September Back-to-You 7-Day Challenge

The other day I was sharing with someone what a year actually looks like to me. 

Sure, January marks the new year on a regular calendar. But my brain and body run on a different schedule. September always feels like a new beginning. It marks the start of the school year and the end of summer. The kids are getting new school supplies, new clothes, new teammates, new uniforms, new teachers. Everything feels fresh and opportunities for change and growth seem abundant. It can be tough to transition out of summer mode. Especially if you are like me and you love the sun, flips-flops, beach, hot weather, and everything that comes along with the summer months. Getting back into the more predictable (but likely busier) routine of the school year can also be a welcome change. And… who doesn’t love starting a new academic planner?!

I think September is the perfect time to reset and focus inward. I am not talking about a list of never ending goals or “new year, new you” routines that are based on physical appearance or figuring out how to keep everyone else in your life organized. Women tend to put everyone else’s feelings and needs before their own. Then they struggle with self-esteem, self-worth, and self-care. 

So let’s spend some time focusing on you and understanding what you need, instead of what everyone else needs. This will set you up for feeling good and getting back to you this fall season. If you have a therapist you work with - talk to them about what you are working on during this challenge. Hopefully, you learn a lot about yourself. 

Things you will be reflecting on: relationships, energy, mood, stress. Which are in a good place? Which of these need more attention? Do you feel disconnected, down, depleted? In what areas? Feelings are hard. They are hard to identify and label, they are hard to sit with and accept, and they are especially difficult to share.  This challenge will help you focus on your feelings.

Here is what the topics of the September 7-day Back-to-you challenge will look like: 

Day 1: Check-in and reflect on how you are actually doing. Focus on how you are feeling in all areas of your life. Identify needs/gaps.

Day 2: Let go of things that are weighing you down. Getting rid of the “shoulds”.

Day 3: Figuring out how to make space for the things you reflected on Day 1. 

Day 4: Name your needs. You figured out what you need to make space for, now identify how you will communicate that need. 

Day 5: Set your boundaries to help you get what you need. Boundaries are so tough, especially for anxious, overworked women who want to do it all. 

Day 6: Set priorities that help you get your needs met; not the needs of everyone else. 

Day 7: Set your September Intention.  

You can download the printable workbook here. It has pages for the 7-days of prompts and some extra pages for following-up on your intention. 

Follow me on instagram @kellygentrycollective and respond to the daily post during the 7-day challenge for some extra community connection and support!

Tag #backtoyouchallenge