As the calendar turns to August, there’s a noticeable shift in the air. Summer vacations wind down, school supply aisles fill up, and calendars begin to fill with back-to-school nights, sports practices, work deadlines, and family commitments. Even if you don’t have school-aged children, August often feels like the unofficial beginning of a new season.
Fresh Start
Many people think of January as the time for fresh starts, but I believe you can start anew anytime during the year. After all, our lives don’t follow a static linear progression; they ebb and flow and we enter new “seasons” at various points throughout the year.
The final quarter of the year has a way of sneaking up on us. Before long, Thanksgiving, holiday gatherings, end-of-year deadlines, travel, and celebrations compete for every available hour. When life becomes hectic, we don’t suddenly create healthy routines—we fall back on the ones we’ve already built.
That’s why August matters.
Rather than overhauling your entire life, what if you chose just one habit to strengthen your mind, one to care for your body, and one to nurture your spirit?
Small Habits
Small habits have a remarkable way of shaping who we become. Psychologist Albert Bandura described self-efficacy as our belief in our ability to succeed. One of the strongest ways we build that confidence is through mastery experiences—small, repeated successes that prove to ourselves, “I can do this.” Every time we keep a promise to ourselves, we reinforce that belief.
For me, the reminder came not through a major life change, but through a small daily practice.
My performance coach recently added a daily mobility routine to my training. I’ll admit, I dreaded it at first. Fifteen minutes of stretching and mobility work didn’t feel nearly as rewarding as lifting weights or finishing a challenging workout. And let me tell you, struggling with Toe Yoga is certainly humbling.
But I committed to doing it anyway. Mostly because I put a daily reminder on my phone telling me how much I spent on this coaching. (But hey, whatever gets you to commit, right?)
Now, it’s simply part of my day. I have my routines down from 15 minutes to 10 minutes, and the daily mobility has improved how I move, recover, and perform. More importantly, they’ve reminded me that consistency often matters far more than intensity.
Lifestyle Habits
I’ve also been inspired by a friend in Washington, D.C., whose approach to wellness looks completely different from mine. She isn’t chasing high-intensity workouts or spending hours in the gym. Instead, she and her family ride together on a bunch bike (she has five little ones!), turning transportation and family time into movement. Exercise isn’t another obligation on her to-do list—it’s woven into the life she already wants to live.
Her example reminds me that wellness isn’t about doing what everyone else is doing. It’s about finding habits that fit your season of life and that you can sustain.
As you think about the months ahead, consider choosing one simple habit in each of these areas:
Mind:
Maybe it’s reading ten pages before bed, acknowledging one win or good thing each day, finding three things you’re grateful for, or spending five quiet minutes planning your day before the emails begin.
Body:
Maybe it’s taking a daily ten-minute walk, adding a short mobility routine, preparing healthier lunches three days a week, drinking more water, or finding creative ways to move more throughout your day.
Spirit:
Maybe it’s prayer, meditation, attending worship services, volunteering, spending time in nature, or simply making space for the people and activities that reconnect you with your purpose.
Consistency
Notice that none of these habits require perfection. They don’t demand hours of your day or expensive memberships. They simply ask for consistency for five to 15 minutes a day.
When November arrives and your calendar feels impossible, these routines won’t eliminate the busyness. But they may provide the grounding you need to navigate it with greater energy, resilience, and peace.
As children head back to school to learn and grow, perhaps August is our invitation to become students again—not of algebra or history, but of ourselves. It’s an opportunity to learn which routines help us thrive, which habits deserve our attention, and what it means to care for our whole selves before life asks even more of us.
This month, don’t focus on changing everything. Choose one habit for your mind, one for your body, and one for your spirit. Build them with intention. Nurture them with consistency. By the time the holiday season arrives, you may discover that the greatest transformation wasn’t in your calendar—it was in the person you became because of the routines you chose.
Read more by Alexis here.
