September Reset: 6 Steps to Make Meaningful Changes and Finish the Year Strong

Traditionally January is the time we think about what we want to be different and what we need to change in our lives, be that our relationships, our work, our bodies; the New Year, New Me mantra is ingrained in us. We start the year by promising ourselves things will be different; we make lists of what we MUST do, we commit to accomplishing our promises, but as the year drags on, they fall to the wayside, we find ourselves in our comfort zone, we beat ourselves up, and promise ourselves that next year will be different. But what if I told you September could be the perfect time to refocus on what you really want work and life to be? ?

There’s something about September which always makes me think of new starts, new beginnings and opportunities. I suppose it was the years of back to school, and university, with new pens & notebooks, that gives September blank slate vibes to me. Whilst we’re past the halfway mark of the year, it always feels like the most natural point in the year for me to reflect and review what I wanted this year to be; whereas June just feels like I’m marking time til we’re through the summer fun of July & August (regardless of whether I was beholden to the school holidays or not). ?

And whilst it’s tempting to think that by the time we reach September that the year is almost over, that there’s no point starting something new because it’s almost Christmas, remember there are 4 months left. A third of the year. There is so much you could accomplish, just imagine how different life could be.?

So instead of waiting til January, what will you do with the next 17 weeks??

If you have something in mind, here are my 6 key steps to make realistic and sustainable change in your life now.?

1. Identify the one change that will make a difference?

When you’re stressed, unhappy or on the verge of burnout, it can feel like you just want everything to stop, and change. But trying to change too much is where you come unstuck, because a, you end up feeling like you have no idea where to start and b, changing too much feels even more overwhelming, so you go back to the status quo because it’s familiar (even if it’s not making you happy anymore).?

So, if I could wave a magic wand for you, what one thing would you want to be different right now??

2. Know why this change matters?

Once you know the one thing you want to focus on, you need to work on why this is important – this is what’s going to help keep you motivated, and help you stop falling back to the status quo. ?

So perhaps the change you want will help you look after your mental health, make you feel more satisfied in your career, improve your relationships. Ask yourself what other knock-on effects this might have, what other areas of your life might improve??

3. Plan how you’re going to get there?

It’s not enough to know where you want to be, and why that matters; you need to know how you’ll get there. Remember the saying ‘fail to plan, plan to fail’, it’s why so often we don’t achieve what we set out to. So, what actions do you need to take, and what choices might you need to make, to get you where you want to be??

4. Identify what could get in your way?

Don’t forget to think about what could get in the way, and what could send you straight back to the status quo. Points of challenge are often what scuppers our plans for change, so preparing ahead how you will overcome, or navigate these will help you stick to your plans.?

5. Can you reward yourself along the way??

Taking the actions, making the choices you know you need to make to get you where you want to be can become monotonous. You might want to consider how you can reward yourself along the way, to help keep you motivated.?

6. How will you keep yourself accountable??

Having something or someone to keep you accountable to the change you want is one of the most powerful things you can do to help keep yourself on track. Simply by talking to others about what you’re trying to achieve can help you keep going.?

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It’s easy to beat yourself up what the changes you planned at the beginning of the year haven’t come to fruition, and even easier to promise yourself you’ll sort it next January. But there’s no time like September to get started and make the change you want before the end of the year.?

And if you need help putting this in practice, let’s talk .?