As entrepreneurs, we’re already being reminded of the “4th quarter hustle” and told to start planning for the new year. And while that’s important, it can also feel exhausting. Last week, instead of stressing, I treated myself to a little retail therapy—a new Halloween decoration at Walgreens. 🎃 It reminded me: this isn’t just a time to push harder. It’s also a time to pause, reflect, and enjoy the transition into a new season.
The cooler weather signals change, but instead of fretting that the year is nearly over, I’m choosing to use this moment as an opportunity. Fall is a natural season of harvest, of gathering what’s grown, noting the lessons of the past eight months, and carrying that wisdom into the final stretch of the year.
This is the perfect time to pull out your journal and reflect on your progress. Harvest that creative energy and let it prepare you for what’s to come. Here are some ways to do that:
- ✍️ Free write in a new Halloween or autumn-themed notebook.
- 🍂 Schedule “creative reserves” for yourself as the holiday season ramps up.
- 🌟 Note the small wins and what lights you up.
- 📖 Reflect on how far you’ve come and how you’ve grown.
Do you need a little more guidance? Try this 15-minute challenge:
- 5 minutes to rest or meditate
- 5 minutes to reflect on your year so far
- 5 minutes to create—sketch an image, doodle, or journal about how you want to grow this season
This practice doesn’t have to be perfect. It’s about intention and presence.
For me, this season is about taking some of the ideas I’ve been nurturing and turning them into new journals and notebooks for my store. Creativity, like a garden, thrives when we make time to tend it.
As the year winds down, resist the pressure to only hustle. Instead, take stock of what you’ve planted, celebrate what’s bloomed, and prepare the soil for what’s next. I can’t wait to see what you harvest this fall. 🍁