There’s something about September that makes us want to start afresh.

New notebooks, or rather tablets these days. Freshly sharpened pencils, or stylus tools perhaps. Fresh shoes. New timetables. Even if you haven’t been near a classroom for decades, September has a way of bringing back that “back-to-school” nostalgia.

Summer’s late nights, lie-ins, holiday travel and lazy mornings give way to earlier alarms and more structured routines. And while we’re busy getting everyone else organised, there’s one thing that deserves to be at the top of the September reset list:

Sleep.

Time for a Sleep Reset – think of September as a second New Year. You don’t need to overhaul your entire life. Rather, a few small changes can make the transition back to routine much easier.

If your bedtime has drifted later over the summer, start moving it back gradually by about 15 minutes per night until you get to your sweet spot. 7-9 hours of sleep is recommended. Try going to bed and waking up at roughly the same time each day, even on weekends. Our bodies thrive on rhythm, and a little consistency can help your sleep-wake cycle settle back into place. 

Create your own school-night wind-down routine. Dim the lights in the evening, put your phone away a little earlier and prepare what you need for the next morning. A few minutes of preparation can stop tomorrow’s to-do list from following you into bed. If you can’t do it the night before, jot down a few things to do in the morning so you can at least forget about them before you slumber.

And please clear the chair in the corner that has mysteriously become a second wardrobe. Your bedroom should feel like somewhere you go to rest, not another room full of things waiting to be done or cleared away.

Creating Calm, The Japanese Way

Traditional Japanese interiors often embrace simplicity, natural materials and a thoughtful use of space. There’s a beautiful Japanese concept called ma, which is often described as the space or pause between things. Rather than filling every available corner, ma encourages us to appreciate the space itself.

It’s a lovely philosophy to bring into the bedroom: Less clutter. Less stimulation. More space to breathe, relax and rejuvenate.

A traditional Japanese sleeping arrangement is a perfect example. A shikibuton is laid onto a supportive base such as tatami at night and can be folded and stored during the day. The bedroom can then become a living, working or exercise space.

It’s practical, minimalist and wonderfully flexible — particularly if you’re working with a small bedroom or student accommodation.

And now that the nights are getting darker and cooler, bring out a cozy duvet, or a traditional kakebuton for the ultimate good night sleep. 

So, this September, you don’t need a complicated new routine or a colour-coded life plan. Start small. Get to bed a little earlier. Put the phone down. Clear the clutter. Open the windows. And give your sleeping space some attention.

And if you sleep on a Japanese futon?

Air it.

Because sometimes a fresh start really is as simple as sharpening your pencils, clearing some space and getting a good night’s sleep.

Happy September – and sleep well!