Back to School: It’s Not Just For Kids
Back to school season gets a lot of buzz. Even if we don’t have school age kids, it’s impossible not to see the frantic quest for new clothes and school supplies going on around us. Part of this is our need for a new start, whether it’s for our kids or for ourselves. Back to school season isn’t just for kids. It’s for all of us.
Cooler air and shorter days have a way of making us feel like it’s time to buckle down. My reset this fall has been a redo of my home office to better reflect my taste and to acknowledge my new beginning and the time and effort I’m putting into it. A reset doesn’t need to be a room redo; it can take many forms.
January 1 gets all the fanfare
The same psychological principle that gets kids off to a fresh start each school year can be applied to our own reset, as well. This could be in a job, a business, a pursuit, or even a hobby.
For me, what started as a project of paint swatches and furniture catalogs turned into something much deeper. My home office renovation became not just about creating a beautiful space, but about shifting my energy, my focus, and even my commitment to my new pursuits. The result? This transformation of the space I spend my days in has sparked a transformation inside me.
Why a reset boosts energy and focus
Psychologists call this the “fresh start effect.” Research shows that people are more motivated to pursue goals when they tie them to a significant date or symbolic new beginning. Just as January 1st inspires resolutions, the first week of September can stir the same renewal of purpose.
My reset is more than just aesthetic. The fresh paint, the sunlight streaming through sheer curtains, the uncluttered desk, all of it underscores my commitment to my new path. When I went in to my office job every day, arriving signaled ‘time to get serious.’ And my new office does this for me, albeit in a more creative, energizing way. The room isn’t huge but it’s large enough that I was able to subtly break it into two distinct zones. One is pretty much all-work. The other is more read a book, look out the window, or even do absolutely nothing.
Without resets, our days can blur, our energy dulls, and our pursuits lose momentum. But with resets, we feel sharper, more focused, and more satisfied with the work we do and the life we’re building. My office energizes me as soon as I walk in. I feel like I’m a space that’s me.
The ‘fresh effect’ is real
Redecorating is one way to harness the ‘fresh start effect’, but it’s not the only way. Fall offers countless opportunities to reset, if we pay attention.
But just to give you an idea of what I started with, here’s my office stripped, ready for a makeover. Very beige. Very brown. Very not me. And yes, there are ‘after’ pictures, but not until the end of the post!
Morning Routines with Fresh Energy
Intention has become a buzz word for being more mindful. The idea of putting your intentions before your appointments sounds great in theory. In truth, it’s harder to follow through on. Whether it’s racing to a job, walking dogs, getting to errands, or any number of other things that call to us as soon as our feet hit the floor, it’s easy to get lost in our day.
The only real way to affect change is to have a very clear intention of how your morning will go. Even if you have to race off, maybe getting up 15 minutes earlier so you can have your coffee outside in the morning sunlight can make a world of difference. The slightest change to your morning rhythm can reset the tone of your entire day.
Satisfaction comes from renewal
Ultimately, a reset is not just about productivity. It’s about satisfaction. When we refresh our routines, our spaces, and our outlooks, we give ourselves the gift of feeling more aligned with who we are today.
Satisfaction isn’t always about accomplishing more. Sometimes it’s about realizing we’ve created an environment where we can thrive, whether that’s in a cozy office, a decluttered kitchen, or simply finding a new rhythm for our days.
This satisfaction radiates outward. When we feel good in our spaces and in our routines, we show up differently, to our work, our relationships, and even to ourselves.
Redecorating as a personal reset
Coming back to my office, I realize now that redecoration was not simply about furniture or paint. It was a ritual of renewal. It was my way of claiming fall as my own reset, not just for kids with backpacks and pencils, but for me, an adult woman seeking energy, clarity, and joy in her everyday life. My office isn’t ‘finished,’ but it’s well on its way.
Consider a Fall Reset
This fall, I encourage you to ask yourself: where do you most need a reset? Is it in a room that feels uninspiring? Is it in your daily routines? Is it in the way you connect with others or the way you nourish yourself?
Begin there. Let the season remind you that change is not only possible, it’s natural. When the leaves fall, they make way for something new. So can we. And if you’d like a bit of structure and inspiration, download our free 10-page Guide. Fall Reset: 5 Simple Ways to Reset With Intention.
Final reflection: Claiming fall as your own fresh start
I don’t so much go into my office now as I get pulled into it. The sun off reflecting the brighter walls, rug, furniture. Everything about the room speaks to me in a way my old brown office just never did. As I sit in my refreshed office, I see more than a new room. I see evidence that my environment can shape my mindset. And I see fall not just as a season of endings, but a season of beginnings. Back to school season isn’t just for kids; it’s for all of us, no matter our stage in life.
Because when you change your space, your routine, your focus, you change your energy. And when you change your energy, you just might change your life.
