Today is Saturday, September 5th. I’m at the pub, writing in my notebook. I just refilled my fountain pen, from a brand new bottle of Sailor Studio 640 ink, and the blue-black colour looks great.

I am just back from a quiet and fantastic week in Le Croisic, on the French Atlantic Coast. I spent my time writing, painting, drawing, walking along the coast, watching the waves crash into the rocks in the ocean, and eating crepes in the village.

I spent most of the rest of my summer in London, enjoying my city while most people went on holiday somewhere with more water, more trees, more mountains, more sun.

The whole time it was very hot, one of the worst heatwaves ever.

I found a nice routine, based on drinking coffee, writing, visiting stationery shops and pubs, and wandering around London. I wrote seven drafts in August. It felt good.

Now, it’s September.

Everyone is in back to school mode. September outfits, September mindset and attitude at work, almost like they have to be more serious now, and somehow more productive than they were before. It’s like a second 1st of January, where people have to reinvent themselves, implement new routines, new systems, try new hobbies. And smile a little bit less.

Summer is over. Time to get serious now. No more shorts. No more smiling. No more drinks or walks after work. The weather is less warm or sunny. The days are shorter. All the more reason to be more stern, less happy, less cheerful.

People are already worrying how close November and Christmas are! Parents complain about how difficult the start of the new school year is. But they also let out a sigh of relief: they no longer have to entertain their children all day now. Only mornings, evenings and weekends.

It’s like this big countdown has started. The countdown to Christmas and New Year. The countdown to salary reviews. The countdown to the big evaluation that is the 31st of December.

What will you have to show for yourself for 2026? Did you accomplish your goals? Did you meet the girl, buy the house, get the promotion, write the book, go viral on social media, increase your tennis ranking, propagate more plants?

Shit is getting real. No time to waste. It’s go time.

It’s almost like everyone is waking from an 8-month slumber. Like you were asleep the rest of the year, doing nothing. Nothing important anyway. Like you were just chilling, wasting your time, taking it easy.

Is that true? Should I feel ashamed? Should I hurry? Towards what?

It’s so overwhelming, so stressful to see everyone around me beat the same drum. In September, I feel like I have to change. I feel like I have to have all those impressive goals. Gym routines. Reformer classes. I feel I have to renew my wardrobe, and wear new stuff.

Should I change anything? Should I stop what I am doing? What about those seven drafts I wrote over the summer, do I chuck them away and write some new autumn ones?

The sun is still out. The trees are slowly shedding, but autumn leaves decomposing on the park soil smell delightful. So, what now?

I don’t want things to change. I don’t want to do a u-turn out of fear. I don’t want to feel like I have to compete with other people.

Nothing has to change. Nothing has to stop. Life doesn’t have this counter that resets in September. Life can have longer cycles.

If it helps you to plan things in September, if it motivates you to kick things off in September, great. But just so you know, this rhythm is totally made up and human-made.

We do whatever we want.