September: A Second 'New Year' for the Modern Psyche
September: A Second 'New Year' for the Modern Psyche
Waking up to the crisp fall air in the early September mornings, I often feel this need to do a “fall-clean” of my personal and work life. Similar to the “spring-cleaning” we are conditioned to do in our homes when the warmer weather hits; I declutter my work bag, clean up emails, clean up files, set new goals, and have this renewed “fire in my belly” to get stuff done. I get excited about a “fresh start” and setting personal and professional goals. It’s a September surge. I started wondering if this is more than just some nostalgic connection to the years of schooling we get programmed to, and if there is science behind it. Either way, I wanted to know… how do I keep this motivation and momentum going into the fall and winter months.
The “first day” of September isn’t just about first day of school photos, it’s a shift in our subconscious behaviours. As it happens, adults in Western cultures often feel an unmistakable shift in mood and drive come September. There is a residual effect from our school‑day rituals and it’s more than nostalgia. It’s a reconnection to deeply ingrained sequential rhythms tied to learning, renewal, and structure.
This is known as the “fresh‑start effect”. This is a behavioural‑science concept from Katy Milkman’s research out of Wharton. The fresh-start effect explains how recurring landmarks, like a new year, week, birthday and even September allow us to put distance from past mistakes or slow downs and allows us to see a better version of ourselves.
In the workplace, we often see an uptick in recruiting, new projects, resurgence on project deadlines, discussions around budgeting, strategic planning for the new year, and an increased interest in learning, and team building. The fresh-start effect tells us there is science behind this aside from just being “trained” that September is a fresh start.
One of the interesting things I read, was that we feel less pressure and anxiety to be perfect around new goals set in September than we do when we set resolutions in January. This often leads to greater success. September goals are less intimidating and more energizing. With the crisp mornings and habitual pressures to return to our predictable schedules, there is a certain comfort that comes along with this steadiness and structure. I know I am feeling the mental reset this week.
We’ve also been putting things off all summer using September as a starting line. How often have you said to yourself that you’ll get back to the gym routine or specific eating regimes in September when life gets back to “normal”?, I know I do. According to a 2024 survey from verywellmind in the UK, 40% of adults [Brits] feel an increased motivation for change in September over any other time of the year. The research showed this is true for both personal and professional growth and personal wellness.
September provides us with an intrinsic belief we can change, achieve new goals, and let go of past set-backs. Our workplaces set extrinsic pressures to respond to structure and get back to operational rhythms. So, how do we capitalize on this intersection and make it a high-impact for our teams and our organizations? Here are some tools I came across and the general strategy behind them:
Final thoughts
We do need to keep in mind that the September refresh is mainly a Western culture practice. As our teams become more and more diverse, the September trigger may not resonate with everyone. However, the behavioural-science behind it is universal. We see other milestones being the trigger for others, such as Lunar New Year, Cultural festivals, and so on. So, the framing can still work for all our team members, it’s about creating the climate and setting the framework for everyone to buy-in and succeed. We can use these rhythms, landmarks, and cycles to create a motivational reset with our teams and our organizations. Then, just like anything we introduce, we have to maintain it with follow-up and follow-through.
September delivers a rare convergence where personal momentum meets workplace opportunity.
Ready to harness this energy for your team?
At Temple Leadership Consulting, we specialize in turning the September spark into sustained performance. Reach out to explore how our Team Building, Leadership Development, and Stay Interviews can help your group capitalize on this fresh‑start momentum to translate renewed energy into measurable results.
Email us: hello@templeleadershipconsulting.com
