September Reset: Intentional Planning for Autumn and Q4
Intentional Planning: Embracing The Fresh Start Effect of September
September signals a different kind of energy. You feel the shift inside, with school routines restarting, holidays winding down, and the subtle hints of change within nature. For small business owners, therapists, and entrepreneurs, autumn offers an intentional space to reset your focus and realign your goals.
After a summer that may have focused a little more on rest and relaxation, intentional planning sets you up to finish the year strong, removing those “I don’t wanna work” feelings that hit like the biggest Sunday blues ever.
As with the spring energy, and the gentle summer pace, autumn's natural rhythm is something you can tap into to reset and refocus.
The September buzz is like a built-in reset button, giving you time to reflect, refocus, and put new systems in place. Using this space and energy for intentional planning can help you make the most out of the final leg of the year.
This brief guide will help you make the most of this season of change, so that you can step into autumn feeling rested, organised, and ready to go. You'll also find 25 Intentional Planning Prompts at the end of the post to help you reflect and look forward.
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Table of Contents
Embracing September's Fresh Start
Why Autumn is a brilliant time for Intentional Planning
When September arrives, it’s not just the weather that changes. Psychologically, the season encourages a fresh perspective, similar to the energy of a new year but without the pressure of January’s big resolutions.
As someone who has worked within education for most of my adult life, this new start is deeply ingrained, and something I always encourage others to embrace as well.
September gives you the space to let go of what didn’t serve you over the past 8 or 9 months, and the opportunity to make real progress as the end of year approaches.
Intentional planning at the end of summer / early autumn lets you pause and thoroughly review your business or practice goals without judgement. This isn’t about starting over; it’s about building upon what you’ve learned along the way, making tweaks, pivoting, and getting clear about what matters most as you move into the final quarter.
Reflect, Review, and Realign Your Goals
Now is the time to look back at the last few months. What worked for you and your business? What drained your energy or felt out of sync? Honest reflection helps you spot patterns that can guide your next steps.
Set aside quiet time for your Q3 reflections and Q4 planning. Look at your yearly goals, and your Q1 and Q2 reviews. Intentional planning allows you to look at your progress so far, while acknowledging the things you don't want to bring forward with you into the next stage.
- Are these goals still relevant to where you are now?
- Are they still aligned with your bigger goals?
- How are you feeling about your goals? Are they still matching your purpose or desire for life? Are they moving you forward?
Acknowledge your wins and celebrate them, big or small. Even if you’re not where you hoped you’d be, take the time to reflect on your growth overall. Make a note of other wins – personal growth as well as work / business related ones.
When you sit and look at all of those ‘little’ steps you’ve achieved, you can see how these have added up and contributed to the bigger picture.
Note what didn’t go as planned and what you would change next time. Again without judgement, identifying what did or didn’t work so well means you can hone your skills, deepen your learning and continue moving forward with more knowledge and understanding.
“I have not failed. I've just found 10,000 ways that won't work.”
– Thomas A. Edison
Set your intentions for autumn based on these reflections and your goals. Be mindful of changes in routines, upcoming events, the Christmas party season – do you keep a full diary right through to Christmas or do you tend to wind down at the beginning? If so, this gives you around 3 full months to work with.
Create some stretch goals, along with realistic ones that will keep you moving forward. Stretch goals can be great for helping with motivation when you don’t feel like working, or you’re a bit fed up with the (at times) monotony of repeating actions and taking those small steps day after day.
With intentions, set yourself some goals that aren't work related. For example, how do you want to show up over the next few months? How would you love to experience the autumn season? How do you want to feel and how can you be intentional with this?
Scroll to the bottom to find 25 Intentional Planning prompts!
Declutter and Optimize Your Workspace
Autumn is the perfect time to clear out old files, tidy up your desk and work area, and create better systems. An uncluttered space can have an incredible impact on your ability to focus.
How to simplify:
- Throw away or file papers, documents and resources that you no longer need. Yes, including those old journals and planners that are still taking up space on your shelf!
