September Reset: 12 Easy Shifts To Transform Your Life
I love September and that first chill in the air that feels like a new beginning.
I love the scent of wet leaves and sharpened pencils on the first day of school. I love the long autumn nights with fluffy blankets, warm drinks and a good page-turner.
September is a beautiful time to slow down, step back and re-align your priorities. It’s a great time to ask yourself: how do you really want to spend the rest of the year?
September offers a last chance to let go of the distractions weighing you down and remember your true purpose.
September carries none of the pressures and expectations of New Year’s resolutions. But it offers a new start that’s wiser after all the year’s trials and tribulations.
I always get the urge to make outlines in colored pencils and dive into a new hobby when September rolls around.
Maybe it’s the infectious rhythm of the academic school year or that ancient instinct to gather the harvest and prepare for the long winter ahead.
But September always feels like you’re cracking open a new chapter after a long and lazy summer.
If you’re craving a September reset, here are some small but life-changing shifts you can make to cease the rest of the year:
1. Track your screen time
Do you ever reach for your phone in the morning to quickly check your emails – then end up scrolling for 20 minutes?
The average adult reaches for their phone 96 times a day and spends roughly 4 hours per day scrolling.
But it’s all to easy to lose track of time when you’re watching hilarious kitten videos and aesthetic recipe Reels.
I didn’t even realize I spent 4-5 hours a day scrolling until I downloaded an app that tracked my screen time.
And when I first logged into the app, I was honestly shocked by what it told me. But there was my screen time clocking in ridiculous numbers – all in a neat little graph. And I couldn’t argue with numbers.
Stop telling yourself that you don’t spend that much time scrolling – because it’s probably not true.
Start tracking your screen time and get aware of exactly where and when your time is leaking. Awareness is the first step to taking back control of your time.
Do this now: Download the app StayFree – Screen Time for a free and easy way to track your screen time.
2. Use a habit tracker
There’s something so satisfying about checking off a box or filling in a square.
Our brains are wired to seek immediate rewards – and a nice habit tracker provides that quick micro-win that makes you more likely to repeat that behavior.
A habit tracker turns your vague intentions into a clear visual record. It holds you accountable because you’ll be motivated by your natural desire to keep the chain going and not miss a day.
I always have my 4 non-negotiable habits (meditation, journaling, exercise, reading) penciled into my monthly calendar. And it’s so satisfying to fill in those blank squares and take control of my daily routine.
Whenever I start feeling anxious, stressed or depressed – and whenever my screen time starts rising high again – I always check my habit tracker. Am I exercising enough? Am I making time to relax with a good book?
Chances are there’s lots of blank squares where I’ve neglected my good habits that neatly explain my anxious moods.
Do this now: Get my free habit tracker that lets you build daily habits and track your screen time – all in one simple sheet.
3. Declutter your living space
Head into autumn with an organized living space that makes you feel put-together, comfy and calm.
Organize the piles of paper on your desk into folders.
Store away your skirts and t-shirts, and fill your closet with cozy knits and coats. Donate any clothing that doesn’t fit well and makes you feel great.
Add a vase with some seasonal foliage to your dining table and change your bedding for richer and warmer-toned blankets.
Declutter your kitchen drawers and put away any unused gadgets and appliances.
Tackle a home improvement project you’ve been putting off (before it gets too cold to attempt it).
Create a home that will ground you in the long, cold months ahead. Take out some jigsaw puzzles and board games to encourage screen-free evenings.
Do this now: Pick a single surface or drawer and spend 20 minutes decluttering it. Notice how this small change lifts your energy.
4. Clear your calendar
Harness that fresh academic year feeling to streamline your to-do list.
Consolidate your piles of notebooks into one essential writing pad.
Give yourself permission to cross unimportant things off your list. Allow yourself to decline an invitation you’re not really excited about.
Let go of any minor busywork to make space for needle-moving top priorities. Accept that you’re not meant to do everything and be everywhere.
Work in focused blocks of time. Pick a single task and chip away at it for 60 minutes – without looking at your phone or your emails.
Do this now: Write down your top 3 priorities for the day when you’re having your morning coffee.
5. Start a gratitude journal
There’s no easier way to instantly boost your mood than writing down everything you’re grateful for.
Before you visualize any grand future ambitions, take stock of the present moment and appreciate what you already have.
Forget a generic bullet-point list and really write about all of your blessings in detail. Describe your blessings using all your senses and allow yourself to savor the emotions of gratitude.
Write about the people, experiences and opportunities that have shaped your life. Write short stories about the most influential figures who’ve made the biggest positive impact on your life.
Dedicate a separate notebook to gratitude journaling and write in 20-minute sessions without pausing to edit or second-guess yourself.
Do this now: Pick a gratitude journal prompt and write about it tonight for 15 minutes before you sleep.
6. Switch from short to long-form content
If your attention span is fried after years of scrolling bite-sized videos, then switch to some long-form content to regain your focus.
You can’t expect to dive into War and Peace after you’ve spent 2 hours a day watching Instagram Reels. Your attention span is like a muscle and it needs some time to get strong again.
Switch to long-form content whenever you need some effortless entertainment but don’t want to spend hours of time scrolling.
