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Welcome to The Wellness Rewind, your go-to weekly newsletter for practical tips and inspiration to create a balanced, mindful, and energized life. Forwarded this by a friend? Subscribe here to join the community and never miss out!
Let’s get into it.
September tends to invite extremes, either we charge ahead with color-coded calendars and ambitious resets, or we resist the shift entirely and cling to summer’s slower rhythm. But what if there’s a third option? A softer start.
Instead of flipping the switch from zero to a hundred, easing into structure allows us to carry forward some of summer’s spaciousness while still creating the momentum we crave. Think of it less as a grand “reboot” and more as a recalibration, one that prioritizes steadiness over speed.
That’s what we are getting into this week.
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The Soft Start
Instead of hitting the ground running, what if we embraced a soft start this September? A soft start means easing into structure intentionally, think of it as a gentle warm-up lap rather than a 100-meter sprint on day one.
All too often we pressure ourselves to do a complete 180º from summer to fall, only to crash and burn by Halloween. The middle ground is where the magic is. It’s a pace that’s steady enough to build momentum but kind enough to keep us sane. By giving yourself permission to ramp up gradually, you’re far more likely to find a sustainable rhythm (and actually enjoy this seasonal shift) than if you try to over-optimize every aspect of your life overnight. In essence, fall doesn’t have to be an all-or-nothing game, there’s power in the in-between in these last four months of the year 2025.
My September Slowdown
In past years, I treated September like a self-improvement bootcamp, my chance to chase all the New Year’s goals I’d abandoned by spring. I stacked my days with 5:30 AM alarms, back-to-back fitness classes, color-coded calendars, and meal-prep marathons. By mid-October, I was drained, wondering why my “grand reset” left me burned out instead of balanced.
This was my former American self. Since moving to spain, September is a gentle ease into the new season. Instead of a 5 AM sprint, it’s a 7 AM wake up call. I’ve been taking Mila for slow morning walks with no podcast or agenda. I swapped inbox chaos for ten quiet minutes of journaling with my coffee. No social media until 9 AM when work begins.
The difference? My days feel grounded, not frantic. I’m still getting plenty done, but with steadier energy, sharper focus, and more grace when everything doesn’t get checked off. This softer start isn’t slacking, it’s building a pace I can actually sustain.
💡 The Hot Take: Soft Start in Action
“Hitting the ground running” sounds admirable, but it’s actually a trap. Starting a season at peak intensity isn’t sustainable, and it feeds the very cycle of burnout we’re trying to escape. What if we reframed productivity around pacing, not pushing? Athletes know endurance comes from steady training, not sprinting marathons. The same logic applies to work, self-care, and routines. Slow doesn’t mean lazy; it means strategic.
🛠 The Toolkit: How to Ease In
Start small: Layer in one new habit each week instead of ten at once.
Protect pauses: Block recovery time like it’s a meeting, whether that’s a stretch break, a walk, or a device-free evening.
Choose consistency over intensity: Five steady workouts beat one heroic one followed by collapse.
Set gentle boundaries: Before saying yes to every fall invite or project, ask: Do I actually have capacity for this?
Stay connected: Talk about the transition with a friend or coworker. Chances are they feel the September whiplash too.
🌀 Micro-Moment of the Week
Tomorrow morning, give yourself two minutes before the day takes over. Sip your coffee or tea without a screen. Notice the warmth, the taste, the pause. That tiny act of presence is a soft start in practice, proof that even the smallest rituals can shift your entire pace.
🤝 A Few Extras
Science backs slowing down: A six-month trial of the four-day workweek found employees had less burnout, better sleep, and higher satisfaction. Proof that less can really be more.
Fresh start, fresh space: Nearly 9 in 10 Americans say fall cleaning is just as important as spring cleaning . If you’ve been eyeing that closet or junk drawer, consider it seasonal self-care.
Find the fall joy: Sure, summer is almost over, but maybe your reset looks like cozy lattes, cooler runs, or just finally wearing that sweater you love. A small seasonal ritual can flip your mindset.
Here’s to embracing a softer, saner start to the season. As we ease into autumn, let’s remember that there’s no rush to achieve it all at once. Sometimes the most productive thing you can do is take a breath and trust your steady pace.
Until next week! Take good care of yourself and savor these slower moments.
Stay well,
Valerie
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