The Fresh Start Effect of Fall
By Sydney Lee
September often feels like more than just another month. It feels like a fresh start. When I think of the month of September, I think about the crisp air and more settled routines after the unstructured days of summer vacation. This is known in psychology as the “Fresh Start Effect” and it also applies to reading.
The Fresh Start Effect, coined by Wharton professor Katherine Milkman in 2014, explains the tendency that people often have to create new goals or restart old ones when there is a new time marker, such as the beginning of a school year or even a Monday morning. September is one of the most strong fresh start signals of the year because students often go back to school, new schedules begin, and the fall season means the year is moving forward. For readers, this can motivate actions like picking up a book, setting reading challenges, or going back to unfinished stories.
Many students and adults are more likely to commit to a reading routine in September because of the sense of structure that comes with the new month. For instance, incorporating daily reading into a new schedule feels more natural than it might be in the summer months. Similarly, teachers often introduce new reading lists or recommend books that they enjoy or they think will frame the upcoming school year. This gives a lot of students excitement about reading new books.
September also goes perfectly with the comfort of reading. There are shorter days and cooler evenings that make really cozy environments that call for a good book. The season usually comes with slowing down and being more reflective.
Going back to fresh starts, this can help readers set realistic, but also meaningful goals. Instead of saying things like, “I should read more someday,” September encourages us to say, “I will read ten minutes before bed each night” or even “I will finally start that book I have been procrastinating.” People are more likely to stick with the reading goals that connect to the natural progression of the season. September is not only the start of school or beginning of fall, but also the perfect opportunity to restart your reading journey.
