Get Sh*t Done September
Channeling those powerful "back to school" feelings for good.
One week ago, I finally made it home after five blissful summer weeks away. Since then, I’ve been in hardcore hibernation mode. I slept. Cuddled my cats. Watched a lot of Teen Mom. I cleaned and fully saged the house to get rid of the bad energy trapped in there since my cat Dusty went missing for two days while I was gone. I went on long walks along Lady Bird and greeted the turtles. I know I still love living here because I am overjoyed to be home.
Now I’m rested and ready to take September head on. I even spent Labor Day working, and I’m not mad about it. My boss (me) let me sleep in, after all.
But before we move on to all the Fall Feelings: an update on my NO BUMMER SUMMER bucket list. In 11 weeks, I got through 19 out of 30 items. (Oh, it was a summer.) Plus, I still have 4 to 6 weeks of Texas heat left to tackle a few more. I’m up for the challenge!
Now that that’s out of the way — I had a full season of fun, sun, and buns, and I’m ready for the next stage of the year.
I’ve always adored Back to School season. I loved school all my life, not to mention the theater of getting your carefully chosen backpack, binder, notebooks, and pens in order. (I couldn’t resist buying myself a hot pink Barbie notebook the last time I was in Target.)
September is underrated as a perfect time for new beginnings, even if you’re decades past posing for first-day-of-school photos. The psychological reset of this time of year is powerful. The return to habits and schedules, the relief of cool evenings, the browning of the leaves to make way for stillness — they’re all potent signifiers for you to clear the way for something new. September is ready to work with you!
Didn’t set goals for the New Year? Skipped spring cleaning? Never got around to pitching that amazing story idea? (Oops, that one’s straight from my personal journal.) Do it now! It’s not too late to fulfill your wild wishes for this year. (It’s actually never too late, time is a construct, and all that jazz). September is the perfect time to go for it.
Last year, I tackled No Spend September. I feel a bit (like this 🤏🏼 much) more stable in my finances this year, so I’m focusing on other things.
Y’all know I’ve been working hard on developing my brand, podcast, and business offerings this year and, eight months into 2024, I can see those efforts paying off in small ways. I have a new client I’m super excited about that contributes in a big way to me feeling less panicky and desperate when it comes to finding work. I’ve also been networking a ton (that’s paid off in certain ways, too!) and am ready to keep making new connections in my city.
I went back to my big goals for the year and thought about what I’ve left untouched, and what would make 2024 feel like a success to me. I’m big on living a life that creates as few regrets as possible. This September, I’m not reinventing any wheels — I’m doubling down on the ones I’m already turning. It’s heads down and heart forward from here.
Get Shit Done September Goals:
Pitch stories I care about, and get two bylines I’m proud of published by the end of the year.
I’ve published a fair amount of stories this year and broke into Austin Monthly and CultureMap ATX. But I have some pitch ideas I’ve been sitting on for literally years that I want to see out in the world. Enough! I want to work on journalistic projects I’m excited about. It’s time for me to respect my own ideas and take a leap.
Host a free online workshop.
I love supporting other writers, and I’m feeling called to host an online workshop that shares some of the knowledge I’ve gained through 13 years in media. I’ll be dreaming up the first offering this month. So, what would you like to learn about?!
Go alcohol-free.
You know I love a booze break! I indulged this summer and I’m ready for time off. Plus, I actually have quite the social September, and I know that it’s easier and far more supportive for me to stay sober through all of that, rather than drink through it and try to keep up my energy and focus. I’m locked in to a productive, high-energy month, and alcohol won’t be any help at all.
Sign up for a Spanish class.
I’m half Salvadoran, and it’s a life goal of mine to be fluent in Spanish. So, I’m all signed up for a fall class at Austin Community College! Back to school indeed!
Commit to a regular volunteering schedule ahead of the election.
In 2016, I swore to myself I’d never sit on my ass and do nothing during an election year again. It’s time to get going! Door knocking and cold calling is scary, but what could happen if I don’t do my part is much scarier! I invite you to volunteer in whatever way you feel comfortable with — especially for the local candidates you care about who might get totally lost in the presidential shuffle.
What are your “back to school” intentions? Tell me in the comments. Say it with me now: GET SHIT DONE SEPTEMBER!!!!!
More September reset tips:
On the new moon in Virgo (9/2) and being a beginner from
But here, the morning of an ultra-precise Virgo New Moon, I want to affirm that it is okay to be a beginner. It is okay not to know. It is, actually, okay to not belong everywhere. Because belonging everywhere is, actually, impossible.
Rituals for the fifth season by
Ask yourself, what are you digesting? What are 10 things, lessons, topics, ideas, experiences, you might still be digesting from summer? Borrowing from a ritual created by writer and coach Rachael Maddox, start each line with, “I am digesting….” And go from there. Afterwards, you may want to lie down for 5-10 minutes or do child’s pose, or a physical pose that might literally help you digest, as if you had just had a big meal, or take a nap. This will help you emotionally digest, too!
Love this. I'm also feeling the energizing back-to-school spirit that's whipping my routine into shape!
Also - I would def sign up for your online course!!