10 ways to make it a stellar September
Hi! Hope you enjoyed a wonderful long weekend and day yesterday!
Each month I like to share ideas to enrich the next 30 days. I’m pretty excited about September; there’s a hint of fall in the air, pumpkin-flavored everything seems to be more seasonally-appropriate, and we’re one month closer to college basketball season.
Here’s a list of fun things to amp up your September:
1) Streamline. Last month, I did a major closet purge (selling/donating quite a few things and storing the rest) and it felt SO good. I’m a big fan of streamlining especially as the seasons change; it can be quite refreshing to clear the clutter in our lives and initiate renewed emphasis on our goals and purpose.
2) Sign up for a new class or fall fitness event. I have a half marathon on the horizon (woop! woop!) and finally accomplished the paddleboarding goal. It was something I’d been wanting to try, and I was instantly hooked. Looks like paddleboard yoga is the next step! Is there a fitness event you’ve been scoping out, or a new class you want to take? This is random, but has anyone done one of those hot chocolate runs? Now that is worth running for 😉 (Ok, or wine.)
3) Determine your personal abundance block, and brainstorm strategies to turn over a new leaf this fall. It’s funny, but sometimes getting out of our own way can have an enormous impact on how and when we accomplish our goals. Are you thoughts and mindset holding you back? Evaluate your inspiration board (mine is here) and write down some changes you’d like to initiate this fall.
4) Enjoy an outdoor dinner party, long walk or picnic. It seems like September is the “sweet spot” when it comes to weather, at least in all of the places I’ve lived! It’s an ideal time to enjoy some outdoor activities and dinners before the weather really cools down.
5) Join a cheering squad. See if there’s someone in your life who could use a little encouragement. Sometimes a little “Hey I notice what you’re doing, and you’re doing amazing, keep it up” can go a loonnnnng way.
6) Hit up the farmers market and make a new recipe with your findings. The farmers market is abundant with inspiration, especially as we head into fall produce. Pick up something new, or something that looks particular beautiful -homemade applesauce right now is where.it’s.at- and create a masterpiece!
7) Make this cornbread :) That is all.
8) Follow the squat challenge and fitness calendar! This month’s calendar includes a variety of circuit workouts, upper/lower splits, cardio guidelines and adequate rest to get maximum results from your work. A bonus: SQUAT CHALLENGE! Pretty stoked for this one. Check out all of the details here, and if you’d like to get early access to the monthly workouts in addition to bonus recipes and sneaky giveaways, sign up here:
9) Plan a date night. I always look forward to planning a date with the husband, or even some friends for girls’ night.
10) New candle. Ok, so maybe I’m just justifying my candle hoarder status here, but BBW has some incredible new fall scents. I’m especially enjoying the blackberry bramble tea candle; it smells exactly like the blueberry pumpkin patch from last year.
What are you looking forward to this September? What’s on your fitness goal list? End of summer bucket list? Favorite fall recipe? 🙂
Here’s to a happy and healthy month <3
xoxo
Gina
Congratulations to the Jabra ROX giveaway winner:
Leah! Be sure to check your email so I can get your prize on the way. Thank you again to everyone who entered (and for the new workout music suggestions!) and stay tuned for more giveaways soon. <3
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I love all of these suggestions and I’m going to do just all of them(except make corn bread…I’m paleo!). The fall fitness event sounds fantastic and so foes the farmers market. Fall is a great time to throw out the old and bring in the new. Also, we. Have the same candle!!! It smells wonderful. I also got bourbon caramel and banana nut pudding.
i’m allll about the new candles. bring on September!
Great tips! I just signed up for the Squat Challenge 🙂 I could use more squats in my life, haha
I always love your monthly suggestion posts!! Can’t wait to go pick out some yummy seasonal scented candles!
I’m calling this month “Self-Improvement September” and each day I am going to try to push myself to do something new or different. I love the start of a new month, it always feels so encouraging!
Today’s self-improvement is to let 3 people in my life know how much they mean to me =).
I’ll let you know about the hot chocolate run in November. My husband and I made it our last of 5 5K’s for the year. Started your squat challenge yesterday 🙂
Loved this! I’m making September the month to “get sh*t done.” I moved cities this summer and finally feel acclimated, so now it’s time to achieve some work goals and plan my wedding!
Love all of these! I also feel the need to do a closet purge at this time of year (fall cleaning instead of spring cleaning I suppose?) and made a dent this weekend but still have some more to do. I love you suggestion to identify an abundance block and think of ways to overcome it. I’ll be pondering that one today! As far as my goals for this month, I’m working on training more intuitively as I approach my last half marathon of the year in October, and getting to know my blog readers better.
I’m kind of obsessed with BBW candles. I will have to check out this scent. I enjoyed your list!
I really want to try SUP! This fall I am looking forward to college football, friends and family.
Love these! I really should get a 5k on my list this fall, it’s been too long since I ran one – and autumn is my favorite season for 5ks!
I gotta agree with you on September being the “sweet spot” for weather. I’m a military brat and everywhere I’ve been also usually has perfect outdoors weather in September!
I love setting goals for a new month, and I haven’t done mine officially for September. One thing I am definitely going to do is give up gum. Your post from a few weeks ago inspired me to try it out. Have a great Tuesday! 🙂
This September I’m focusing on “me time” and learning how to take care of myself mentally and physically.
I’ve done the Hot Chocolate race in Chicago! That’s a fun one!
