Here we are, the end of August already. Summer holidays are nearly over, the kids are heading back to school, and September is just around the corner.

It’s a funny time of year, isn’t it? Work hasn’t exactly stopped, but recently it’s felt lighter somehow. We managed a little break in France, and the whole pace of life has been more relaxed. Hopefully you’ve had some kind of pause too - a proper holiday, or at least a chance to breathe.

For me, once the kids are back at school, Christmas always seems to arrive in a blink. And then, before we even catch up, it’s January - the season of “New Year, New Me.” That magical moment when we’re expected to reinvent our entire lives… right when it’s dark, freezing, and everyone’s running on empty.

To be honest, I’ve never been a fan. January resolutions feel less like meaningful change and more like ticking off society’s to-do list.

That’s why I think September is the best time to reset.

Don’t Wait for January - Start Fresh Now

I’d already been considering a business reset at the end of August, but the idea really took hold after reading an email from Brett Davidson, whose newsletter I follow. He suggested treating September as the ideal time to redesign your business so it actually works for you - instead of slipping back into old habits.

And he’s right. Why wait until January, when you’re exhausted and unmotivated? Why not start now, when summer has given us clarity, space, and a little renewed energy?

This isn’t just about business either. Once September hits, life speeds up, routines take over, and it’s easy to drift. But what if we asked ourselves:

✨ What if things could be different?
✨ What if I could feel healthier, more fulfilled, or more present with the people I love?
✨ What if my work was designed to actually fit me?

The Six Steps to a September Reset

Here are the six steps Brett shared, slightly adapted to include both life and business:

1. A Pause

We all know how easy it is to keep running on the treadmill. But pausing matters. Take a half-day just for yourself, or a strategy day with your team, to create space for reflection.

2. A Clean Sheet of Paper

If you were starting from scratch, what would you create?
What kind of life would you choose to live?
What would you leave behind for good?

3. Brutal Honesty

What are you tolerating that you shouldn’t?
Are you prioritising what really matters - or spending your energy on the wrong things? In work, in relationships, even with yourself.

4. Courage to Let Go

What would you stop doing if you weren’t scared of what people might think? Old habits, outdated offers, toxic dynamics.

5. A Fresh Vision

What does fulfillment look like now - not five years ago? You’re not the same person you were back then. You’ve learned, grown, changed. Your vision should evolve with you.

When you look to the future, what no longer fits?

6. Tight Focus

This isn’t about changing everything. It’s about choosing what matters most and cutting the rest.

Brett posed a great question: If your doctor told you that you could only work 20 hours a week, what would you focus on?

The same applies to your free time: If you only had 10 hours a week to yourself, how would you spend it?

It’s like that jar metaphor: fill it with the big rocks first (your priorities), then the pebbles, then the sand. Start with the sand - the admin, the routine tasks - and there’ll never be space for the things that truly count.

He also suggests asking yourself some thought-provoking questions. The ones I found most impactful - and that apply just as much to life as to business (I’ve added the life angle) - are:

• What are you craving more of in your work or life? (And why haven’t you made space for it?)

• What are you doing out of habit rather than intention?

• What parts of your business or life are based on other people’s expectations, not your own desires?

My Own Reset

For me, this September is about pausing, realigning, and redesigning. My business needs tweaks so it better reflects my bigger goals and vision - not just the routine I’ve fallen into on autopilot.

I’ve also realised I need stronger boundaries, clearer structures, and a braver vision. Some of my bigger dreams still scare me (they feel almost “too big” to write down). But if I don’t name them, plan for them, and start moving - even in small steps - then I’ll never know what’s possible.

September, Not January

The best part about this? September resets aren’t about lofty resolutions or punishing yourself into change. They’re about conscious choices.

So the real question is:
Will you drift back into the same old routines?
Or will you take this chance to reset, realign, and reinvent?

September is your second January. But better. 🩷