A Soft Launch Into The Next Season
We made it to September! Pumpkin spice is back on the menu even though it’s still 82 degrees out and I have “September” by Earth, Wind & Fire on in the background. The final golden days of summer feel like that bittersweet montage scene in a ‘90s coming-of-age movie—cue Vitamin C’s “Graduation (Friends Forever)” or maybe Natasha Bedingfield’s “Unwritten” for the more optimistic among us.
And me? I’m sitting on my couch in biker shorts and a stretched-out Fleetwood Mac tee, sipping on an iced coffee that melted an hour ago, trying not to panic about the fact that another season is upon us.
If you're anything like me—a little too burnt out and a touch too overwhelmed —you probably feel the weight of transitions in a big way. Add in a dash of time blindness and suddenly it’s, “Wait, how is it the middle of September already?!”
Change Is Coming, Whether We're Ready or Not
Here’s the thing about change: it doesn’t wait for you to be ready. It just… shows up. Like that one friend who always brings their new situationship to brunch without warning.
And for a lot of us millennials, especially those of us healing from not-so-validating pasts, change can feel less like a fresh start and more like a personal attack. We like knowing things. We like predictability. We like routines, even if our executive dysfunction keeps us from following them.
But over the last couple of years—and through many, many therapy sessions—I’ve started learning how to prepare for change in a way that doesn’t trigger my inner alarm system. Whether it's the shift into a new season, a job change, or just the chaos of the new school year energy in the air (yes, even if you’re 37 and not in school anymore, we still feel it), there are ways to meet change without falling apart.
The Messy Middle of Transition
Let’s be honest: change doesn’t happen overnight. There's a messy middle—an in-between time when you’re not where you were, but not yet where you’re going. It’s like being stuck in a loading screen, or worse, a buffering TikTok when you’re on bad WiFi.
During this time, I’ve learned to pause. Not in the dramatic, “I’m going to Europe to find myself” way (although if you have the funds and emotional bandwidth—go for it, Liz Gilbert). I mean micro-pauses. The kind where you check in with yourself:
“Am I breathing right now, or shallow-panicking through my to-do list?”
“Have I eaten something with actual nutrients today?”
“What do I actually feel about this change, beyond the autopilot anxiety?”
When I slow down enough to notice those things, I’m better able to ride the waves of transition without getting wiped out.
It’s Not About Reinventing, It’s About Reconnecting
We’ve been sold the idea that new beginnings mean reinventing ourselves. New job? Time to become That Girl. New relationship? Time to finally become chill and mysterious. New planner? This will finally be the year you color-code your life.
But real change—the sustainable, soul-feeding kind—doesn’t start with reinvention. It starts with reconnection. Reconnecting with your values. Your needs. The version of yourself that’s been quietly whispering underneath all the noise.
This summer, instead of trying to “fix” myself before fall hits, I focused on listening. I noticed which routines felt nourishing and which ones I was doing just for the aesthetic. I paid attention to the people who made me feel safe and the ones who only reached out when they needed something. I let myself grieve some endings and not have a plan for what came next.
That’s growth. Not a glow-up. A slow-up. (Yes, I just made that up. You’re welcome.)
Let it Happen! Change Can Be an Invitation, Not a Threat.
So as we roll into September with its Virgo vibes and back-to-business mentality, I’m reminding myself: change doesn’t have to be a threat. It can be an invitation. An open door. A fresh playlist. A soft reset, not a total reboot.
It’s okay to take the scenic route into the new season. Wear your favorite hoodie. Make your fall goals low-key and flexible. Let go of the pressure to be “ready.” Just be here, however messy that looks.
TL;DR – A Soft Reset For The Overwhelmed Humans:
New beginnings don’t have to be hard. You don’t need to overhaul your life or have everything figured out.
Start with small self check-ins. Ask how you’re feeling, what you need, and what might make this transition feel less overwhelming.
Support yourself with grace. Give yourself permission to feel, pause, pivot, or rest and try again.
Let change be a curiosity, not a crisis. It’s okay to not know what’s next. You’re still growing, even in the unknown.
And if all else fails? Throw on a flannel shacket, make yourself a weird little fall-themed drink (alcohol not required), and remember: Messy is always better than nothing!