I love these posts. You’re always so positive and encouraging! I need that right now. In struggling recovery from my injury. It’s been since Jan and I’m just done feeling held back by it. I’m having an MRI today. The doctors suspect compartment syndrome which I truly hope it is not. My one and only wish this month is to be well and be myself again.
Hi Gina, I’m glad you mentioned a 1/2 marathon! I used to walk 1/2 marathons and run shorter races (10Ks, 5Ks, etc.). I’ve unfortunately let my fitness completely slip and have gained quite a bit of weight over the past year because I was working an extreme amount of hours and so stressed. I’m finally out of that job (WOOOOOOP!) and back in grad school and really want to get back into shape. I’ve been thinking about signing up for the local 1/2 marathon which is in late March as motivation to get active again, lose some weight, and have an excuse to take a break from studying here and there. Can you suggest a good way to get back into running and fitness that is not overwhelming? I feel like I’m starting back from zero and am really discouraged and a bit intimidated.
Also, I’m super excited to light my fall candles but the smoke alarms in my new apartment are SUPER sensitive and I don’t want to be responsible for setting off the sprinklers in the entire building! I might break out the candle warmer instead…
i definitely need to do some streamlining in september!
I love September! It’s my birthday month! To celebrate turning 24 I’m having an avocado party. All the food I make will have avocados as an ingredient. I’m pretty excited. Haha I figure 24 is a random and fun year so I’ll have a random and fun party!
September was my all time favorite month when we lived in Utah. The weather was absolutely perfect, the leaves were starting to change, and a hint of the holidays were in the air. It’s still pretty dang hot here in the good ol’ AZ though. 😉 So, I’m still waiting for the weather to cool down and for it to feel a little more fall-ish. We’re getting there though, slowly but surely! Luckily, September has some fun stuff in store for us. It’s my husband’s 30th birthday, we’re going up north with family, and we have some events on the calendar with friends. As for my fitness goal list, my main goal and focus this month is VARIETY. I’m trying to take out some BodyPump and substitute it with some yoga and cardio workouts to break things up a bit. I think my body will appreciate it. 😉
I need to finally master a freestanding handstand this month…it will happen! Non-fitness goals are to work out some career/grad school things.
Favorite fall recipe (well, one of them) is “candy corn.”
Ingredients: candy corn.
Directions: Hand to bag, hand to mouth, repeat. 😉
September is always the BEST month. Football starts, the weather cools down, and it’s my birthday month! 🙂
I always look forward to this particular type of post on your blog at the beginning of every month! 🙂 I’m having a particularly difficult time embracing fall (even though it’s my second favorite season) because my summer didn’t quite turn out like I had hoped it would. However, it’s time to turn over a new leaf (no pun intended). I’m going to make September stellar by getting rid of old clothes and cultivating a great fall wardrobe, go back to yoga, be more focused and efficient with my studies, stay on top of my doctoral applications, and most importantly, make having fun as much of a priority as everything else!
I am loving everything about September so far! Fall is by far my favorite season, especially because it’s the best time of year to exercise outside! (biking, running, hiking, waking…) You’re right, definately the “sweet spot!”
This list is perfect!! I love how you note all the simple things you can do to make life a little better 🙂
I did a major closet purge, too!! I just ordered a bag to try to sell several items at Thredup.com. Have you ever tried to sell there? I’m excited to see how it goes!
Super excited to try a new yoga studio (beautiful!) that just opened near my house 🙂
For some reason I really get into lighting candles when it starts cooling down in the fall…. Maybe I think the fire heats us up?!? Ha
Oh and the squat challenge… I’m in!!
Wine and chocolate are great excuses for a run/race. I just ran the Oregon Wine Country half and I plan to sign up for the Hot Chocolate 15K in Nashville on Valentine’s Day. Have a great September!
This September I need to streamline my closet (and life)!
I love this list Gina! And oh yes, running for wine is definitely worth it, lol.
I am travelling to Berlin, one of my favorite cities and second home next week and I am so excited – especially cause I will visit the Crossfit box there and take a class (perfect excuse to buy a shirt too, lol).
Other than that I have tons of free weekends which I am looking forward to as I had so many busy weekends in July and August!
Run for wine! That was by far my most favorite half marathon. Actually, I’ve done three of them! There are some really great wine runs in the Healdsburg/Sonoma area during the fall that are definitely worth trying. No joke they pass out wine at mile 7 (which I’ve always passed up) but the wine at the end is a definite plus 🙂
i will go apple picking and maybe horse riding for the first time. I’m glad it’s a warm start to September in NY! (I found your blog through someone else’s blog and I love reading it!
Candles!
i needed that encourager quote 🙂
Love it! My goal for September is to really lock down on planning my 50 states charity tour and get a lot accomplished with that. I’m officially done at my other job and should be able to focus all of my attention and energy on growing, building and making that happen. …well, and then moving out of my apartment at the end of the month. 😉
OMG the streamlining thing….I have had “organize trunk” and “organize makeup” on my to-do list for a while and they just keep getting pushed back for more urgent day-to-day tasks…I definitely need to just bite the bullet and DO it – and add my closet purge to boot! 🙂
I’m definitely on the same page as you this September! I’m knocking things off this list left and right!
Love these types of posts. You inspired me to clean out some clothes and shoes to give away last night! I’m feeling like it’s time to get organized and that starts with my space. And I’m training for a half marathon, too! Hope your training is going well–it’s been lovely running weather in New England lately.