With back to school or work, the end of summer vacations and the cool crisp weather creeping in, September often comes with feelings of stress, overwhelm, anxiety or even sadness. These feelings have a tendency to wreak havoc on our mood and sometimes even our health by causing things like brain fog, fatigue, sleep issues, memory lapses, weight gain or an inability to lose weight and/or hormonal imbalances.  Luckily, September is also an opportunity to get on track, set new goals, check in with old goals and get back into a routine - all which help combat feelings of stress and overwhelm. 

Here are our tips to resetting in September: 

1. Decide on a goal - Decide what you would like to change, achieve, or do differently to help you to grow, improve and develop personally, professionally or both. Try not to link your goal to an event. When goals are linked to specific events they are less likely to form lasting habits. 
2. Be specific - Put detail around the change you want to bring in your life. Be very, very specific. If you want to get more fit, define exactly what that means to you. If you want to learn a new skill, be clear what that skill is. Now decide your why? Why is this specific goal important to you. The more specific you are, the more likely you are to achieve change.
3. Make small changes daily - Small daily changes lead to big changes over time! Commit 60 seconds every single day to thinking about how you want to integrate the new habit into your life. Make it really simple so it's easier to integrate into your existing routine.
4. Accountability - Find a friend, family member or colleague to make yourself accountable to. Ask them to help or support by reminding you on a weekly basis of your goal. 
5. Expect to have dips or fall off the wagon - Anticipate days when things don't go your way or when you lapse. Accept it as a moment in time, a day or a few days that you didn't meet your goal. Check in with what you could have done differently to improve and move on. Don't give up but use it as an opportunity to learn, move on and do better next time.
6. Start NOW! - There is no better time than the present. Make a decision. Choose that one goal that is nagging at the back of your mind and go for it. Whatever your goal, there must be no more procrastination.

In addition to the above tips, the Naturopathic Doctors at the Village Health Clinic can help combat the feelings of stress and overwhelm, prepare your body to better handle stressors and prevent/stop it from causing other health issues - to find out how we can help you book your appointment today.