Finding the Motivation to Start Fresh: Embracing "Back to School" Energy Year-Round
If you’re asking yourself:
What do I need to do to change careers? Or
What should I do to change careers? Or
In an ideal world, what would I love for my career to be?
Buuuuut, you feel so overwhelmed that you do…. nothing? Then, I’ve got good news for you! Now is motivation time!
Ahhhhhh good 'ol "Back to School" time. Unlike Trix, it's not just for kids!
Remember your old school ‘Back to School’ days with its reams of colorful pens, clean notebooks, new books (with that particular smell)? New locker combo, new book bag, new desk, then soon enough new dorm mate, new professors, new… everything.
Remember thinking “THIS semester I’m going to buckle down and DO it!”? Everything gets put ever-so-neatly into the planner, colorful tabs, and all. The calendar is meticulously populated. The new books are covered… with book covers, the clean notebooks soon…. aren’t. The homework has lagged, the new books are still mostly un-cracked because “life” got it the way.
Remember how it was? Except for that one class. The one you really liked but had “nothing” to do with your major. It was fun, but really…. It didn’t “count.” Even though it was the only class you got perfect attendance in - and did ALL the extra credit - and you thought the final was super easy (even though it looks like a bunch of people struggled with it - what was with that?) I mean, it WAS the best class ever but SO not on your career ‘track.’
Somehow this pattern follows us into our professional lives. We get all excited about a new job, a new role, a new company and we swear it will be different… until it isn’t.
That job over there, the one that looks fun and interesting and easy and challenging but in the best way…. but it’s not just on your career ‘track’ - it’s not what you were trained to do, or got your degree in, or people think is worthwhile… so you don’t give it more brain space. Until this time of year.
If you were raised in the American public school system…. (whether you’ve got kids or not), September is “Back to School” season. The time of year when new beginnings feel possible.
Don’t misunderstand me - I believe it’s ALWAYS a good time to hit restart, to make the changes you want - but I know that there’s just something about these weeks in fall that just FEEL new-starty. For many people, it feels even more so than New Years’.
If it takes it Back to School “season” to make you feel motivated to make a change - do it:
Learn the new thing! Take the new job! Figure out what you REALLY want and go for it!
Lucky for you this doesn't have to take place in a classroom (although it absolutely can if that’s your jam). The wonders of technology will never cease to amaze and have made it possible for you to do a little learning of your own - all while sportin’ your rattiest jammies.
Breaking Free from the Cycle of Excitement and Stagnation
We've all experienced it - that initial burst of enthusiasm followed by the slow decline into routine and complacency. The pattern is almost predictable: fresh start, big plans, gradual disengagement, and finally, resignation to the status quo. But what if we could harness that "back to school" energy and make it last?
Research shows that adults experience the same psychological boost from new beginnings as children do. According to productivity experts, this "fresh start effect" can be a powerful motivational tool when properly channeled. The key is recognizing these natural cycles of motivation and creating systems that work with them rather than against them.
The Science Behind Your Motivation Cycles
Our brains are wired to respond positively to fresh starts. Studies in behavioral psychology have demonstrated that temporal landmarks like the beginning of a school year or a new season create mental "clean slates" that help us disconnect from past failures and focus on future possibilities. This explains why September often feels like a more natural time for goal-setting than January 1st for many people - it's deeply ingrained in our developmental experience.
Practical Steps to Maintain Your Motivation
Instead of letting your enthusiasm fizzle out like those pristine notebooks that quickly become messy, try implementing these proven strategies:
Break large goals into micro-commitments that take less than 15 minutes to complete
Create visual progress markers to celebrate small wins
Find an accountability partner who shares similar aspirations
Schedule regular "reset days" throughout the year to recapture that fresh-start feeling
Embracing Continuous Learning as a Lifestyle
You can take classes to beef up your skills. You can join a writing program and finally learn how to write that book. You can learn from the ultimate pros and learn something that may spark a career change! There's a whole wide world of learning and growing to take advantage of this back to school season. Just don't forget an apple for the teacher!!
The most successful professionals don't limit their learning to formal education - they adopt a growth mindset that embraces continuous development. Today's digital landscape offers unprecedented access to knowledge through online courses, podcasts, webinars, and virtual mentorship opportunities.
Whether you're looking to pivot careers entirely or simply enrich your current path, the resources are readily available.
Remember that your most fulfilling career path might look nothing like what you initially imagined. Those "side interests" that brought you joy in school could be pointing toward your true calling. By reconnecting with that authentic enthusiasm and combining it with intentional action steps, you can transform seasonal motivation into lasting fulfillment and success.
There’s a whole wide world of learning and growing to take advantage of this back to school season. Just don’t forget an apple for the teacher!!
If you’re ready to head back to class yourself, check out HOW TO FIND A JOB YOU LOVE AND PAYS WELL: STEP BY STEP to learn how to ditch the fear and design a career, you friggin' love!
Yours in brand new markers goodness,
EBS
YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: SKILL DEVELOPMENT: BUILDING YOUR TOOLKIT FOR A REWARDING CAREER
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EB Sanders
Career Coach for Creative Types
My Website | Free Stuff | Pinterest
Helping you figure out what you want to do and how to do it your way!
