#18: Set the Table Now: How to Enter 2026 with Momentum

**Betsy Block** (0:00)
Hey there, and welcome back to The Blooming Solopreneur. This is the podcast for midlife women who are ready to reconnect with their purpose and build something that's just for them. I am your host, Betsy Block, and I'm thrilled you're here. So today's topic, we are gonna talk about how to leverage the energy of fall. Yep, that back to school feeling, to set yourself up for a powerful and purposeful 2026 Now, I know January gets all the attention, especially the first of the year when it comes to new beginnings. But I'm here to challenge that idea because honestly, fall is the real fresh start. Let's go back for a second and think about why fall is in our DNA. Remember when you were, I don't know, six years old and September meant new notebooks?
Sharpened pencils and clean sneakers and that brand new chance to start fresh. Well, that rhythm got wired into us early. And even now, decades later, there's something about fall that whispers, it's time to get back to it. Even if you're not sending kids off to school or following any academic calendar, you probably still feel it. It's that subtle shift in energy. The cooler mornings, the earlier sunsets, that sense that something is resetting. So instead of brushing it off or waiting for January 1st to roll around, I really want to invite you to lean into it, because fall is actually the perfect time to lay the groundwork for whatever you want next. Let's be honest, a January restart sounds good in theory, but in reality, you're starting the new year tired from the holidays, maybe a little overindulged or overspent. It's cold, it's dark, and at least for me, my motivation is low. And worst of all, you might be starting from zero. So here's the shift I want to offer. Don't start from zero in January. Start now and walk into 2026 with momentum. Whatever it is you're dreaming about, whether it's changing careers, getting back into some creative routine, starting a business, prioritizing your health. Fall is the launch pad, and this is your window, your setup season. And what you start now will begin bearing fruit long before the ball drops on New Year's Eve. Here are three simple ways you can tap into this seasonal reset.
Whether or not you have kids or a school schedule of your own. One, return to structure. Fall invites it in. It invites routine, so use it. Take a look at your schedule. Where can you block time to work on something that matters to you? Maybe it's a weekly CEO hour for your side hustle ideas. Maybe it's Sunday afternoons to plan meals and just unplug. Maybe it's 20 minutes a day to do something creative. Here are two things I plugged into my week. A 90-minute session each week to brainstorm and record podcasts, because I am going to make this my weekly routine. And secondly, a commitment to at least one outdoor walk every day, whether that's 10 minutes or over an hour. Every day, I'm outdoors. Whatever that is, start small, but be consistent. Let fall be the season. You return to yourself. Number two, get those tools. Kids get new backpacks and lunchboxes. What do you need? Is it a fresh planner? New sneakers? A journaling app? A whiteboard to brainstorm some ideas for your new business? Invest in whatever helps you get excited and organized. It does not need to be expensive. It just needs to feel intentional. And three, start planting, not harvesting. We often think of fall as a winding down, but it's really about planting seeds for what's to come. Start that course. Take the first walk. Open the notebook. Email a mentor. Buy the domain. You don't need a 90-day plan. You just need a starting point, because this season isn't about achieving everything. It's about initiating what your future self will be so grateful for. One warning to share is beware the holiday drift. Once Halloween hits, that holiday mindset can kick in. And by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, many of us have mentally clocked out until January 2nd. So if you want to enter 2026 with intention, this is the moment. These next six to eight weeks are golden. Ask yourself, where do I want to be on January 1st? What do I want to be in motion by then? And then reverse engineer from that place. Here is your invitation. Use this season, this gorgeous golden season of transition, to begin. Start where you are. Use the energy of fall. Don't overthink it. Just set the table. Because the new year doesn't start in January, it starts right now. And if you want a little help mapping it all out, I put together a very simple printable tool. I'm calling it the Fall Momentum Planner. It's free. It's short. It will help you get focused on the one or two moves that matter most. You can grab it in the link in the show notes of this episode. If this has lit a fire under you, I'd love to hear what you're working on. DM me, email me, tell me what you're starting now that your January Soft will thank you for. Until next time, friend, keep on blooming.