September has always carried a certain energy. Fresh notebooks. New routines. A clean slate. Even if you don’t have kids in school, this time of year feels like a natural reset.
But at work, we rarely give ourselves the same permission. Instead, we drag old habits, stale meetings, and unfinished projects into a new season—and wonder why we feel stuck.
In this episode of Unlearning Work, Erin shares how to harness the back-to-school momentum to reset your systems, rituals, and perspective at work. Drawing on personal stories—including her new season as an empty nester and the lessons learned from losing her husband—Erin explores how to use life transitions as an invitation to rethink how you spend your time.
You’ll leave this episode with a four-step framework, practical examples, and a challenge to create your own “season reset” so you stop spinning in circles and start moving forward with clarity and intention.
Why seasonal resets (like back-to-school) are powerful markers for change
Common workplace challenges that need fresh perspective—stale routines, overloaded to-do lists, and team disengagement
How personal transitions (like becoming an empty nester) mirror professional ones
The four-step reset framework: Identify, Reframe, Ritualize, Anchor
Practical ways to use accountability so your reset lasts
Temporal Landmarks — why our brains crave “fresh starts”
Novelty & Dopamine — how small rituals reignite motivation
Accountability Structures — why systems stick better with external support
A manufacturing team who rebranded their huddles as “Season 2” and boosted engagement
An executive who reframed weekly check-ins as “development dialogues”
Erin’s personal story of reclaiming space as an empty nester and redesigning her evenings with intention
Identify one heavy area — name what feels stale or draining
Reframe it — ask, “If this were a new school year, how would I design it?”
Create a ritual — mark the reset with a symbolic action
Anchor accountability — set up the support that helps it stick
What part of your work feels like “last year’s homework” you’re still carrying?
What ritual could signal a fresh start for you this season?
Who or what will help keep you accountable to your reset?
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