Why I'm doing a September reset and how you can create a new routine

Why I’m Doing a September Reset and How You Can Build a New Routine The lazy hazy days of summer may feel like a distant memory as September shifts our energy back to work and forward to new adventures. It is the month when many of us embark on a fresh chapter—whether that means starting university, beginning a new job, or simply returning to the school run. September also marks the rise of the “September Reset” trend on social media, a gentler counterpart to New Year’s resolutions. Instead of imposing strict rules or demanding sweeping lifestyle overhauls, creators share modest adjustments intended to help finish the year strongly. “It’s getting up of the game,” says Cami Sophia, 24, who has shared her new rituals on TikTok. She explains why September could be the right moment for a reset and how to craft a routine that endures. For Cami, a content creator and podcast host from Northampton, September signals the end of summer spontaneity and a chance to restore order. “If you’ve been away for the summer you’ve most likely not had a massive routine,” she says. “And if you’re a parent, then you’ve got kids at home and it’s just a bit more chaotic,” she says. September feels like “back to school…getting back into your own rhythm,” she adds. “It is the perfect time to ‘get everything sorted,’ she says ‘So when you get to January you’re not trying to do everything at once.’” Bas Verplanken, professor emeritus of social science at the University of Bath, views September as an opportunity to “reorient yourself.” He notes that his research indicates people who underwent a significant change—such as moving house—“were more responsive to an intervention aimed at promoting sustainable behaviours” than comparable individuals who had not moved house. “It’s truly an exciting way of looking at disruption,” he told Chris and Xand van Tulleken on their *What's Up Docs?* podcast. “If your regular commute or school run works for you then stick back into them,” Verplanken advises. “But if there are alternative ways of doing things, research it, this is the time to do it, and to make those changes,” he says. TikTok overflows with videos on how to “lock in” small habits—declutter a room, clear out a wardrobe, take a walk, start a new book. Cami cautions against videos that display spreadsheets of extreme changes. “It’s really easy to look at all of these things and what you should supposedly be doing and get really overwhelmed,” she says. Cami begins her own reset by “looking at the goals I set at the beginning of the year and see what I really still want to do - and then what I need to do to get from A to B.” She then recommends selecting three tiny “non‑negotiables.” “They could be to have protein with breakfast, have veg with dinner and have a glass of water before you drink coffee,” she says. She advocates modest changes that demand little effort, such as re‑establishing sleep patterns by setting alarms. Cami says planning is essential—a practice she carries out each Sunday morning. “I go, okay, these are my meals for the week. These are my workouts for the week. Even plan your outfits for the work day if you really want to because it saves you time,” she says. She then takes steps to “limit the choices” she has to stray from her routine. “I will meal prep 3 days worth of overnight oats. Naturally, I'm going to grab those in the morning because they are made and ready. I've removed the friction of grabbing a quick meal or not having any breakfast.” Verplanken agrees that the secret to making new habits that last is arranging circumstances so that the desired behaviours become the easiest path toward a goal. He advises designing a routine in which habits can operate “effortlessly.” “They are specific plans of where, when, and what you will do,” he says. “Let's say, losing weight, you can think when I go to the supermarket, I'm going to look specifically each time [at] the fat and sugar content [of food]. It's a very specific plan.” This approach means that the appropriate choices occur automatically when confronted with the food shelf “because you have already planned the situation in which you have to act.” When repeated frequently, Verplanken states, the method becomes “extremely effective” at turning those habits into a lasting routine. Image source, Cami Sophia Image caption, Cami Sophia sees September as an opportunity to catch up with her goals Image source, Cami Sophia Image caption, Cami preps meals and books workout sessions in advance to adhere to her routine