September Reset: Building Habits That Stick

As the long evenings of summer start to fade and the first crisp mornings roll in, September in Ireland always feels like a reset button. The kids are back to school, routines reappear, and life finds a steadier rhythm after the free flow of July and August. The classes in RÓNIN start to get booked up fast. It’s the perfect time to take stock and start building new habits that will carry you through the rest of the year.

James Clear, in his bestselling book Atomic Habits, reminds us that “you do not rise to the level of your goals, you fall to the level of your systems.” That’s especially relevant now. September offers structure. School runs, regular working hours, earlier nights making it easier to plug in the systems that will support your health, fitness, and wellbeing goals.

Why September Works So Well for Habits

• Natural transition: Just like January, September marks a shift. Instead of resolutions driven by holiday guilt, September habits tend to be grounded in real life rhythms.
• Routine returns: With summer’s spontaneity behind us, structure makes it easier to anchor new habits into daily life.
• Momentum builder: By starting now, you’ll carry progress into the darker winter months.

Applying Atomic Habits to Your September Reset

James Clear breaks habits down into four simple laws: make it obvious, make it attractive, make it easy, and make it satisfying. Here’s how you can apply them this month:

1. Make it Obvious
   • Lay your gym gear out the night before.
   • Write down the exact time and place you’ll do your workout. (Hint - RÓNIN D8, 0630am class booked!).
2. Make it Attractive
   • Pair your habit with something you enjoy. Listen to your favourite podcast only while walking.
   • Join one of our small group classes, hopefully with a new RÓNIN #superfriend so the habit feels social and energising.
3. Make it Easy
   • Don’t aim for perfection. Aim for consistency. Start with two workouts a week instead of five if that’s what fits.
   • Shrink the habit down so it feels doable, 2x per week - reduce sugar by X amount (we'll help here)
4. Make it Satisfying
   • Track your progress on our visual RÓNIN branded habits tracker, ticking off a workout gives an instant sense of achievement.
   • Reward yourself with something small but meaningful, like a coffee after training.

A Simple Framework for September

Pick just one keystone habit to start this month. Maybe it’s:

• Two gym sessions per week.
• A daily 20-minute walk.
• Preparing healthy lunches in advance.

“Habits are the compound interest of self-improvement.” Small, consistent steps in September can transform how you feel by Christmas.

September is often overlooked as a time for change, but in many ways it’s more powerful than January. The season is shifting, life is resetting, and you have the opportunity to design the systems that will shape the rest of your year.

So ask yourself, what’s the one small habit you’ll begin this September?

Book your free consultation now to discuss a plan of action

Thanks,

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