September Reset: In the Middle of Week One

It is only September 3rd and already this reset feels less like a gentle beginning and more like a whirlwind. Labor Day came and went and for me it felt like I shut the door on summer in one loud slam. Even though the calendar says we have a few weeks left, life does not always move on schedule.

School is starting, my orientation is underway, there are personal obligations pulling at me, and the house is alive with chores and meals to prepare. Yesterday was chili simmering on the stove, kids clothes being laid out for the first day back, papers spread across the table, and a to do list that kept refilling itself. It did not feel like a reset. It felt like life in overdrive. And yet, somehow, it all got done.

Waking Up with Intention

Most mornings when I first wake up my mind wants to slip into heaviness. The kind of thoughts that say this is going to be hard before the day even begins. As part of this reset I have been gently challenging that habit.

Instead of starting from a place of dread I pause and remind myself: I am blessed to have this day. I am blessed to wake up healthy, to have a family to love and care for, to be loved in return, and to have a purpose that gives my life meaning.

It is a shift and it does not come perfectly, but each time I practice it I feel the day begin in a lighter way.

Right Now, In the Middle

Today is another hard day. But it already feels a little easier. That is the gift of practice. Showing up again and again. Things that once felt heavy soften when they are met with consistency and care.

So if you are in the middle of week one and realizing you have not done everything you hoped, that is okay. This is not about checking boxes. It is about noticing what is working, what is not, and remembering you still have time. You will always have time.

Celebrate the Little Wins

Even in the busiest days there are victories:

A home cooked meal, even if it was simple

Drinking water when you remembered

Pausing for a breath in the middle of the rush

Falling asleep on the couch next to your little one because your body finally let go

Shifting one single thought in the morning from heaviness to gratitude

These are not small. These are proof you are living in the reset, even when it does not look polished.

Guidance to Make This Work for You

If you are following along with your own September reset, here are a few ways to bring the practice to life and make it your own.

Start with one anchor habit

Pick just one practice you know you can keep up with most days. It might be drinking water first thing in the morning, going for a walk after dinner, or journaling for five minutes before bed. When life feels full, one anchor habit keeps you grounded.

Create space for food that nourishes

Cooking every meal at home is not realistic for everyone. Instead, choose one meal each day or each week to slow down and prepare with care. Light a candle, put on music, or involve your kids in the process. These small rituals make nourishment feel like an experience, not a task.

Notice your self talk

When your inner voice leans toward criticism or negativity, pause and reframe. Instead of “I failed today,” try “I noticed today was hard, and I am still here, practicing.” This change in language turns judgment into compassion.

Check in with your body, not the clock

Eat because your body signals hunger, not just because the clock says it is lunchtime. Rest because you are tired, not only because the day is over. The more you practice listening, the more your body will trust you back.

End the day with gratitude

Close the day with three things you are thankful for, no matter how small. Gratitude shifts your nervous system out of stress and into calm, helping you sleep more peacefully and wake with more clarity.

Looking Ahead

The reset is not about doing it perfectly this week. It is about starting. About noticing the shift from hard to slightly easier. About practicing. About giving yourself permission to reset again tomorrow if today did not go the way you planned.

So let us keep moving through week one together. However it looks for you, messy, full, interrupted, it still counts.

-Jennifer, Pumpkin House Nutrition

✨ Reflection: What is one little win you have had so far this week, and what is one small thing you would like to lean into for the rest of the week?