- Organize your desktop and back up important files. Remove duplicated files, and those (probably) hundreds of free downloads you have stashed in a folder under “business tools” that you’ve not looked at since…
- Update your digital planning system and calendar with current goals and appointments. I highly recommend Notion – its capabilities (free version) are outstanding and with the right template you can organise everything in your business and life. I work with Jakolien who has the best templates, and they have turned my chaotic mind around completely. She also has a membership that helps you understand Notion, and it’s been the best investment for me!
- Refresh your surroundings. How does your workspace feel? Is it calming? A space that’s easy to focus in? Perhaps it needs a lick of paint, a new picture, a new plant, or a scented candle to help you get in the zone. Even simply tidying up, and wiping down your work surface can help with that fresh start feeling!
A clean space helps you think clearly and move into autumn with more energy and focus.
Daily Routines and Self-Care
Summer can lead to a break in routines – even those established ones. You may have stepped back on daily journaling, or focused less on feeling nourished and rested as you balance work and life.
To avoid overwhelming yourself by making several big changes, understand that simple routines make a huge difference:
- Start your morning with a walk or stretch to boost focus.
- Schedule mindful breaks throughout your day as you allow your mind and body to adjust to the new work schedule.
- Make time for creative or restful activities so that it’s not all work focused.
- Focus on healthy sleep routines to support steady energy throughout the day.
These simple routines not only help to ground you when busy, but are daily reminders that there is time for you – even if things do get hectic. 5 – 15 minutes can make a big difference.r nervous system relaxed for a little longer, meaning you'll be facing the day from a place of calm rather than panic the minute you open your eyes.
As we're thinking about intentional planning and creating supportive routines, check out this free Calm Mornings Journal with prompts:
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:
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 I’ve always associated with fresh new starts and change. Use it as an invitation to pause, reflect, and take meaningful action. With intentional planning, you can use September’s fresh energy to reflect on what matters to you and your business, set clear priorities, and move into the rest of the year with a renewed sense of direction.
Whether you’re a small business owner, creator, coach, or therapist, now is the time to realign your goals, clear your space, and embrace supportive routines. Intentional planning isn't just about moving your business forward, but doing so in a way that feels good and aligned.
Keep reading for 25 Intentional Planning prompts to help guide your reflections!
How will you embrace intentional planning in September and make use of this season’s energy?
Share below ⬇️
25 Intentional Planning Prompts for September
Review & Reflect
What have I learned about myself over the past few months?
Which habits, routines, or commitments are no longer serving me?
What went well last season, and what would I like to change?
Where did I feel most aligned with my values this year so far?
What drained my energy, and how can I adjust going forward?
Seasonal Energy & Intentional Planning
How can I create more space this season?
What am I holding on to out of fear rather than purpose?
How can I slow down while still making intentional progress?
How will I make the most out of the energy of September & autumn?
What do I want to let go of to make room for something new?
Fresh Start & September Reset
What does a fresh start look like for me right now?
How can I bring more ease into my daily life this season?
If I could start Q4 with one gentle habit, what would it be?
What intentions do I want to carry into this new season?
How can I simplify my plans without sacrificing progress?
Goal Setting for Q4
Which one goal would feel amazing to complete by year’s end?
What small, consistent steps will move me closer to that goal?
What support, tools, or boundaries do I need to stay on track?
How will I measure meaningful progress—not just productivity?
What would make this final quarter of the year feel fulfilling?
Mindful Intentions
What do I need more of (emotionally, mentally, or spiritually) as we head into autumn?
What does success feel like to me?
How can I be more compassionate with myself during busy seasons?
What do I want to remember when things get challenging?
How can I celebrate progress, even when it’s slow or quiet?
Coming Soon in Digital Products for Therapists: PLR templates will be available, aimed at those within the wellness industry. Make sure you sign up to the newsletter so that you don't miss out, but in the meantime I hope you love this template, and please pop me an email with your creations – I would LOVE to see them!
Also 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)
Have you seen my online store Quietly Conquer – Find DFY templates, downloads and more!
