It’s officially autumn. Already the skies are greyer, the mornings are crisper and thoughts of turning on the heating drift forward. The muggy sleeps, salads for dinner and sounds of Bob Marley floating between gardens have come to a close. It’s like clockwork: as soon as 1st September rolls around, and witches and wizards around the country head back to Hogwarts, the universe knows it’s time to shift seasonal gears.
Perhaps this year, more than others, the change of season is very welcome. After months of lockdown, children are heading back into school and parents can realistically consider returning to the office, if Covid allows. September marks the end of the semi-chaotic comings and goings of August; a routine returns, a new schedule is in place and it no longer feels like we’re staring into a never-ending abyss of sun-soaked, socially-distanced garden activities. The virus is still here, but the pressure has slightly abated. The temperature is cooler, temperaments are calmer and rational decisions can be made.
“Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall”
F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby
September will forever be associated with the start of the school year. New stationary, new uniforms, a step-up in work and a concrete progression in moving onwards and upwards. Maybe it is because this fresh start happened consistently every year from the ages of 5 to to 21, or maybe because I (not-so) secretly loved the start of term, or maybe it is because I am actually going ‘back to school’ to start a PhD this year, but the elements of school starting have permanently infiltrated my adult life.
My diary runs from September to August, my yearly subscriptions all seem to renew in September and various tedious bits need checking and servicing every autumn. It’s a boring, and expensive, admin month but it is essentially a new year in the school of adulthood. Summer dresses are packed away and autumnal workwear (AKA adult school uniform) is prepped and ready to go. Hello, tartan-check skirts, long sleeve roll-necks, chunky knits and Chelsea boots. New folders are bought and the pen stash is stocked. It’s no coincidence that this is my most organised time of year.
It’s also my most organised time of year mentally. My mind feels clear and tidy: I’m aware of things I’ve achieved since January and I’ve established goals that I’m ready to go for. September, more than January, is a manageable time to make new resolutions and to set new goals. As Elizabeth Rosenberg explains, “in January we have an entire 12 months to look back on and another 12 months to plan for and this is simply overwhelming. Resolutions just seem more do-able whilst it’s still light outside”. September is a natural new start: healthy habits can be established before the evenings get too dark, post-holiday routines can be launched with renewed positivity and workloads can be planned and organised for an ultimate feeling of accomplishment.
September is a time to hit refresh. It’s a new month, it’s a new season and it’s a new year – whether you’re in the school of academics, or the school of adulthood, you can leave the sweaty, summer limbo behind you and move forward with purpose. But beyond the excitement of new stationary, goal setting and fresh starts, it’s the season of leaf-crunching walks, hazelnut cappuccinos, movie nights, butternut squash soups and curling up with a good book. What’s not to love?
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Under The Cypress Tree 