Back to school again?

What is it about this time of year that makes us take stock and start making plans for the future?

I don’t know about you, but I always have a certain sense of excitement at this time of year. Okay, I know, it’s still only August, but the schools in Scotland are already back (and no doubt schools elsewhere will be returning in a week’s time), and despite the fact it doesn’t feel like we’ve had much of a summer to speak of, I’ve noticed certain trees are starting to change colour already. I’m very much looking forward to September, which has always been one of my favourite months, the bridge between seasons and the ideal time to start and implement something new.

When is the best time to make plans?

Some would argue that January is a good time to sit down and think about where you’ve been, where you’re going and what you’re planning to do over the next few months. It seems like a natural time because of the turn of the year marking new beginnings and so on, but I don’t see this as the ideal turning point. Okay, so you might be in need of a bodily spring clean following the excesses of Christmas, but otherwise in my opinion it’s winter, it’s dark, it’s dreary and I don’t often feel that inspired!

This time of year, however, is completely different!

If you’ve got kids at school, or even if you haven’t, you might still feel a certain frisson of anticipation about the idea, at least, of going back to school, of starting a new class, having a new teacher and writing out new timetables. Just the idea of a new crisp uniform, a smart new schoolbag and a shiny new pencil case full of lovely new stationery is enough to conjure up memories that may well be a bit skewed by the passage of time!

The point is that the start of a new school year and the change in season always makes me think about starting something new, or in my case, finishing what I’ve started!

You might have read my post a while ago about getting out of my comfort zone and thinking about online courses.

Okay, I admit, this stalled a little bit at the start of the summer holidays.

I’m not going to beat myself up, though!

I’m starting again, and I’ve set myself a deadline of 16th September (my birthday!) to get my beta version up and running. I’m feeling a bit anxious about this again, but I’m going to attempt to push through the fear and Just Do It.

After all, what have I really got to lose?

I’d love to hear about what you’re planning to do now that the school year is beginning again and the seasons are changing. What exciting things have you got in the pipeline? Please do comment below, or pop over to my Facebook page to let me know.