How to Let Go and Reset Your Mindset This Autumn
How to Let Go and Reset Your Mindset This Autumn
As well as tapping into the “New Start” buzz of September, Autumn is also a great time for you to make some changes from within.
During this month of change, a key message of Autumn is to not to push harder or do more, but to slow down, reflect, and release what you no longer need.
In nature, this season is about letting go. Trees shed what’s no longer needed so they can rest, reset, and prepare for what’s next, and we can do the same!
In this blog we’ll look at how you can use the flow of Autumn to slow down, reconnect, release and realign with your dreams and goals, and how to let go of what no longer serves you.
At the end of the post there are several journal prompts to help you gain clarity, realign and make space this autumn.
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Table of Contents
The Emotional Energy of Autumn
Each season brings its own energy and emotional rhythm. Spring often brings a boost of energy, and summer can feel open and busy, but autumn tends to encourage more reflection as life returns to ‘normal’ after the summer break and longer days.
It’s a useful time to pause and reflect, review what’s going well and what might need adjusting. You might notice certain routines, goals or habits no longer feel helpful, and you’re looking to change things up.
Autumn begins with that fresh-start energy in September, when you're back to routines after holidays, or you just feel ready to reset after a more relaxed summer. But, as the days grow shorter and the weather becomes more unsettled, the “back to it!” excitement wears off, and it can be easy to feel a bit meh…
Each season has its own rhythm: Spring is full of new beginnings and rising energy, Summer tends to feel more spacious and relaxed, and Autumnis when nature starts to let go, trees shed their leaves and prepare for the quieter months ahead.
The message for us? It's the season for releasing what no longer serves you. Learning how to let go of the things you no longer need to carry. It’s the time to finish up those tasks you started earlier in the year, clear away clutter around you – always a great task for September! It's also about creating space emotionally, letting go of unhelpful thoughts and patterns, choosing to only take forward what truly matters,what will support you, brings you joy or simply makes life feel a little lighter.
Why Letting Go Helps You Move Forward
When you think in terms of productivity, it’s usually that being productive is about doing more: more tasks, more effort, more systems. But, true and intentional productivity often comes from taking away and simplifying your life.
When you focus on letting go emotionally, this too creates space in your mind. If your mind is always full, it’s difficult to see things through to the end. It’s hard to stay aligned with your goals and feel satisfied with your life in the moment.
Letting go of what’s draining your energy or distracting you; creates space for renewed energy. There’s nothing quite like that feeling after you’ve cleared a room or a space, and it’s the same when you embrace this internally as well.
When you finally let go of that little worry that’s been buzzing around your mind for weeks, it makes you feel so much lighter!
What Will You Let Go Of This Autumn?
Letting go can look different for everyone, but here are some examples that might resonate with you:
- Unrealistic expectations about what you should achieve
- Guilt over taking time for yourself
- Perfectionism that stops you starting
- People-pleasing that drains your time and energy
- Habits that don’t support your wellbeing
- Projects you’re no longer passionate about
- Negative self-talk that keeps you stuck
- Overcommitted schedules that leave no room to breathe
This doesn’t mean making huge sweeping changes overnight. It means consciously deciding, “This isn’t helping me anymore, and I’m allowed to let it go.”
Space for Reflection
If you want to embrace Autumn as a season of intentional letting go, self-awareness and reflection is key. When you have clarity of what’s working, not working, draining or energising you; you can gently begin to shift things.
For example:
- Journal (Use the prompts below)
- Light a candle and spend 10 quiet minutes noticing how you feel
- Take a mindful walk and reflect on what’s weighing you down
- Revisit your goals and see what no longer feels aligned
- Give yourself permission to stop something that’s too much, or choose to pause it for now.
Small things like these can help you feel more grounded and connected to your inner voice, especially if you’re short on time. Use your reflections to plan for the autumn and winter months ahead.
