Montclair Adult School (Montclair Public Library)
Montclair Adult Sewing School (The New York Sewing Center)
mGAP Digital Lab/Senior Planet
Van Vleck House Gardens Adult Classes
Montclair Museum (Senior Citizen Program)
January gets most of the attention when people talk about fresh starts. We make resolutions, set goals, and promise ourselves we will change.
But September might be a better time to begin something new.
For much of our lives, September marked the start of a new school year. It meant new teachers, new classmates, fresh notebooks, sharpened pencils, and another chance to learn. Even decades after leaving school, many of us still feel a sense of renewal when summer ends and September arrives.
Older adults should put this feeling to good use by making September resolutions.
Think back to how you prepared for school. You followed a schedule. You learned new subjects. You met people. You joined activities. You worked toward completing each grade.
You could follow the same approach today.
Choose a new subject
What have you always wanted to learn?
Sign up for a class in technology, art, history, cooking, music, or a new language. Learn how to use Google Maps, organize digital photos, recognize online scams, or make video calls.
Learning keeps your mind active and gives you a goal to pursue.
Get new “school supplies”
Your supplies will look different today. You might need a library card, a calendar, comfortable walking shoes, a notebook, or help setting up a tablet.
A new notebook still holds the same promise it did years ago. Use it to record appointments, goals, ideas, exercises, or family stories.
Follow a schedule
School gave structure to your week. Create a simple fall schedule for yourself.
Choose set times for exercise, social activities, household projects, and learning. Start with one or two commitments. A goal feels more real once it appears on your calendar.
Make a new friend
September once introduced you to new classmates. Now it offers another reason to meet people.
Attend a community program. Join a walking group. Volunteer for a local organization. Visit your senior center or library. Invite someone for coffee after a class.
New friendships often begin with one short conversation.
Complete an assignment
Choose one project you have delayed.
Organize old photographs. Record your family history. Clean out one closet. Create a household emergency list. Learn how to use a new phone feature. Plan a visit with someone you have not seen recently.
Break the project into small assignments and give each one a deadline.
Take care of your health
Treat your health like an important subject.
Schedule an overdue medical or dental appointment. Review your medications. Add strength, balance, or walking exercises to your routine. Improve one meal each day. Set a regular bedtime.
You do not need to change everything at once. One steady habit often leads to another.
Measure progress, not perfection
Students do not master a subject on the first day of class. Your September resolution works the same way.
At the end of each week, ask yourself three questions:
What did I learn?
What did I complete?
What will I work on next week?
January arrives during the coldest and darkest part of the year. September arrives with energy, comfortable weather, community programs, and a lifetime of memories connected to starting fresh.
You are never too old for a new school year.
This September, choose one subject, one goal, or one activity. Put it on your calendar. Gather your supplies. Then begin.
No homework excuse required.