September Is the Real New Year (And I Feel It in My Bones)

Every year around this time, something inside me shifts.

The air cools, the leaves start to turn, and the rhythm of life begins to change. The kids head back to school. The summer pace starts to fade. And deep in my soul, I feel it:

This is the real new year.

And it turns out, I'm not alone in that feeling. According to motivational powerhouse Mel Robbins, fall is the true start of the year. She calls it "the most productive season of the year", and after hearing her say it, I couldn't agree more.

Why Fall Feels Like a Fresh Start

Mel explains that we're biologically and socially conditioned to treat fall, specifically September, as a reset point. Here's why:

Seasonal Cues Matter: Nature is winding down, but for humans, this season signals structure, momentum, and focus. "The back-to-school effect" kicks in, even for adults.

You've Been Trained for This: Decades of school calendars have conditioned your brain to expect a restart in September. Even if you're not in school anymore, your nervous system remembers.

Short-Term Deadlines Motivate Action: From Labor Day to New Year's is only four months. That window naturally triggers urgency and progress, a phenomenon backed by Parkinson's Law (the idea that work expands to fill the time given).

Fall = the Most Productive Season: Mel cites research that shows productivity spikes in the fall, before dipping again in the winter months.

But here's what I love most about Mel's perspective: she encourages us to treat fall as a reset for ourselves, not just for our calendars. This isn't just about routines. It's about self-reflection, self-prioritization, and small pivots that can change the whole trajectory of your year.

"This is your second chance," Mel says. "A new year inside the year."

Learning from Nature's Transformation

There's something powerful about taking inspiration from what's happening all around us during this season. As Lydia Millen beautifully puts it in her book “Evergreen”, we should "take inspiration from the trees this season and let go of all that is weighing you down."

Autumn is nature's masterclass in transformation. Trees don't just change colors, they actively release what no longer serves them, creating space for new growth in the spring. This autumn metamorphosis reminds us that change isn't just healthy; it's necessary.

Just like the trees, we can use this season to let go and release what isn't serving us anymore. Whether it's habits that drain our energy, commitments that don't align with our values, or even negative self-talk that keeps us stuck, autumn invites us to shed these burdens.

Why This Resonates So Deeply With Me

As a corporate working mom, I've always felt fall in my bones.

For me, the return to school routines isn't overwhelming, it's grounding. It feels like an invitation to reset and reflect. I love the cooler days here in Northeast America. I love the rhythm that returns when summer's looseness gives way to structure. I love that I get to ask myself, What's been working? What hasn't?

It mirrors the trees shedding their leaves, nature letting go of what's no longer needed to prepare for renewal.

This fall, I'm doing the same:

Personally, I'm focusing on letting go of self-talk that doesn't serve me. I've realized I've let my health fall by the wayside, so I'm using this season to recommit to movement, nourishment, and rest. I'm revisiting those New Year's resolutions I set earlier this year, like learning to make homemade bread and pasta, and honestly assessing which ones still align with who I am today.

As a parent, I want to reset how we manage technology in our home. Both of my boys are starting new schools, and that feels like the perfect time to create more intention in how we structure their (and our) screen time.

Professionally, I've found a productivity rhythm that's actually working, and I'm protecting it fiercely. I'm planning ahead for the busy holiday months and creating space to finish strong instead of sprinting to the finish line in December.

Getting Intentional About What Success Means to You

One of the most important things to remember as you approach this fall reset is understanding what success really means to you. As Lydia shares, there's a crucial difference between setting goals because you genuinely want them deep down versus setting goals because they look impressive or because everyone else is doing them.

As you think about this autumn season of transformation, be really, really clear and intentional about what you want. Set those goals based on who you are authentically and what you genuinely want deep down inside, not what others expect from you.

What This Means for You

If you're feeling a little off, behind, or stuck in a loop of doing without much clarity, it's not just you. The rhythm of summer may have pulled you away from structure, but September offers a natural and supported return.

So before you dive back into the pace of fall, I invite you to pause. Ask yourself:

• What do I want this season to feel like?
• What do I want to carry forward?
• What am I ready to let go of?

As Mel puts it: "You can get more done in the next four months than most people do all year."

But only if you choose to get intentional with your time, your energy, and your priorities.

What to Do Next: 3 Steps to Use the Fall Reset Intentionally

You don't need a complete overhaul. You need a moment of clarity. Here's how to harness the fresh-start energy of fall:

1. Get crystal clear on what you want. Not what others expect from you. Not what the calendar says you "should" do. What do you want to experience, prioritize, and feel between now and December? Pay attention to what's rumbling within, stoke the fire in your motivation deep down, and be bold as you lean into change.
2. Audit your energy and time. Where is your time going? What's draining you? Ask:

• Do I need to be doing this?
• Can I delegate or delete it?
• Is it aligned with what I want?

3. Make an intentional plan, and own it. Block time for what matters. Let your family and team know what's shifting. Self-advocate for what you need, whether that's space, support, or just permission to change.

Fall isn't about perfection. It's about alignment.

Celebrate This Season of Transformation

There are only a few months left of the year, so be determined to make the most of them. But don't forget to celebrate this season too. Embrace the perfect excuse to wrap up warm and toast marshmallows by the fire. Enjoy the first log fire of the season, the shorter days, cozy clothes, fall festivals, and the approaching holidays.

This Fall, You Don't Have to Start Over. You Just Have to Start Fresh.

You don't need to become someone new, you just need to return to yourself.

So take this Labor Day as your line in the sand. Choose what to carry. Choose what to let go of. And remember: the next four months are yours to shape.

Just like Mel says: "September is the second New Year. Use it."

With love, 

Erin