Daily Calm Journal For Morning Routines
Download your free journal prompts with daily reflection pages, prompts and micro habits.
Available to print in A4 and US Letter – includes 7 daily pages – just print more and use over and over!
Create a calm morning routine with this FREE printable!
Tools, Resources & Support
Take a look at these tools & resources that will help you with your intentional planning, seasonal goals and personal growth:
Life Balance Wheel – Gain clarity of your current reality, identify areas that may be holding you back, and create a plan to make long lasting change.
Cognitive Distortions Worksheet – Support emotional clarity and build self-awareness with this printable CBT thought distortions worksheet.
90-Day Planner – This printable 90-Day planner is the perfect companion for you as you set your focus for the next 3 months. Use it every 90 days to help build consistent habits and achieve your goals with ease. With a focus on intentional planning and moving forward at your own space, it's the perfect companion to see you through to the end of the year.
Impact Stationery – Have you ever dreamed of creating your own high-end stationery products? Laura has an amazing course & community designed to help you created printed products that you can market on Amazon, or your own website. It's different to KDP in that they're not print on demand, and the quality of products are incredible.
Canva Pro – Upgrade your content design with Canva Pro. Explore the enhanced features available in Pro. Grab your free trial here.
Etsy – Are you ready to create your own online store? Etsy is a brilliant shopping platform that's used by millions. Setting up your store is simple, and when you sign up with this link we both get 40 free listings!
Final Thoughts
Autumn is a season that begins with a focus on fresh starts, getting back into routines, and re-focusing on goals following the summer.
But it also has another energy to it – learning how to let go, shedding the things that you no longer want to carry through the winter months.
This isn't about creating big new goals (although if that's what you're doing – go for it!), but it is about looking inward a little more to reflect on where you are, how you're feeling, and what doesn't feel right or aligned with you anymore.
You may have set those big goals at the start of the year – but things change. If you know that these goals no longer feel right, then now is the time to let them go. Perhaps you just need to pivot or adjust, but taking the time now to realign is key, and will help you move towards the end of the year with confidence and energy.
Declutter your mind, let go of what isn't serving you any more, and make space for what it.
Keep reading for 10 Autumn “How to let go” prompts to help guide your reflections.
How will you embrace the energy of Autumn? What will you be letting go of?
Share below ⬇️
Journal Prompts: How to Let Go
Here are 10 reflective prompts to support your autumn mindset reset. Use them as part of a weekly check-in, or your daily journaling practice.
- What season of life am I in right now? How can I honour that?
- What am I currently holding onto that feels heavy or unhelpful?
- What would I like to release emotionally, mentally, or physically?
- What thoughts or beliefs no longer support the version of me I’m becoming?
- What’s one boundary I can begin to gently reinforce?
- Where do I feel resistance or burnout? What might that be telling me?
- What would feel lighter if I gave myself permission to let it go?
- What habits or routines are draining rather than nourishing me?
- If I created more space in my life, what would I fill it with?
- What does “moving forward gently” look like for me this Autumn?
Coming Soon: I’m working on a KDP Journal Starter Kit that will give you templates, prompts, and guidance to create and publish your own journal or planner on Amazon.
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Meet Lynsey
Hey there! I'm Lynsey, a counsellor, coach and mentor for women who want to create change, but are feeling lost, uncertain and exhausted. With over 7 years’ experience of training, running businesses, and over a decade as a tutor and adult trainer, I've learned the value of a gentle and intentional approach to work and life that energises you without draining all of your energy.
I've lived with ME/CFS since 2011, and since then re-trained as a counsellor, and achieved a distinction for my Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy Practice; all while running 4 businesses!
How? Improving your mindset, finding acceptance in yourself, and developing a gentle, but solution-focused approach to achieving goals is key. Knowing that it's not about how fast you move, but finding your own pace and trusting that you can achieve your goals in your own way, one step at a time.
If you'd like to know more about working with me, you can email [email protected] or find me on socials (links in the menu)
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