workday, an early night — that make all the difference.
So if you’re feeling that September “new year” energy, take it gently. Lean into the season. Reset, refocus, but don’t rush. Fresh starts work best when they’re simple.
And if part of your reset this season includes your business, the same principle applies there too. Simplifying your systems, streamlining your website, or finally setting up the tech that saves you time doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Sometimes a few small shifts are all it takes to create more ease in your workday.
If you’re ready to simplify, that’s exactly what I help small business owners do — creating simple, effective Squarespace websites and seamless digital systems in just one day.
