5. Revisit your goals for the year

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Quick confession: I’ve never been a big fan of New Year’s resolutions. Quarterly goals feel much more realistic to me, so every September I set my goals for the last three months of the year. Whatever your approach, use this month to reflect on how far you’ve come and decide how you’d like to close out the year. Maybe a goal needs adjusting to fit your reality. Maybe it no longer serves you and is just stressing you out. Or maybe you simply need a new approach so the rest of the year feels manageable and focused on what really matters to you.

6. Choose 3–5 priorities for the rest of 2026

Separately from your goals, make a short list of things to tackle before the end of the year: household jobs, work projects, a hobby you keep postponing. The key word is short. Once you know your top priorities, you can chip away at them steadily and put everything else on hold until January.

7. Make a “joy list” and schedule time for it

Summer may be over, but the fun isn’t. Autumn comes into its own with a whole set of cosy pleasures, from that first sip of coffee on a crisp morning to the crunch of fallen leaves under your feet or a glass of mulled wine with friends. This may be the busiest time of the year, but that’s exactly why joy deserves a place in your calendar. Pick a hobby to focus on, or call an old friend and plan a day together before your weekends book up. Tip: plan both weekly and monthly joys. Weekly joys can be small and regular, like an hour of uninterrupted reading or your Wednesday Pilates class. Monthly joys need more planning, like a day out with a friend. These are the moments you’ll cherish later.

8. Decide what you’re saying “no” to

Make a list of the boundaries you need to set this season. Maybe it’s skipping a family event that always leaves you drained, or refusing to fill your calendar with every work event that crosses your desk. Decide now what you won’t let stress you out, and then stick to it. Sometimes the best way to recharge is simply to hunker down at home and let the world wait.