Why October Is Better Than New Year's Resolutions

Every year, somewhere around the middle of December, I start making promises to myself. I’ll get serious after the holidays. I’ll get organized in January. I’ll finally start working on the things I’ve been putting off.

Then January 1st arrives, and somehow I’m already tired, behind on everything, and not feeling particularly motivated to reinvent my life.

But this year, I’ve been thinking about something different. What if January isn’t when we should be starting over? What if October is actually the better time to begin?

The Problem With Waiting Until January

We put so much pressure on January 1st. It’s supposed to be the day we suddenly become healthier, more organized, more disciplined, and ready to change everything we’ve been unhappy with.

But turning the calendar doesn’t automatically give us more energy, motivation, or time.

When I started this blog in May, it was because I was tired of waiting for the right circumstances. I had spent years telling myself I’d focus on my own goals once the kids were older, life slowed down, or I had more time.

Eventually, I realized something. Life wasn’t going to magically clear a space for me. If I wanted things to change, I had to start right where I was.

And that’s exactly why I think October deserves a little more attention.

Imagine Where You Could Be by January 1st

Think about this. If you start working on yourself in October, you could walk into January with nearly three months of progress already behind you.

While everyone else is making resolutions and trying to figure out where to begin, you’ll already have a routine. You’ll know what works for you, what doesn’t, and which habits are actually worth keeping.

And you don’t have to put your life on hold to do it.

Yes, Thanksgiving and Christmas are coming. There will be busy schedules, family gatherings, holiday meals, and plenty of distractions. But wouldn’t it feel better to go through the holidays already taking care of yourself instead of treating November and December like two months that don’t count?

You can enjoy the holidays and still make progress. Those two things don’t have to compete.

Give Yourself 90 Days to Make a Change

One of the reasons I love working in 90-day stretches is that three months feels manageable. It’s enough time to make meaningful progress without feeling like you’re committing to some enormous, never-ending life overhaul.

You can focus on eating better, getting stronger, organizing your home, following through on goals, or simply becoming more intentional with your days.

And you don’t have to change everything at once.

That’s the idea behind my 90-Day Midlife Renewal Journal. I created it for women who are tired of constantly starting over and want a simple way to stay connected to their goals. With morning prompts, evening reflections, and daily habit tracking, it gives you a place to focus on what matters and see how far you’ve come.

If you start now, you can be finishing your first 90 days in early January instead of just beginning.

👉 Start your 90-Day Midlife Renewal Journal here

You Don’t Have to Know Exactly Where You’re Going

I think one of the biggest reasons we keep putting things off is that we want to have everything figured out before we begin.

We want the perfect plan, the right routine, and enough confidence to know we’re going to stick with it.

But most of the time, clarity comes from actually doing something.

Maybe your first step is getting up a little earlier so you have time for yourself. Maybe it’s taking a walk every afternoon, planning your meals, or finally tackling the clutter that’s been bothering you for months.

Whatever it is, you can start small and build from there. You don’t need January 1st to give you permission.

Want to Focus on Just One Area?

If there’s one specific part of your life you’d like to work on before the new year, my Project Me Blueprint Series offers three 12-week plans:

Health & Fitness: Build better eating, movement, and strength habits.
Mindset & Discipline: Create routines, strengthen your habits, and follow through on your goals.
Home & Organization: Tackle clutter and create a home that’s easier to manage.

Each blueprint focuses on practical steps you can take over the next 12 weeks without trying to overhaul your entire life at once.

👉 Explore the Project Me Blueprint Series ($12 each or all three for $27)

Make October Your Starting Point

Imagine waking up on January 1st and realizing you don’t need another fresh start. You’ve already spent the last few months making changes, learning what works, and showing up for yourself.

You might not have accomplished everything you wanted, but you’ll be further along than you would have been if you’d waited.

And I think that’s a pretty wonderful way to begin a new year.

So don’t write off the rest of this year. There’s still time to make it count.

October can be your new beginning.

And I’ll be right here doing it with you.