Earlier this week, my three little ones went back to school after an amazing (and very long) summer.  New shoes, fresh uniforms, slightly nervous smiles at the gate - and whilst we had a great time together, if I’m honest, I gave a quiet sigh of relief as I finally got a bit of headspace back.

 

I’ve always loved this fresh-start feeling. Whether you have school-aged children or not, summer really impacts business; clients on holiday, projects on pause, routines flying out of the window, out-of-offices everywhere. But the minute those school gates open, there’s a shift. A collective “back to it.”

 

And whilst the temptation is to jump straight back in, now is the perfect moment to use the little bit of headspace and distance to take a brief step back and make sure you’re set up for success. 

 

For me, that’s exactly what this time of year is about in business too: a reset.

 

 

The real reset

 

September always feels like a fresh start. But a “reset” isn’t about pretty planners or new highlighters (although they definitely help - I do love new stationery). It’s about making decisions, cutting the noise, and getting it done.

 

So here are my quick wins that I think are perfect for this time of year. 

 

 

Audit your operations

 

Now is the perfect moment to sharpen up the backbone of your business and step out of the weeds yourself. Take a step back and see things with a different perspective for a moment - outdated tools, clunky processes, and tasks that still depend solely on you - these are what hold businesses, and their busy owners, back. But if you can’t measure it, you can’t manage it, so;

• Document anything you do more than twice, and make sure there’s a proper plan for it.

• Streamline systems and ditch what isn’t working for you.

• Delegate, automate, or eliminate everything else.

 

 

Clear the clutter

 

Over the summer, my desk (both physical and digital) gathered more clutter than I’d like to admit. Just like sharpening pencils for a new school term, the first thing I do in this back-to-school season is a clean sweep. Desk clear, inbox down to zero and a good old tidy up of those files. 

 

 

Routines that actually work

 

For me, back-to-school also means back to the school run, after-school clubs, and play dates. I can’t pretend those things don’t shape my day. So instead of fighting it, I plan around it.

 

I block the non-negotiables first so I know what remaining time I’m working with. I know what suits me best, so I save my own admin and lighter tasks for the post-lunch energy dip and use my mornings for deep client work, strategy and big-picture stuff. 

 

When I stick to this rhythm, everything flows better - at home and in business. What's your preferred rhythm? Getting clear on what you’re aiming for is the first step towards achieving it. 

 

 

Focus on the sprint

 

With four months left in the year, I treat it like a sprint. It’s about deciding on three priorities that will actually move the needle and building everything else around them. They’re written on my wall, they're in my Asana, and scheduled into my diary - so I can hold myself accountable and on track. 

 

So yes, the kids are back at school. But this reset isn’t just for them. It’s for us too.

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But I also know how tricky it can be to know where to start, so let me help.

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If you’re ready to reset your operations and finish the year with focus, clarity, and momentum - get in touch to book a Back-to-Business Reset call. Together we’ll pinpoint your top priorities, streamline your systems, and write you a strong action plan to get where you want to be.  

 

PS. You definitely deserve a new pencil case too.