How to shift out of summer mode at work
The end of summer is a big transition.
On one hand, the days are getting shorter, vacation season is officially over, and for parents, schedules now revolve around pickup times and homework. Even those of us past our school days experience a shift with the return to work and routine.
But as much as I love the long days of summer, I also love September. To me, September is the other January—a clean slate, a fresh start, a chance to use sharpened pencils, new notebooks, and begin again.
Getting back to schedules doesn’t need to feel restrictive.
Habits are the invisible architecture of everyday life, and when you set up routines that actually work for you, they give you more freedom, not less. With the right habits in place, you spend less mental energy trying to figure out how to get everything done.
For example, instead of dreading Monday morning email catch-up, you might establish a Friday afternoon routine of clearing your inbox and writing down your top three priorities for the following week. That habit helps to minimize Sunday-night anxiety and helps you start Monday feeling prepared rather than overwhelmed.
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How to embrace the fresh start:
The beauty of September’s “other January” energy is that things feel fresh and new. It’s a great time to step out of old patterns and be more intentional about building routines that support productivity and happiness.
If you want a place to start, check out my Back-to-Routine Guide. Inside, you’ll find tips for “clearing the decks” and ideas for building routines that work for you.
How are you handling the fall transition? I’m curious to hear what you’re noticing.
About the Author
Gretchen Rubin writes about habits, happiness, and human nature. Seven of her books were New York Times bestsellers, including Life in Five Senses and The Happiness Project. Her most recent book is Secrets of Adulthood.
September rather than January, has always felt like a new year to me! Relatable and helpful article. Thanks Gretchen.
"September is the other January" - great mindset for this transition period, not just with summer coming to a close (my personal favorite time of year), but also professionally with new projects preparing to start this month. Thank you for sharing and the refreshing approach to this time of year.
Love this! Such a great way to reframe the transition—September really does feel like a clean slate.
Thanks for sharing valuable tips
Such a good take. Def needed this reminder, thx!