Unpopular opinion: Fall is the real time for new beginnings

New Year’s gets all of the resolutions and spring is thought to be the time for new growth and new beginnings, but I’m going to argue that fall is actually the time of year for a fresh start. As a former teacher, I have always loved this time of year. New notebooks, new planners, new clothes, new classes…I love it all! Not to mention all the other parts of fall there is to love: the crispness in the air, pumpkin patches, football, hoodies, and caramel apple spice (as opposed to pumpkin spice, another unpopular opinion I know!)

One thing I loved about teaching was that no matter how things were going, how difficult the students in your classes were, how insecure you felt about your lessons, etc. there was always the knowledge that if you could just make it to the spring, everything would reset in the fall. You got a fresh start every school year. So why don’t we all embrace this and reset every year?

Recent studies reinforce that humans show a status quo bias, meaning we prefer the current state, even if it’s not ideal, because it feels less risky than change (Fleischhut et al., 2014). This is why people often stay in unsatisfying jobs or relationships. Stability feels safer than possibility. Neuroscience now shows that uncertainty activates the brain’s threat detection systems, including the amygdala, leading to heightened anxiety (Hirsh et al., 2012). Even when change could be positive, our nervous systems respond as if we’re facing danger, pushing us to avoid disruption.

If we’re being completely honest, starting over can also feel like admitting that what we’ve been doing has failed. Research in cognitive psychology suggests that resisting change often comes from emotional dissonance, which is the discomfort of admitting a previous choice, role, or relationship no longer fits (Shaw et al., 2016). Avoidance becomes a coping strategy to protect our self-esteem.

 Starting over is not about erasing the past. It’s about carrying forward wisdom, strength, and self-awareness into a new chapter. It requires vulnerability, adaptability, and hope. Each beginning may feel uncertain, but it also holds the possibility of becoming a turning point toward greater authenticity and fulfillment. With the right support and perspective, new beginnings can lead to unexpected possibilities and deeper fulfillment.

 Change is hard. Redefining yourself feels very vulnerable. However, as someone who started graduate school and changed careers in her late 30’s, I encourage you to challenge yourself and step out of your comfort zone. And as someone who left an unhealthy marriage after over 20 years in her 40’s, I can also say it is absolutely worth it. Change can be the best thing for you and whether your new start is with a fresh calendar in January, new growth in the spring, or with the changing of the leaves in the fall, the important thing is having the courage to make the change, no matter how big or small it is. Let the fall leaves be a reminder of the beauty of change.

Fleischhut, N., Artinger, F., Levontin, L., & Gigerenzer, G. (2014). Status quo preference in decision making: When and why. Journal of Risk Research, 17(8), 1037–1059.

Hirsh, J. B., Mar, R. A., & Peterson, J. B. (2012). Psychological entropy: A framework for understanding uncertainty-related anxiety. Psychological Review, 119(2), 304–320.

Shaw, R. J., Joseph, S., & Linley, P. A. (2016). Religion, spirituality, and posttraumatic growth: A systematic review. Mental Health, Religion & Culture, 8(1), 1–11.