Back to School, Back to Work: Resetting for Success After Summer
By Dr. Mary Kelly, PhD Economist, Leadership Strategist, and Author of Stop Procrastinating Tomorrow
I hope you did something fun this summer! Did you go on a vacation? See family and friends? Enjoy being outside? Read some books? Enjoy a BBQ? Listen to a concert? Thrill at theme parks?
As the smell of freshly sharpened pencils (I love pencils) fills the air and kids head back to school, many of us feel that seasonal shift too: the return to routines, structure, and (hopefully) focus.
Summer is wonderful. Sunshine, spontaneity, and slower schedules, but it can leave both families and professionals a little fuzzy around the edges.
Back-to-school season is not just for students. It is the perfect time for professionals and teams to reset, refocus, and reengage after a season of vacation brain.
Whether you run a business, lead a team, or just want to finish the year strong, here is how to leverage the back-to-school mindset to boost performance and productivity.
1. Get Clear on What You Are Actually Trying to Accomplish
Summer has a way of scattering our attention. Fall is the time to re-prioritize.
Ask:
- What are the 3–5 most important things I need to accomplish before December 31?
- What do I need to stop doing to focus better?
- What are my top priorities professionally, personally, and financially?
Tip: Use my free Focus Plan to quickly align your daily work with long-term goals.
2. Rebuild Routines That Work for You—Not Against You
Just like kids need sleep schedules, snack times, and designated study blocks, we thrive on structure too.
- Block “Focus Hours” with no meetings or interruptions.
- Protect your mornings for strategy, not email.
- Build in rest and reset time—because burnout does not care how motivated you are.
Tool: Try the 5-Minute Mindset Plan to anchor your day with intention and clarity.
3. Treat September Like a New January
The back-to-school season is an ideal time for a mid-year reboot. There is enough time to recover, recalibrate, and still crush your goals.
Ask your team:
- What is working well right now?
- What is dragging us down?
- What can we celebrate—and what needs to change?
Action: Have a short “Back-to-Business” team huddle. Keep it fun, focused, and forward-looking.
4. Invest in Learning—Just Like the Kids
If we expect students to hit the books every fall, why do so many professionals stop learning after onboarding?
Fall is a wonderful time too:
- Revisit your goals for professional development.
- Take a course, attend a conference, or read that business book collecting dust.
- Invite a speaker (I know a good one!) to jumpstart momentum.
Idea: Make it a “learning sprint”—one new skill or idea per team per week.
5. Lead with Purpose, Not Pressure
This season is stressful for many people—new school routines, financial planning, end-of-year crunch. Instead of pushing harder, lead with empathy.
- Ask your team how they are doing—and listen.
- Offer support where you can: flexible hours, check-ins, appreciation.
- Remember: great leaders do not just drive results—they create the conditions where results can thrive.
Phrase to use: “What do you need right now to do your best work?”
Final Thought: The Fall Reset Is Not Just a Season—It is a Strategy
September offers us a chance to refocus—not just on our to-do lists, but on who we want to be as we close out the year.
So, grab your metaphorical lunchbox, sharpen your priorities like they are No. 2 pencils, and head into fall with purpose, clarity, and just a little bit of first-day energy.
Because back to school is not just for kids. It is for leaders who are still learning, still growing, and still making things happen.
Please download your FREE GIFT here to help you get back on track to continued success.
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