4 Reasons to Start Setting Your New Year's Goals in October

I'm one of those people who epically fail at New Year's resolutions. I have the best intentions on January 1st, but by mid-February, it's back to business as usual. I don't know if it's good or bad news that I'm not alone in this. Only 8% of people keep their New Year's Resolutions, with most people falling off in February.

As the year closes, it feels natural to put the year behind you and start over and make the "new" year a better year than before. But for me, I find the fall season to be my preferred time for planning and goal setting. September marks "back to school" time, summer fun and vacations come to an end, the season shifts, the leaves change, the sun sets earlier, and the weather keeps you indoors. There's a tremendous amount of transition already happening around you.

Why October

I realized that I need prep time to make significant changes in my life! Enter October. While September used to be my new year when I was a student, as I became a parent September became the time that I prepped my children for their new year. As they started college, their start dates came later and later in the month. So it wasn't until October, the beginning of quarter four, that I could turn my full attention back to me and my business.

4 Reasons to Start Your October New Year Goals

1. It's a natural transition point in the year. As the season changes, you too can look at it as your "season" of evolution. In addition, the energy of the fourth quarter is all about closing out the past and starting anew.
2. Halloween symbolically represents both honoring and letting go of the past. While many take time to honor those who have passed, it's also a celebration of moving forward with renewed hope. As you start to let go of the things that have not served you in the past, you can celebrate the beginning of new skills, habits, and mindsets.
3. There's no social pressure. You won't have the social pressure of sharing your goals and resolutions for the new year with others. You can make thoughtful and mindful decisions about how you want to proceed. You'll also have time to course-correct or adjust your resolutions as you start to work through them.
4. You'll have momentum. While others are just starting their resolutions, you'll be basking in results. This will allow you to start the new year stress-free with a tremendous amount of positive momentum.

Happy planning!