Happy September! Or is it happy Great Lock In?
Vacation days are over, suntans are fading, kids are heading back to school—and whether you’re hitting the classrooms or the office cubicle, it looks like we’re all craving that fresh academic year feeling. According to Google Trends, searches for “September reset” have surged by 1367% just this month. Beyond the feeling of cracking open a crisp new notepad and the crunch of fall leaves lies a collective yearning for routine, healthy habits, and maybe, some reinvention.
What is a September reset?
Think of it like a mid-year resolution, says self-help expert and author Tam Kaur. “September is the month we’re naturally used to getting in the ‘back-to-school’ swing as we were accustomed to picking classes, setting academic goals for the year, and—of course—reinventing ourselves for the school year ahead,” says Kaur. “Because of this, it’s actually psychologically easier to reset now than it is in January.” We’re also nearing the fall solstice, when many people will begin planning their so-called “winter arc”—essentially, a time to focus on self-improvement as we shift into colder weather and darker, longer evenings. Life is spent more indoors, without the glut of travel or summer social plans. “This creates more space for reflection and goal-setting,” says Kaur. “It feels genuinely more achievable to carve out time to sit down and ‘reset’ within our busy day-to-day lives.”
There’s a sense of urgency too, with the end of the year approaching, when you’re more likely to take some action. “You know how much of the year you have left, what resources you’ve gained, and what habits haven’t served you, so this is a perfect checkpoint,” says Kaur. “September the perfect start to ‘lock-in’ season where you can recalibrate and finish the year strong.”
According to Dr. Samantha Boardman—positive psychiatrist, professor at Weill Cornell Medical College, and author of Everyday Vitality—your September reset should actually whenever you want it to be. Just because we’re calling it September does that mean it has to happen then. “We can always benefit from a reset, really any time of the year, because a reset really involves taking stock and reflecting,” says Dr. Boardman. “Am I doing what I want to be doing? Am I spending my time the way I want to be spending my time? Are my values embodied in my everyday actions?” We always have opportunities for a fresh start: “Maybe it’s September, maybe it’s next Monday, or October 1. The nice thing about a reset is that it’s your opportunity to take.” Tomorrow is a new day, so think of the below steps and advice as a year-round guide to resetting when you’re feeling empowered to.
Three practical steps for a September reset
Kaur follows a simple, three-step system for helping you hit your goals, outlined below.
Self-awareness
Kaur recommends taking a few days to live normally, doing your usual routine but with “heightened observation.” “Watch your habits closely. Notice what distracts you, what throws off your momentum? When do you procrastinate, and why?” she says. Maybe you’re slower on days you sleep in, or you’re aimlessly scrolling on your phone. If you track your micro-habits, you can deduce what’s steering you the wrong way. Rather than being harsh on yourself, though, use it as an information-gathering exercise for building better systems.
Building structures for healthy habits
“You have to adjust your lifestyle to remove those habits and embrace new ones,” advises Kaur. “A reset like this won’t stick unless it’s supported by routine.” She recommends tools like habit trackers, calendars, or simple checklists to build out your days. Break goals down into consistent, realistic actions. “If your goal is to walk more steps everyday, what small habits, like waking up slightly earlier or drinking water before coffee first thing, can help you find the energy and time to get there?” Kaur says.
Declutter your digital space
Kaur emphasizes the importance of a clean digital space. “Social media should energize and inspire, not drain or discourage you like it often does,” she says. Maybe that means unfollowing social media accounts that you find yourself unhealthily comparing yourself to and that make you feel bad. Kaur also suggests reorganizing your phone and moving apps that you want to use less, like TikTok or Instagram, off of your home screen, and prioritizing apps like the calendar or a meditation app. “Let your digital space reflect the person you want to become by the end of the year,” Kaur says.
How to have a healthy—and realistic—September reset
“Similarly to New Year’s resolutions, it’s not going to work unless you make a commitment to yourself,” says Kaur. “And, in turn, allow this to be your long-term strategy for creating the life you want for yourself.”
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