The Strange Second New Year Hidden in September

Good Morning.

January gets most of the credit for fresh starts.

But September has a curious claim on them too.

Even years after we've finished school, the beginning of fall can bring a familiar feeling that it's time to get back to something. Summer is winding down, routines are returning, and the remaining months of the year suddenly seem to have a different shape.

Some of that feeling may have been learned remarkably early.

For many of us, September meant starting over throughout childhood. One year ended and another began. We moved ahead a grade, encountered different expectations, and entered a new chapter of our lives.

Repeat that experience enough times and September becomes associated with beginnings.

Psychologists have found that certain moments on the calendar can influence how we think about time. Known as the fresh start effect, the phenomenon occurs when a date creates a psychological boundary between what came before and what comes next.

These boundaries can make the future feel newly available.

September has an unusual advantage. Many of us practiced beginning again at roughly the same time every year throughout childhood and adolescence. Long after the school calendar stops organizing our lives, its imprint can remain.

Perhaps that's why September sometimes creates an urge to reorganize, recommit, or finally begin something we've been postponing.

There are still four months left in the year.

And somehow, in September, they can feel like a new beginning.

If September is a second New Year, what's your resolution? Let us know at [email protected]. We’d love to hear it.

Longevity

Every day in The Long Game (below), we look at one small piece of how we age: a question, a habit, a finding from the research. The Longevity Index is the bigger picture: a 4-minute personalized assessment across six science-backed pillars including nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, social connection, and purpose. You'll get a score, see where you're strong, and see where there's room. It's free, private, and built on peer-reviewed research.
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The Long Game
One small thing for a longer life

Try This

Add a serving of beans or lentils to one meal today.

A scoop of chickpeas in a salad, lentils in a soup, black beans in a taco. In a large analysis combining studies of more than a million people, higher legume intake was associated with a lower risk of dying during the studies. Every additional 50 grams eaten daily was associated with about a 6% lower risk.

Nutrition is one of the six factors that shape how well we age. The Worthyest Longevity Index measures all six in 4 minutes. Yours, personalized. Get my score →

Source: Advances in Nutrition, 2023. Meta-analysis of 32 prospective cohorts and 1.1 million+ adults.

The Curiosity Edit

Today’s Insight: Heart Health

Mindfulness May Lower Blood Pressure in Just 8 Weeks

Practices designed to improve psychological well-being may have measurable effects on the heart. A review of clinical trials found that some benefits appeared within just a few weeks. Read the full story here.

Modern Living:

Human Behavior

The More You Notice, the More Choices You Have

We tend to think good decisions begin with weighing the options. But what we notice before we make a choice may determine which options we see in the first place. Read the full story here.

Health & Wellness

How the Body Actually Works

Some parts of the body do their jobs so routinely that we rarely think about what's happening behind the scenes. This collection looks at what actually happens when we lose weight, why our eyes stop producing the moisture they need, and the small organ that plays an important role every time we digest a meal.

Where Does Weight Go When You Lose It? The Answer May Surprise You.
We talk about burning fat and losing weight, but those phrases don't explain what physically happens to the mass that disappears. The answer involves a basic biological process most of us rarely associate with weight loss.

What Causes Dry Eye?
Dry, irritated eyes can have many possible causes, from everyday habits and environmental conditions to medications and underlying health issues. Understanding what's behind the discomfort can help determine what might actually provide relief.

Everything You Should Know About Your Gallbladder
The gallbladder doesn't get much attention until something goes wrong. Here's what this small organ actually does, why problems develop, and what happens when you have to live without it.

The Conscious Plate:

Food, Nutrition & Elevated Living

What Your Food May Be Telling You

Sometimes eating well comes down to knowing what to look for. This collection covers how to judge whether leftovers are still safe, what a cardiologist reaches for between meals, and why the same diet can affect two people's cholesterol very differently.

How to Tell If Leftovers Have Gone Bad in the Fridge, According to Food Safety Experts
That container in the back of the refrigerator can quickly turn into a guessing game. Food safety experts explain which signs can help, which ones can't, and when leftovers are better off in the trash.

This Is What a Cardiologist Has for a Snack Every Single Day
A good snack can satisfy hunger while adding something worthwhile to your day. One cardiologist shares the simple combination he eats regularly and why it earns a place in his routine.

Your Genes May Decide Whether a Low-Carb Diet Sends Cholesterol Soaring
Two people can follow similar low-carb diets and see very different changes in their cholesterol. New research suggests genetics may help explain why, particularly when the diet is also high in saturated fat.

Final Note

This is what we leave you with. A thought to end the day, carry in your pocket, or come back to later. Nothing big. Just something to reflect on.

The Safest Place in the House

I’ll put this somewhere I’ll remember” is one of the most dangerous sentences spoken inside a home.

There’s a special kind of confidence that comes with choosing the perfect place for something important. It makes so much sense in the moment that writing it down would seem ridiculous.

Three weeks later, you’re checking drawers you haven’t opened since 2019.

Somewhere in every home is an extremely safe place containing something its owner would very much like back.

Pass It On

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