Resetting for Fall 2024: September’s Hustle, New Routines, and Renewed Habits

Rumor has it that real life starts now. Today, in fact, on September 3rd, aka The Tuesday Following Labor Day.

I bring this up in case you’ve been living an alternate life (some call this summer) and you’ve missed the memo. It’s time to put away those breezy t-shirts and button up. Literally.

Alas, I’ve received the memo. Perhaps unwillingly, but still—message received. Evidence: I woke up feeling rushed before I even finished my first cup of tea. The sun wasn’t even up yet and I felt like I was falling behind.

Er, this will not do.

I will not be forced into hectic schedules and long to-do lists just because we turned the page on the calendar.

Except that maybe I will. And maybe you will, too.

Why? Because September is hustle. Truly. Perhaps it’s hardwired into our pre-industrial agrarian roots, but it’s a “pluck while the fruit is ripe” time of year, and resistance is futile. Our ancestors harvested and preserved in a sprint, racing time before the first freezes set in. We do the same, only different.

Take me, for instance:

• I recently stocked up on frozen foods, probably driven by some primal instinct to store up for winter.

• I have a nagging itch to close down the house for the season—like the opposite of spring cleaning, though still involving cleaning.

• I’m compelled to get organized, with my time, my calendar, and my thoughts.

• My routine is shifting to more shape and more structure.

Do any of these instincts sound familiar?

All of these impulses, plus more, influenced me while I was setting up my September bullet journal pages. I reserved space to write notes on a new routine for the season. I dedicated a full spread to a mind/body/spirit reset, focusing on nutrition, workouts, and prayer and meditation. My monthly calendar includes some pretty significant events involving a lot of time and energy.

I share all of this in my September bullet journal page reveal video on YouTube, but I want to give you a behind-the-scenes look into the features that will be shaping my month. Because I suspect that you’ll relate to my intentions, and maybe share many of them yourself.

I have nothing new to say about new routines; I defer to the experts who know better than me how to set and maintain routines. You can find one million of their advice columns via Google search.

Besides, we know the drill by now, right? We’ve been living it since we were young and doing the whole “back to school” thing with our bikes and backpacks. This is not new territory.

I will say that I’m setting the bar VERY LOW for my new routine. I’m setting an alarm. I have a morning routine mapped out that I’ll try to follow in sequence if not always at the same pace. I have ideas about an evening routine, too, though realistically I expect that one to unravel as many days as not.

My single goal for a more structured day is to support my intentions for a mind/body/spirit reset, which leads me to the next topic…

September is spring’s cousin—both are seasonally conducive to resets. This year I’m leaning into it by setting a few intentions. The first is a body reset. After a summer of ice cream cones and smores, I’m making a shift toward more supportive nutrition this fall. That looks like nutrient-rich meals, low-sugar treats, and abstinence from alcohol.

Thankfully these habits are not a big stretch for me; I have a happy history of making these choices on a regular basis. Already my fridge is stocked with a jar of homemade honey-sweetened dark chocolate bark, and I’m working on my meal plan for the month. I’m looking forward to a body that’s refreshed and revived from more wholesome meals.

Abstinence from alcohol is a mostly new thing for me. I started a dry December habit at the end of last year and remained alcohol-free through July. In August I enjoyed some libations on travel and at home, but I’m ready to resume my booze-free intentions.

As you can tell, I am not a stickler for rules in this realm. But I do know that drinking is generally a net negative for me. Alcohol increases my inflammation, disrupts my sleep, and darkens my mood once the cheerful conviviance wears off. Also, it’s expensive. I’m looking forward to ending the last four months of the year without the headaches (literally).

In addition to a nutritional reset, I’m also hopeful for a spiritual reset this month. We could have a Much Longer chat about my spiritual life this past year, especially the impacts of heavy grief and anxiety after losing my brother last December. Needless to say, loss takes a toll on the spirit. I’ve felt this toll in my prayer life as well as a general apathy toward other spiritual practices that I typically enjoy.

I have zero interest in pressuring myself to “perk up.” But I would love to see my spiritual tone go from flat to vibrant again. Because nothing—nothing—is more refreshing for me than a connection to God.

To stoke the flames, I’ve set a very simple intention: I will start the morning with a prayer (from a version of The Common Book of Prayer), and also do a guided meditation, ideally in the evening. I’m eager to experience an awakening from this practice.

Lastly, just as September is hustle, it’s also the month of Golden Light. I’m talking about the kind of light that throws the fields and sky into gold and pink with its distinctly fuzzy, romantic quality.

Conditions like this cannot be missed. It’s unacceptable.

Thus, I intend to romance myself through this romantic time by strolling at dawn and dusk, and catching the elk rut in the mountains, and hunting fall color in the changing Aspen trees, and filling the house with the smells of baking bread and granola. Naturally, I’ve made a list, because at my age romance requires a little planning. Yes, my schedule is hustle but I refuse to hustle my way through the month without slowing down to soak in the light (September’s version of smelling the roses).

I won’t regret the things on my to-do list that don’t get done, so long as the items on my “romance” list do get done. Frankly, life’s too short to miss the best light of the year.