How to Utilize Back to School Energy
Back to School Energy
If September makes you want to buy new pens, and get your entire fucking life together, there’s actually a reason for that.
Your Brain Loves a Fresh Start
Researchers call this the “Fresh Start Effect”.
Certain moments in time can feel like the beginning of a new chapter, and give us a boost of motivation, to pursue our goals.
A new week
A new month
A new year
A new semester
And September? It has that “back to school/get-it-together energy”.
This energy can be really useful for new routines!
The burst of motivation can be useful.
BUT, if we decide we’re going to use it to change our entire lives, by implementing too much at once, like…
A new workout routine
Meal prepping every Sunday
Getting in 10k steps every day
Going to bed earlier
Drinking more water
AND a new morning routine
Suddenly, your fresh start has become a full-time job.
Make Your Fresh Start Realistic
Don't confuse motivation, with capacity.
You might genuinely feel motivated to change five things, right now.
That doesn’t mean you have the capacity to practice five things, right now.
Fresh-start energy doesn’t magically give you…
More time
Energy
Childcare
Executive function
or Bandwidth
Work with the life you actually have.
Try This!
Instead of asking: What do I want to change this fall?
Try: What ONE thing would make taking care of myself easier, this fall?
Start there. You can always add more later.
Plan for a "Regular October You"
Here’s the part that September motivation tends to forget: You won’t always feel this motivated.
So, don’t build a routine that only “Motivated September You” can maintain.
Build something that “Regular Wednesday in October You” has a fighting chance of doing.
Use the Fresh Start Energy
Buy the new pens!
Map out your Fresh Start Plan.
Implement ONE new habit into your routine, at a time.
Just don’t let a burst of motivation convince you that you need to become an entirely different person.
