September always feels like a proper reset to me, more so than January if I’m honest. There’s something about the shift in weather, the return of routine after the looser pace of summer, and that slightly nostalgic “back to school” energy that makes me want to properly take stock of where things are at.
I think January resets tend to feel a bit forced, coming as they do straight after the indulgence of the festive period, with all the pressure of a brand new year sitting heavily on top of whatever changes you’re trying to make. September feels considerably gentler by comparison, a natural transition rather than an artificially imposed one, which is probably why I find myself doing this particular exercise every autumn without fail. So here’s my life edit for this September, the things I’m keeping, the things I’m letting go of, and everything in between.
Keeping: a proper morning routine
I let my mornings get genuinely chaotic over the summer, snoozing alarms and rushing out the door most days without much thought. September’s brought back a proper morning routine, and honestly, I’d forgotten how much better I feel starting the day with a bit of intention rather than pure panic.
Letting go of: overcommitting socially
I said yes to genuinely everything over the summer, and by the end of it, I was properly exhausted rather than having enjoyed most of what I’d agreed to. This September, I’m being considerably more selective about my social calendar, protecting a couple of proper nights in each week rather than filling every evening with plans.
Keeping: my new skincare routine
I overhauled my skincare routine a couple of months back, and it’s genuinely stuck, which feels like a small but proper win. My skin’s noticeably calmer and more consistent than it’s been in a while, and I’m not tempted to mess with something that’s clearly working.
Letting go of: doom-scrolling before bed
This has been a work in progress for a while now, but September’s the month I’ve finally, properly committed to it. Phone charging outside the bedroom, a book on the nightstand instead. It’s made a genuinely noticeable difference to how I actually feel in the mornings.
Keeping: cooking properly during the week
I got into a lovely habit over the summer of actually cooking proper meals most weeknights, rather than relying on whatever was quickest, and it’s carried through into September nicely. There’s something genuinely grounding about a proper meal at the end of a long day, rather than something grabbed and eaten standing at the counter.
Letting go of: an old work habit
I’ve been trying to break the habit of checking emails the second I wake up, before I’ve even properly got out of bed, and September’s felt like the right month to finally commit to leaving my phone alone for the first half hour of the day. It’s a small change, but it’s genuinely shifted how anxious my mornings feel.
Keeping: a proper Sunday reset
I’ve talked about this before, but it’s worth repeating because it’s become such a fixture of my week at this point. A proper Sunday afternoon spent tidying, meal prepping, and generally getting ready for the week ahead has made Monday mornings feel considerably less chaotic across the board.
New in: a proper reading habit
This is a genuinely new addition to my routine this September, rather than something I’m keeping from earlier in the year. I’ve set myself a loose target of finishing a book every couple of weeks, and it’s already become one of my favourite parts of the day, rather than feeling like a chore or another item on a to-do list.
New in: a slightly more considered wardrobe approach
I’ve started properly thinking through outfits the night before rather than deciding in a rush each morning, and it’s made getting dressed feel considerably less stressful. I’ve also started being a bit more intentional about what I’m actually buying, rather than impulse purchasing things I’ll wear once and forget about.
Letting go of: comparing my pace to everyone else’s
This one’s a bit less tangible than the others, but it’s genuinely been on my mind this September. I’ve spent a fair bit of this year comparing my own progress, whatever that even means, to everyone else’s, and I’m consciously trying to let that go this month, focusing instead on what actually feels good and right for my own life rather than measuring it against anyone else’s timeline.
Keeping: the little things that make life feel prettier
Fresh flowers on the kitchen table, a candle lit most evenings, taking the time to actually plate up meals nicely rather than eating straight from the pan. None of this is groundbreaking, but it’s the stuff that’s genuinely made this month feel a bit more considered and enjoyable than just going through the motions.
New in: proper budgeting
I’ve started actually tracking my spending properly this September, rather than vaguely hoping it’s all roughly fine, and it’s already proven genuinely useful. Nothing dramatic has changed as a result yet, but just having visibility over where my money’s actually going has made me feel considerably more in control heading into the busier, more expensive final few months of the year.
Letting go of: an old exercise routine that wasn’t working
I’ve finally admitted to myself that a fitness routine I’ve been half-heartedly sticking to for months simply wasn’t working for my actual schedule or preferences, and September’s felt like the right time to properly let it go and try something different instead, rather than continuing to force it out of stubbornness alone.
Why I like doing these life edits
I think there’s real value in sitting down every so often and properly auditing what’s working and what isn’t, rather than just letting habits accumulate without much thought behind them. September specifically feels like a natural checkpoint for this, sitting neatly between the looseness of summer and the run-up to the busier end of the year, and it gives me a proper chance to reset before things inevitably get more hectic again. I’d genuinely recommend doing your own version of this, even just as a quick note to yourself, because it’s a lovely way of staying intentional about how you’re actually spending your days, rather than drifting through them on autopilot.