You know that old saying, “New Year, New Me”? Honestly, I’ve never been a fan. I don’t think we need to wait until January to make a change — we can hit reset at any point of the year. But there’s something about September. Whether you have children or not, the back-to-school feeling is in the air. Summer winds down, autumn edges in, and suddenly there’s a shift — almost like nature is saying, “right, let’s get back to it.” When I became self-employed, I noticed how quiet summer could be. Everyone’s away, routines are out of sync, and life feels a little on pause. Then September arrives, and it’s like everything switches back on again. Networking events fill the diary, workshops pick back up, schools are back, the roads are busier — and there’s this buzz of fresh energy. And the best part? Unlike January, there’s no pressure. We’re not weighed down with resolutions, new gym memberships, or leftover chocolates we’re pretending not to eat. September feels gentler. More intentional. A natural reset button. This year, instead of piling on more to-dos, I’m focusing on a different kind of list — my Stop Doing List .

Whether you’re juggling childcare or just feeling the shift in pace, the school holidays can throw everything off. Between unpredictable weather, broken routines and the pressure to “make it special,” it’s easy to feel frazzled.  Here’s a real-life guide, from one human to another, to help you stay calm, grounded and maybe even enjoy a bit of it!