January gets all the glory when it comes to fresh starts. The gyms fill up, the planners come out, and everyone talks about resolutions they may or may not keep. But I have started to feel, especially now I'm in the middle of perimenopause that September is more like a real new year. I think I have maybe always felt a little bit like this. The air shifts, routines reset after summer, and there’s a subtle sense of possibility. It’s a great time to rethink not just habits, but also how we support our bodies, minds, and spirits especially during this phase of life.

Perimenopause and menopause can feel like a mix of endings, beginnings, and confusing middle ground. Hormones change. Sleep changes. Even moods and memory can feel like they’re operating on an unfamiliar operating system. While that can sound daunting, it’s also an opportunity. September’s reset energy pairs beautifully with this stage of life. Both invite us to pause, notice what’s shifting, and choose how to move forward with curiosity rather than dread.

In this post, we’ll explore why September can feel like a new year, how that connects to the menopause journey, and practical, lighthearted ways to weave spiritual and wellbeing practices into daily life without making it feel like a chore.

Why September Feels Like a New Year

There’s something built into the rhythm of September that makes it a natural time for change:

• Seasonal shift. The light softens, evenings arrive earlier, and the heat starts to lift. Even if you’re not in a climate with dramatic seasonal changes, there’s still a subtle shift in energy.

• Back-to-school energy. For those who grew up in places where school starts in September, there’s an ingrained memory of new notebooks, sharpened pencils, and fresh routines. That “blank page” feeling lingers long after we leave classrooms behind. And if you have a stationery obsession like me, its a brilliant excuse to spend hours in those shops, trawling the pens and shiny colour coded everything which will obviously transform your life.... cough...

• Harvest season. Across cultures, September has been linked with harvest festivals and times of reflection. What’s grown, what’s ready to let go, and what seeds we’ll save for the next cycle.

For us ladies experiencing perimenopause or menopause, this seasonal rhythm resonates. The body is recalibrating. Old ways of being may no longer serve, but that doesn’t have to feel like loss, it can feel like a different kind of harvest, a chance to take stock and redirect.

Perimenopause and Menopause as a Personal Reset

The cultural narrative around menopause has long leaned toward decline, but that’s changing. More voices are reframing it as a stage of reinvention. The symptoms such as hot flushes, night sweats, mood swings, brain fog, changes in libido, are real and sometimes disruptive. But they can also be an invitation to pay attention.

If you’ve been running on autopilot, menopause has a way of forcing you to check in. Sleep disruption demands better sleep schedule.

Weight shifts ( menopause belly I'm looking at you!) invite curiosity about nutrition and perhaps more movement.

Mood changes push us to prioritize stress relief a bit more. It’s like the body is sending a not-so-subtle memo: “Time to upgrade the operating system.”

September, with its natural reset vibe, pairs well with this. Instead of resisting change, you can lean into it.

Spiritual and Wellbeing Practices for a September Reset

These practices don’t need to be solemn or mystical; they can be playful, grounding, or just plain practical.

Here are some ideas for weaving wellbeing and spiritual practices into your September reset:

1. Create a Menopause Journal (That You’ll Actually Use)

Not a leather-bound tome that intimidates you. Although maybe do get one of those and you can pretend you are creating your very own "Book of shadows"...just me ?..

Think of a notebook where you can jot down:

• Sleep patterns

• Mood shifts

• Foods that make you feel good (or not)

• Thoughts you don’t want rattling around in your head at 3 a.m.

This isn’t about perfection. Don't make it another thing on your "to-do " list, It’s about noticing patterns so you can make small tweaks. Add doodles, washi tape, or sarcastic commentary to keep it light. As an aside, I discovered washi tape a couple of years ago whilst trying to create a vision board, it is awesome!

2. Morning Check-In Ritual

Before diving into email or breakfast coco pops, take 5 minutes for a quick check-in:

• One word for how you feel right now ( hungry?)

• One thing you’re grateful for ( coco pops? )

• One intention for the day (to make myself a green smoothie for lunch seeing as thought the coco pops were calling this morning?)

It’s a micro-practice that helps anchor you without turning into a 45-minute self-improvement project.

