The September Reset: 7 Easy Swaps to Get Back Into a Better Routine

The calendar may say that summer is ending. The weather says absolutely not!

It’s still hot, the beach bag is still hanging around somewhere, and nobody is quite ready to talk about jumpers.

But September does have that little “right, let’s get organised” feeling.

School starts again. Work gets back into rhythm. Lunchboxes return. Holidays slow down. And after a summer of eating out, late nights and generally pretending routines don’t exist, it’s quite nice to reset a little.

Not dramatically.

We’re not suggesting you wake up at 5am, drink celery juice and completely reinvent your life by Tuesday.

Just a few easy changes that actually feel doable.

1. Sort out the lunchbox situation

Back-to-school season means packed lunches are back too.

And somehow, despite doing this every year, the 7am panic of “what on earth am I putting in this lunchbox?” never really goes away.

A simple fix is to keep a few easy snacks ready to grab: nuts, crackers, dried fruit, healthier treats and things the kids will actually eat rather than return home untouched.

A decent reusable lunchbox also makes life much easier.

And yes, this applies to grown-ups too. Buying lunch every single day adds up very quickly.

2. Carry a proper water bottle

This one feels obvious in Malta, but we all still end up buying random plastic bottles when we forget ours.

September is still properly hot, so a good reusable bottle is one of those things you’ll genuinely use every day.

Keep one by the front door. Keep one in the car. Keep one in your work bag.

Basically, remove every excuse.

We have a full range of Chilly’s reusable bottles, including kids’ bottles, 500ml everyday bottles and the rather serious 2-litre Big Mouth for anyone who takes hydration very seriously.

3. Have a quick bathroom clear-out

Open your bathroom cupboard.

There is almost definitely a half-empty bottle of something you forgot you owned.

Probably several.

Before buying anything new, use up what’s already there.Then, when something does run out, replace it with something better.

Better ingredients. Better packaging. Better brand. Whatever matters most to you.

You do not need to turn your bathroom into a zero-waste Pinterest board overnight. Just finish what you have and choose better next time.

Much easier.

You can explore our beauty, skincare and everyday essentials whenever something actually needs replacing.

4. Get one wellness habit back

Summer is not always particularly kind to routines.

Supplements get forgotten. Breakfast becomes coffee. Exercise becomes “I walked around Valletta for an hour so technically…”

September is a good time to bring one or two habits back.

Maybe it’s collagen in the morning.

Maybe it’s creatine after training.

Maybe it’s actually eating breakfast.

Maybe it’s simply drinking enough water.

Pick one thing and stick with it.

Because the routine you actually keep is always better than the perfect one you abandon after four days.

5. Swap one disposable thing at home

Not twenty things...One.

Kitchen roll. Cling film. Plastic sponges. Disposable razors. Cleaning bottles. Whatever you use constantly.

When it runs out, see if there’s a reusable or lower-waste alternative.

Then forget about it until the next thing needs replacing.

This is basically our philosophy with sustainable living: small changes, made when they make sense.

Much less annoying.

A good example is the OceanSaver Bottle for Life, which you simply refill and reuse rather than buying another cleaning spray bottle every time.

6. Keep the treats

Please do not interpret “September reset” as “remove everything enjoyable from the house.”

We would never suggest such a thing.

You can eat well and still have sweets in the cupboard.

The idea is just to find treats from brands you actually like and feel good about buying.

Candy Kittens, for example, are vegan, genuinely delicious and disappear at an alarming rate once opened.

7. Stop trying to do sustainability perfectly

This is probably the biggest one.

Sustainable living sometimes gets presented as this enormous lifestyle overhaul where you suddenly grow your own vegetables, make your own shampoo and carry glass jars everywhere.

It really doesn’t have to be like that.

Use what you already own.

Waste less.

Buy less rubbish.

And when you do need something new, choose a better version if you can.

That’s basically it.

So, what’s your September reset?

Maybe you’re sorting out school lunches.

Maybe you’re getting back into the gym.

Maybe you’re finally replacing that plastic water bottle you’ve been using since 2022.

Whatever it is, start small.

At ReRoot, we look for products we genuinely like first, then look at the story behind them too.

From food and wellness to skincare, beauty and everyday essentials, the idea is simple: Better brands. Better products. Better choices.

Have a browse online or pop into our store in Balzan and start your September reset without making it a whole personality.