The September Start

For many years, I’ve written about how much I love the September start feeling. It feels akin to a new school term, but for adults. While I did conduct a mid-year review at the beginning of July, I always seem to take my foot off the pedal throughout the summer. So, I’m excited to ease myself out of summer mode and start to drip-feed a cosy and productive autumn mood.

Sautumn, as I coined it some 10 years ago on Daisybutter.

This September I get to prepare for a brand-new job, meaning I can really capitalise on the new school term feeling. I’ve already done the obligatory notebook-shopping, since, would you believe it, I’m not the sort of person to hoard several unused notebooks. This change feels good: I truly adored my last role at my literal dream company, but a few things were niggling at me. Perhaps I’ll pour all of those thoughts into a newsletter essay soon. Long story short, I’m thrilled to be moving ahead in my career and hopping on those all-important stepping stones.

After a really fun and surprisingly busy summer, I’m looking forward to keeping up some of those fun habits. Prioritising movement and exercise, scheduling plenty of low-key friendship dates, gardening and growing fresh vegetables, limiting time on my phone… Summer truly feels like a stepping stone to The Next Step™! Something that I noticed this summer was that everybody and their dog on Instagram jumped on the autumn bandwagon unbelievably early. We did have a wet and cold summer – thanks climate change(!) – but it felt dismaying that we are all so eager to ‘be the first’ and capture the content that we no longer embrace the seasons we’re in. For me, summer is still firmly here! There’s longer days (just about), my summer vegetables are still going, birds are chirping aaalll through the day, and we can comfortably sit outdoors for dinner (and morning teas).

This September start, I’m excited to embrace all of this best habits I picked up in the high summer months and pour that energy and excitement into new beginnings.