3. Movement that feels fun

Exercise doesn’t have to mean forcing yourself through a routine you dread. Spoiler alert, I hate the gym. Menopause is a great time to rethink movement as fun. Maybe try:

• Jumping up and down in your kitchen to a guilty-pleasure playlist

• Hula-hooping - great for your core and a sense of accomplishment when you can keep it from being round your ankles for longer than 10 seconds!

• Rebounding on a mini-trampoline

• Gentle yoga flows or Qi Gong in the park or your back garden. There are loads of free you tube videos to follow along with and you don't have to spend ages on it.

Your bones, muscles, and mood will thank you, and you’ll actually look forward to it, eventually.

4. Menopause-Friendly Breathwork

When hot flashes hit or anxiety spikes, a simple breathing exercise can help:

• Inhale for a count of 4

• Hold for a count of 4

• Exhale for a count of 6

• Repeat for a few minutes

It calms the nervous system and helps ride out the waves of hormonal chaos. The parasympathetic nervous system engages and this has no end of mental and physical benefits.

5. Seasonal food reset

Instead of chasing the latest diet trend, think about September produce. Apples, pumpkins, butternut squash, root vegetables, leafy greens, plums, all grounding and nutrient-rich. Try making one new recipe a week. Get the slow cooker out and make a chunky soup or get your Mary Berry on and bake a fruit crumble.

6. A Digital break

Choose one day a week (or even just half a day, even a couple of hours would be beneficial) to unplug. No scrolling, no news rabbit holes, no notifications. Use that time for walks, reading, or calling a friend. Menopause often brings sleep disruption and reducing screen time can help your circadian rhythm recalibrate. It's so difficult when life is busy and everyone wants something from you constantly, but just that bit of time for you each week makes such a difference.

7. Creative Expression

Perimenopause can bring a sense of restlessness. Channeling that into creativity helps process it. Even if you have never previously been the creative type you could give some of these a go if you fancied. You can get cheap art supplies from shops like "The works" or even ask friends who may still have younger kids, and raid their craft boxes.

• Painting or collaging (no artistic skill required)

• Free-writing for ten minutes without editing. This can yeild surprising, sometimes hilarious, and sometimes very insightful results. Give it a go.

• Learning an instrument you’ve always been curious about.

• Joining a local choir or improv group

Creativity is medicine. And it’s often more fun when it’s messy.

8. Rituals of Release

If September is the harvest, it’s also about letting go. Try this simple release ritual:

• Write down habits, worries, or expectations you want to let go of on a piece of paper.

• Sit with it for a while.

• When you are ready, burn the paper safely in a fireproof bowl, or tear it up and compost it.

• Plant something new afterward as a symbol of what you’re cultivating, or get a new plant for your kitchen window sill.

It’s symbolic, yes, but symbols matter and can work really well at shifting your energy.

9. Sleep Experiments

If sleep is tricky, approach it like a curious scientist rather than a frustrated victim. Try,

• Cooling your bedroom with a fan or cooling pillow

• Magnesium-rich snacks before bed, maybe a banana or magnesium supplements (check with your doctor first if you have any medical conditions)

• Gentle stretching or legs-up-the-wall pose. You could go for a more challengin routine but not too much right before bedtime, just gentle stretches.

• A consistent wind-down ritual (reading, journaling, herbal tea. Chamomile is good for night time, but I think it tastes disgusting so maybe try lavender or Magnolia tea)

Track what helps. Small tweaks can make a big difference.

Practical ways to stay consistent without overwhelm

Ambitious September goals often fail because we try to overhaul everything at once. Menopause symptoms can add another layer of unpredictability. Instead, pick just one or two practices to focus on each week. For example:

• Start a 5-minute morning check-in ritual.

• Add one playful movement activity a week.

Once those feel easy, layer in another. Think of it as building a toolkit rather than a rigid routine.

Final Thoughts

Menopause and perimenopause are often talked about as endings, but September teaches us that every ending is also a beginning. It’s not about reinventing yourself overnight or achieving “perfect balance.” It’s about curiosity, kindness toward yourself, and a willingness to experiment with practices that support this new chapter.

So when September arrives with its subtle new year energy, consider it an invitation. Sharpen your metaphorical pencils, (or the real ones that you bought too many of in the stationery shop because they were pretty). Try out a few new rituals. Laugh at the absurd moments, because, lets face it there is a least one of those on a daily basis these days. And most of all, let yourself feel the possibility of a fresh start, even if it comes with night sweats.