So there we are, one foot still in the sea and the other already back in the inbox. Summer, with those wonderful long evenings, flip-flop days, and spontaneous ice creams, feels like a distant dream as soon as normal life resumes. School starts again, the schedule fills up automatically, and that wonderful holiday bubble already seems so far away.
But instead of getting overwhelmed by to-dos and appointments, this is the perfect time to put yourself first. Time for a fresh start: back to you.
Summer out, yourself in
Summer has a magical effect on you. It breaks your routine, makes you slow down, and lives more by feeling than by plan. But as August draws to a close, reality often hits you as hard as that first rain shower after weeks of sunshine.
As a mother, you might be feeling it more than ever: the kids back to school, the hectic schedules piling up, that ever-present work-life balance demanding your attention. Fortunately, you don't have to experience this transition as a downer. Instead, consider it a relaxing reset, a time to choose how you want to enter this new phase.
A fresh start doesn't begin with a packed schedule or a new project. It starts with you.
1. Take stock (without judgment)
Before you slip back into action mode, give yourself a moment of silence. What did summer bring you? What do you want to cherish and carry with you into the fall, and what would you rather leave behind in the pool?
You may have discovered that you:
- Felt more calm due to less screen time
- Got energy from those spontaneous conversations with your children during long car rides
- Slept better due to fewer stimuli and a calmer pace
- Felt your creativity rekindled during those quiet mornings
Write it down without judging yourself. These small insights can bring about big changes, exactly as you need them.
2. Create your own rite of passage
A fresh start feels more powerful when you consciously make it a moment. Choose a quiet moment (perhaps just after the kids have gone to bed), make your favorite tea, light a nice scented candle, and grab a nice notebook.
Ask yourself: What do I want to feel in the coming months? For example:
- More moments of rest and connection with myself
- A sense of order (in the house and in my head)
- Space for creativity without pressure or expectations
- Small moments of joy in ordinary life
By making conscious choices, you give direction to your time, instead of letting time consume you.
3. Start small, from your feeling
The biggest pitfall of a fresh start? Wanting to change everything at once. As a creative woman, you know that the most beautiful things arise from small choices or coincidences. So start small and with feeling. What does your life truly need?
Maybe that is:
- Set aside an hour for yourself every Wednesday evening (even if it's just for a bath and a book)
- Cleaning out that one drawer that annoys you every day
- Finally finish reading that inspiring book that has been on your nightstand for months
- A fixed moment to draw, write or just dream
Small actions have a big impact, especially when they come from within and fit who you are.
4. Reconnect with what makes you happy
The transition from summer to autumn can feel like a small farewell to lightness and freedom. But it's also an opportunity to reconnect with what truly makes you happy, even in everyday life.
Perhaps your happiness lies in:
- Taking up your creative hobby again (that brush, that needle, that pen)
- Creating a warm routine with scented candles, soft music and your favorite book
- Send sweet messages to friends you miss
- Consciously seeking moments of beauty in everyday things
This way you give meaning to the new months and time won't rush by like crazy again.
Back to you = looking forward with softness
For many, summer was a respite, a reminder of who you are, free from all the roles and responsibilities. Now it's time to look ahead again, not by forcing yourself, but by returning to what feels right for you.
Because "back to you" doesn't mean being selfish. It means taking such good care of yourself that you can give from your fullest potential to everything and everyone you love. It means recognizing that your well-being is the foundation for everything you want to create and share.
So: breathe in, shake the sand out of your bag, and step into the new season. Fresh, full of positive intention, and at one with yourself.
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What's your ultimate fresh-start ritual after summer? We'd love it if you shared it with us; every tip could inspire someone else!
Image: Andrej Lišakov via Unsplash
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