Real with Rue

I truly believe that my new year begins in September. For me, summer is filled with events, lots of travel, and an inconsistent rhythm with the gym, my Bible reading, and even work. As someone who loves structure and discipline, there’s something about September that feels like pressing the reset button.

If you live in the UK like I do, you’ll know that winter can be dark and gloomy. With fewer events happening, it’s only natural to want to hibernate, and many people end up struggling with seasonal low moods.

Here are my top tips for staying on top of things this season.

Create a Structure for Your Quiet Time and Prayer Time

In summer, I’ll be honest—I often fall out of routine with my faith. With so much going on, staying up late, and then waking up late, my quiet time slips away. Before I know it, another busy week filled with plans makes it even harder to get back on track.

The truth is, these are just excuses, and I know I need to do better next summer. That’s why this winter, I’m choosing to put God first in my plans. Pray about your goals, fast about them, and be intentional.

A practical way to do this is by creating a focused list of 3–5 goals you want to achieve before the new year. Keep it realistic. Then break each goal down into monthly steps, and finally into weekly actions.

For example, one of my goals is to increase my site visits. To do that, I need to write more blogs. Each week, I plan, write, and prepare posts, making sure I always have some ready to go.

Just Do It — Get It Done

This becomes much easier when your daily list isn’t too long. To make sure you actually get things done, it’s best to tackle them in the morning.

If it’s the gym, go super early in the morning or at least three hours before bed. That way, you’ll feel accomplished for the day. In fact, I’m writing this blog at 7 a.m. because if I don’t, I know I’ll procrastinate.

Prioritise Rest

I’ve been learning what true rest is and allowing myself to be okay with it. Rest looks different for everyone, but I’ve realised it’s actually a positive thing to spend a day doing nothing—just watching movies on the sofa and spending time with family or friends.

Another key part of rest is connection. Invite people over, go visit others, and make the effort to see people. It’s so easy to stay at home, but especially in an era where many of us work from home and spend most of our time indoors, it’s important to get outside. Even something as simple as a walk with friends or sitting in the car can make a difference. People often don’t realise that you need to find and address the triggers of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) before they begin.

I truly don’t believe you can do anything alone. I don’t believe in being “self-made,” because everything requires a village—sometimes visible, sometimes not. Even for me, I have people I’m accountable to, who help keep me on the straight and narrow. With structure, discipline, rest, and accountability, it’s possible to enter the winter season feeling prepared, balanced, and ready to achieve your goals. September is the perfect time to hit the reset button and start fresh.