Watch calming vlogs, documentaries and educational lectures on YouTube. Tune into the latest inspirational podcast while you’re commuting or walking the dog.
Dedicate at least 10 to 15 minutes to a podcast or YouTube video and train your mind to focus for that length of time.
Your attention span will improve and you’ll soon be ready to tackle longer books without letting your mind wander.
Do this now: Scroll through YouTube and find 5 interesting long-form videos. Put them in your “watch later” folder and reach into that folder whenever you catch yourself scrolling Reels or TikToks.
7. Rewrite your goals
Do you remember the New Year’s resolutions you made back in January?
Your life has likely changed a lot since those cold, hopeful January days. Maybe you don’t want the same things anymore. Or maybe what you’ve been doing this year hasn’t really been working.
Review your goals and reflect back on your year. Do a short journaling session and ask yourself if your old goals are still relevant.
There’s only a few months left until another New Year’s. Ask yourself: how do you really want to spend that time?
Have you been focusing on your priorities? Or are you caught up in distractions and busywork? Have you made enough time for family and friends? Are you taking time to nurture yourself?
Do this now: Journal about how you’d like to spend the last few months of the year. What needs to happen for you to close off the year with a sense of contentment?
8. Stay realistic
A September reset is a gentle pause to realign with your goals and your authenticity.
It’s a subtle, introverted and reflective time spent inside on a chilly evening with a scented candle and a leather journal.
It’s not a time to radically overhaul your entire life and give away half of your wardrobe.
Keep your expectations realistic. If you need to get back to a healthy morning routine, start with 5 minutes of guided meditation instead of scrolling.
Anchor your new habits to already-existing routines until they become as natural as brushing your teeth.
Don’t expect to wake up at 5 am and lift weights for an hour if you haven’t exercised in months.
Be gentle and forgiving with yourself. Ease into your new habits slowly and you’ll be far more likely to keep them going.
Don’t beat yourself up and celebrate your wins, no matter how small.
Do this now: Pencil in a new healthy daily habit into your habit tracker and commit to doing it for 5 minutes a day until it becomes effortless.
9. Start a new hobby
Harness that back-to-school feeling of September to dive into a new hobby.
If your life feels like a constant onslaught of errands, notifications and overwhelm, then a new hobby is a great chance to de-stress and take your mind off the daily grind.
Set aside 20 minutes in the evening to paint a watercolor sketch, learn to crotchet or start an herb garden.
A new hobby is an incredible way to boost your self-esteem, increase your creativity and improve your mental agility.
You don’t need hours of time to perfect a craft. A hobby is all about enjoying the process – and letting yourself get creative without worrying about the outcome.
Do this now: Make a list of 10 things you’ve always wanted to try. Can’t think of anything? Remember what you loved doing as a child or what you admire others for doing.
10. Reclaim your morning routine
There’s a reason why so many great historical figures, authors, entrepreneurs and artists all swear by their carefully-constructed morning routine.
A good morning routine impacts your entire day. If you scroll TikTok for 40 minutes and then gulp down coffee on an empty stomach, you’ll feel rushed and overwhelmed for the rest of the day.
Start your day with some positive affirmations and a tasty bowl of protein – and you’ll see the difference immediately. You’ll feel grounded, put-together and unfazed by the day’s minor hassles.
If your mornings feel frazzled, groggy and stressed, then ask yourself what you need to better face the day.
Do you feel scattered and stretched thin? Try a bullet journal to help you organize your to-do lists, calendars and priorities all in one place.
Do you feel stuck and unmotivated? Try an affirmations journal to give yourself some much-needed encouragement and confidence.
Do this now: Describe your typical day and the challenges you face. What would it look like to have a morning routine that helps you through those challenges?
11. Dive into a new subject
I envy university students in September and that euphoric feeling of getting into all your first-choice classes and taking lecture notes in spiral-bound notebooks.
But here’s the thing: humans are meant to be life-long learners and we’re wired to seek new knowledge.
That’s why it’s so fulfilling to go down rabbit holes and pursue hyper-specific subjects.
Learning rekindles your sense of wonder and helps you make sense of the world.
The pursuit of knowledge for its own sake fuels curiosity, boosts confidence and enhances your critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Whether it’s Renaissance art or geology, pursuing knowledge for pleasure gives you a sense of happiness and purpose.
And what better time than September to embrace that Dark Academia lifestyle of old libraries, museums and classic novels?
Do this now: Research free online courses and find 3 different self-led classes that you’d like to join.
12. Cook a homemade meal
After a long summer of fruit salads and takeout, I’m craving nourishing meals and hearty soups again.
The weather is finally cold enough to stand over a hot stove or bake a cake and envelop the entire house with the scent of cinnamon.
September is the season of hearty veggies like squash, beetroot and cabbage. Cooking with these seasonal ingredients feels like fortifying myself for the cold months ahead.
If you’re not much of a cook, try a simple vegetable soup slow-cooked over the fire or an easy recipe for banana bread. You’ll be surprised how quick and easy these dishes are – and they might just get you to enjoy some time in the kitchen.
Do this now: Choose an easy seasonal recipe to try this week.
Read next:
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Reclaim your life from the digital noise.
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