Be honest… January might be the calendar new year, but September? That’s the real mindset reset button—especially if you’re a mom, a service provider, or someone who thrives with structure.
That back-to-school energy, the new notebooks, the crisp mornings… it just hits differently.
And if summer felt like a slow season (we see you 🙋‍♀️), September brings a shift.
Clients are back online, more ready to invest. You’re not chasing beach schedules anymore. And you’re finally breathing again.
It’s the perfect time to:
- Revisit your goals
- Map out the rest of the year
- Start dreaming of what’s next
We treat September like our new year, and it feels oh so good! So if you’re in the same boat as us and need a refresh, this episode is for you!
Key Takeaways:
- What we do to reset and shift our energy
- A plan to help you reset your year
- Meetings to put on your calendar
How We Treat September Like Our New Year
Not only are we entering the season of PSLs, cooler weather, pumpkin patches, and flannels, but we have a mental energy shift that feels SO good.
We’ve already booked our own annual planning session (listen to Episode #141 for a peek at last year’s.) This is the time we map Q4 offers, finalize launches, and look ahead to the next version of Duo.
An annual planning meeting BEFORE the holiday season gives you time to execute without the pressure of holiday chaos. And since you’re supposed to plan next year before January, let’s give ourselves plenty of time and use September for a mindset reset and planning session.
Your September Reset Plan
So what does this business mindset reset look like?
REFLECT
Pull out your January goals or vision board and ask yourself these questions.
- What still feels aligned?
- What has changed?
- Do you want to keep working towards these goals? (It’s okay if you don’t!)
- What did you actually accomplish this year?
- Have you met any goals you set at the beginning of the year? Give yourself credit!
- Where did you lose momentum?
- What goals have you forgotten about?
Give yourself time to reflect on your wins, progress, and setbacks. This is one of our favorite ways to avoid burnout. You have a clear idea of what you’ve accomplished, what you’re working toward, and what isn’t working for you anymore.
CLEAN
Cleaning isn’t just for the springtime! Getting your files, systems, website, and content organized feels amazing. Take this time to get organized going into your New Year (AKA the holidays and beyond).
- Archive old projects, DMs, and Slack channels.
- Audit your homepage and service pages—are they still accurate?
- Check your email workflows and automations (are they still working?)
- Refresh your CEO calendar—block time for YOU, not just client work.
- Get your inbox to 0 (or as close as possible.) Delete those spam or promotional emails you’ll never open.
We know this feels tedious—organizing your stuff feels time-consuming and pointless. But trust us—a clean digital space leads to a mindset reset!
PLAN
Now it’s time to plan for the year. Get strategic in what you want to do and what’s realistic based on capacity and time.
Think about these questions:
- What are you selling?
- Is it time for a mini-launch, a re-launch, or a big offer?
- Should you close your books?
- What content platforms do you want to focus on?
Don’t forget: your audience is also resetting. What do they need right now? This can help guide your planning session.
DREAM
We can’t forget to dream! This is what entrepreneurship is all about. We have a lot of personal and professional dreams we want to achieve, and our businesses are how we’ll get there.
These questions will help you dream:
- What do you want January to feel like?
- What are the seeds you want to plant now to grow into next year?
- How do you want your business to fit into your personal life?
This mindset reset plan will give you a starting point in designing your future business growth.
Q4 Meetings You Should Already Have on the Calendar
We can’t talk about planning without talking about meetings! We had a huge reality check in 2024 when we realized our lack of meetings was hurting our business.
Since then, we have regularly scheduled meetings with each other and our team to make sure we’re all on the same page.
These are the Q4 meetings on our calendars. They should be on yours, too, even if you’re a solopreneur!
- Annual Planning Day(s)
- Year-End Financial Review
- Offer or Product Audit
- Content and Marketing Brain Dump
- Website + SEO Check-In
- Team or Contractor 1:1s
- End-of-Year celebration
And because we love sharing what works for us, we built a FREE Annual Planning Agenda so you can follow along with the exact same framework. You can use it to make your own planning sesh feel doable (and fun!)
Mindset Reset in September
We know this feels like just another thing to add to your plate. Is it realllllly necessary?
And honestly, yes, it is. If you get so bogged down in client work to keep the lights on, you’ll get burned out and unmotivated in your business. You’ll feel like you’re constantly on a hamster wheel and don’t have time to take a breath.
This is your time to breathe. This is your time to reflect, celebrate, refine, and strategize. We forget how much FUN that is to do!
Schedule time in your calendar for this mindset reset—we promise it’ll be worth it!
FAQs About Mindset Resets in the New Year
How is a mindset reset different from making resolutions?
Resolutions are an action, like exercising or saving money. A mindset reset focuses on your internal perspective of your business. You’re reflecting on where you’re at and where you want to go.
How long does a mindset reset take?
It depends! We use the entire month of September, but still have client work. We just schedule time to think about our business. You can take a business day, week, hour… as long as you’re intentional with your time.
What if I fall back into old habits after my reset?
That’s okay! This isn’t a perfect system. Try to get in the habit of reflecting and resetting more often. It takes work and it’s all about progress.
Tune into the episode!
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Abbey Oslin and Courtney Petersen are Minnesota-based marketing experts, educators, and co-founders of boutique marketing agency Duo Collective, which specializes in SEO, social media strategy, and branding for small business owners and creative entrepreneurs. To learn more about Duo Collective, or to inquire about working with our team, head over to www.duocollective.com.
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