Tomorrow is the 1st of September and the fact it falls on a Monday this year feels rather neat. The start of September inevitably reminds me of going back to school, with a slight chill in the air and a return to routines, and as a stationery-lover this was always inextricably linked to stationery.
September order after August chaos
The idea of ‘order in chaos’ often comes up when speaking to people about why they love stationery so much. There is something pleasing and reassuring about creating a little corner of the world that we can control, amongst a wider world full of chaos and complexities that we cannot. So writing to do lists, and ticking things off, creating order and systems, might seem trivial but these small actions can feel powerfully reassuring.
And after the relative, but very pleasing chaos, of August, I always find that the order of September makes a refreshing change. The relaxing of routines, late starts and endless 'out of office' replies mean that August is less about productivity than momentary pleasures. There is more time to pause, to spend time with friends and family, and let ideas percolate in the back of your mind, safe in the knowledge that you won't need to put them into action right away.
This summer I went to the South of France with my family and we were mostly out in kayaks in the sea, so phones had to be left on dry land. This meant I was unable to check my phone for emails, or even to check the time. I taught my 6 year old to tell the time approximately by the position of the sun, and the next day in the same spot he said to me ‘Mum, I think it’s dinner time, look how low the sun is.’ Right enough, it was 8pm, the sun so hot we had not really noticed that afternoon had evolved into evening. And it didn’t really matter anyway. We swam when we were hot, we ate when we were hungry, and we napped if the opportunity arose. This was all bliss, for a while.
A welcome return to sweater-weather and routines
But as we returned to London and the British weather welcomed us with open arms and grey downpours last week, there was something quite refreshing about putting on closed-toe shoes and eating inside again. I like how the colder weather and proper clothes inspire me to want to sit down at my desk and get things done. I have missed getting to the end of the day and feeling like I've been productive, compared to August’s daily achievements of cooking meals, topping up my tan and reading another few chapters of my book (lovely as that was).
At the end of July I was craving a break from the hamster wheel of weekly routines, but now I am quite looking forward to picking up a Week Planner and drawing out the days — where do I need to be and when, plotting drinks with friends and work milestones, the framework of the next few weeks taking shape in my mind.
Returning home with a fresh perspective
To paraphrase the great Michel de Montaigne, travel is not about seeing new landscapes but changing the way our eyes perceive them — we inevitably gain a fresh perspective whenever we travel. Home looks different when you have been away.
So I will be building some new routines, reflecting on how I want to live and work. My desk will be tidied and replenished with my favourite things, and some new additions too. My wardrobe will get a refresh too, with some things that make me feel good as I set off each morning for a crisp autumn day.
The new New Year
It's funny that we focus so much on 1st January as a moment to set resolutions and start new things, when in many ways this start of September feels equally like a 'New Year' moment. And unlike January, the days are still long, the sun is still shining, and I have the boost of summer adventures still in the back of my mind to fuel new ideas and projects.
