When you’re tween, September is a month to look forward to. Yes, there’s the sadness of a six-week summer break coming to an end, but there’s also the excitement of being reunited with friends, picking up hobbies and clubs that were paused throughout the summer and, of course, new stationery. There was just something so thrilling about a new pencil case and pen collection to ring in a new school year.

September, when you’re a working adult, doesn’t quite hit the same. For a lot of people, it’s just another string of shifts and stressful commutes, with the added misery that summer is officially over (especially depressing when, like this year, we’ve barely had a summer). And for working parents, in particular, it can be a struggle to readjust after juggling work tasks with childcare all summer long.

In short: this time of year can feel a bit doom and gloom. But, it’s also an opportune time to start afresh and make some positive changes to your working and personal life. So, here’s how to harness that ‘back-to-school’ energy as a working adult.

The best bit about returning to school after the summer holidays, as a kid, is seeing your friends again. It’s something we take for granted, as children, that becomes increasingly difficult as friends move to different areas, have families and get busy with work, but socialising with friends is crucial for our wellbeing.

If your diary for September is looking a bit bleak, now’s the time to reconnect with your friends and schedule some meet-ups. They needn’t be extravagant or expensive – catch up over coffee on a neighbourhood stroll, or crack open a bottle of your favourite vino. Anything goes.

If your workspace is feeling a bit stale, give it a refresh. Of course, you could go the whole hog by redecorating your home office, if you feel so inclined. But, you can also reenergise your workspace by making small, inexpensive changes too. Think: framed photos that make you smile, new storage solutions to keep clutter out of sight, or an indoor plant to breathe some life into the room.

If you’re hot-desking it’s, obviously, less easy to have an influence on the vibes of your workspace. Listening to uplifting and motivating music, however, can have an impact on your mood and inspiration. So, create a personalised playlist and pack your headphones when you head to the office.

We’re approaching the end of the third quarter so, if you set yourself goals to achieve in 2023, you’ve got four months left to reach them. Now’s the time to revisit what you set out to achieve at the start of the year, check-in on your progress, and map out your next steps. Or, set entirely new goals.

Reminding yourself of why you’re doing what you’re doing, and where you’re heading, should help to increase feelings of excitement as we approach the tail-end of the year.

Be sure to break your goals down into small, manageable tasks so that you don’t become overwhelmed. 

One of the best bits about being a child was all the free time we had for hobbies – sports clubs, after-school classes, and creative activities. While we’re under no illusion you have reams of free time in adulthood, it’s definitely a good idea to earmark a window of time every so often to engage in a hobby you love. Research confirms how important leisure activities are for our physical and mental wellbeing.

Sign up to your favourite yoga class when you can, join a ready group, or steal a few minutes in the evening to play video games – whatever makes you feel like you, try to make a little time for it.

Exam and coursework stress aside, there was something quite satisfying about learning new skills and soaking up new knowledge every day at school.

Hopefully, you have a job or hobbies or loved ones that help you to continue learning – whatever the subject. If not, now might be a good time to start something new – whether a course to develop your skills for work or something more hobby-based, such as language lessons.

Moving from summer into autumn means it might be helpful to shake up your daily habits. Darker and cooler evenings may encourage you to move your outdoor workouts to the gym or your home, and it might be helpful to make time for more self-care practices – particularly if you’re especially affected by shifting seasons. Think about what you have coming up over the next few months, how you feel in your body and mind right now, and what it needs moving forward in order to navigate all that’s upcoming with optimal health. 

Honestly, why not? Buy the fancy pens, the planners and the cute pencil case. Sometimes, we just need a little pick-me-up and, if you’re anything like us, a little stationery treat is guaranteed to do the trick.

Image: Getty