Happy September, Fab Friends over 40!
It’s hard to believe the lazy, sunny days of summer are already behind us.
Labor Day always seems to mark that unofficial transition from summer into fall, and as we step into September, there is a definite feeling of change swirling in the air.
The mornings are a little cooler. Football is back. Soon there will be bonfires, beautiful foliage, sweaters, and pumpkin everything.
And, of course, for many of us, September means back to school.
Fall has always been my favorite season, but September has also represented something else for me: a fresh start.
In some ways, I think September feels even more like a new beginning than January. Maybe that’s because September brings us back to routines, schedules, and structure after the more relaxed days of summer. There’s something about opening the calendar to a new month and realizing we still have almost four months left in the year.
It’s not too late.
In fact, maybe this is exactly the right time to begin.
What Is a September Reset?
Think of a September Reset as your opportunity to check in with yourself before the final months of the year.
Remember those goals you set back in January? How are they going?
And more importantly: Are they even still the goals you want?
That’s something I think we begin to understand differently after 40.
We change.
Our priorities change. Our families change. Our careers change. Our bodies change. And sometimes the dreams we had at the beginning of the year don’t quite fit the woman we’ve become by September.
A reset doesn’t mean you’ve failed.
It means you’re giving yourself permission to reevaluate where you are, where you want to go, and what needs to change to get you there.
I’m Living My Own September Reset
This September feels especially meaningful to me because I’m experiencing a pretty significant reset of my own.
After more than 20 years in marketing, public relations, and strategic communications, I recently stepped into a brand-new chapter of my career: teaching marketing full-time on a college campus.
I’m now three weeks into my classes.
And while the transition has gone exceptionally well, there is still so much I don’t know.
New routines.
New people.
New responsibilities.
New systems.
New expectations.
And yes, there have absolutely been moments when I’ve had to remind myself that being experienced doesn’t mean I have to know how to do everything on day one.
That’s the beauty, and sometimes the discomfort, of starting over.
We don’t have to know everything before we start something new. We just have to be willing to take the first step.
Starting Over After 40 Can Feel Scary
I think this is where so many women get stuck.
We wait.
We wait until we lose the weight before joining the gym. We wait until our résumé is perfect before applying for the job. We wait until we know exactly what our business should look like before starting it.
We wait until we feel confident.
We wait until the kids are settled.
We wait until life calms down.
We wait until we’re “ready.”
But here’s something I’m learning in this season of my own life: sometimes ready comes after you start.
Confidence often comes from doing the thing, not from waiting until you’re no longer afraid to do it.
And after 40, we have something incredibly valuable working in our favor: experience.
We’ve lived enough life to know what matters to us. We’ve survived hard seasons. We’ve learned from mistakes. We’ve built careers, raised families, navigated relationships, and reinvented ourselves more times than we probably realize.
So why would we suddenly decide that it’s too late to dream about what’s next?
What Do You Want to Reset This September?
Your September Reset doesn’t have to involve a dramatic career change.
Maybe yours is about your health. Maybe you spent the summer eating and drinking whatever you wanted and you’re ready to get back into a routine.
Start walking.
Drink more water.
Lift weights.
Meal prep.
Get more sleep.
Maybe your reset is professional.
Update your résumé. Refresh your LinkedIn profile. Schedule coffee with someone you admire. Research the degree or certification you’ve been thinking about. Apply for the job. Start exploring the business idea that’s been sitting in the back of your mind all summer.
Or maybe your reset is personal.
Set some boundaries. Reconnect with friends. Start journaling. Take the trip. Make time for yourself again. Figure out what you actually want in this next season.
Whatever has been quietly whispering to you, listen.
You Don’t Need to Reinvent Your Entire Life Today
This is important.
A reset doesn’t mean waking up tomorrow and changing everything. In fact, please don’t.
Transformation usually doesn’t happen because of one huge decision. It happens through small choices made consistently.
One walk.
One application.
One phone call.
One healthy breakfast.
One uncomfortable conversation.
One hour spent researching your idea.
One “yes.”
Sometimes the first step is simply admitting: I want something different.
And that counts.
There Are Still Four Months Left in This Year
September brings us a clean slate and a beautiful reminder: there is still time.
There is still time to work toward the goal you wrote down in January. There is still time to change direction. There is still time to prioritize your health. There is still time to explore a new career. There is still time to start the project. There is still time to become more intentional about your life.
And there is absolutely still time to find yourself after 40.
You haven’t missed your moment. Maybe your moment is right now.
Ready for Your Own September Reset?
If you’ve been feeling that little tug that something in your life needs to change, but you aren’t quite sure what the next step looks like, I would love to talk with you.
One of the reasons Find Yourself After 40 has evolved is because my own journey has shown me how powerful it can be to have someone help you step outside the noise, get clear about what you want, and start putting a plan behind it.
You don’t need to come to me with all the answers. That’s the point.
Maybe you’re thinking about changing careers. Maybe you have an idea for a personal brand or business but don’t know where to begin. Maybe you’ve spent so many years taking care of everyone else that you’re trying to figure out what you want now. Or maybe you simply know you’re ready for something more.
Let’s talk.
Consider this your permission to stop waiting until you have everything figured out. Take the first step.
Schedule a free Clarity Call with me, and let’s talk about where you are, where you want to go, and what that first step could look like.
Because sometimes changing your life doesn’t begin with a five-year plan. Sometimes it begins with one conversation.
Cheers to new beginnings, the beauty of fall, getting back into a routine, and having the courage to begin again.
Here’s to your September Reset. 🍂
Stacey
Find Yourself After 40
