The October Theory: Why Now Is the Perfect Time to Improve Your Life

October 27, 2025

As the leaves change colors and the end of the year draws closer, fall is a time where many people set their sights on self-improvement. The October Theory, a popular social media trend, suggests the last three months of the year is the ideal time to set goals and improve your life. Instead of waiting for the New Year, it encourages you to start creating new habits and achieving what’s important to you now.

Maintaining Good Habits

The holiday season is a time that can bring on a lot of stress, so maintaining the good habits you already have can be key, says Crystal Evans, a health and wellness coach at University Hospitals Connor Whole Health.

“Holding on to good habits you’ve already formed can be hard during the holidays. Maintaining those healthy habits you are already proud of is most important during the busy holiday season,” says Evans.

And while setting new goals can add to the stress this time of year, UH Connor health and wellness coach Angelique Foss says setting smaller goals will be easier to maintain through the holiday season.

“Progress isn’t about perfection. It’s about staying steady with the small things, even when life gets busy,” Foss says.

Tips for Setting New Goals

Ready to dive into setting new goals for yourself ahead of the New Year? Evans and Foss offer the following advice:

Acknowledge what you’re already doing well. Before setting any new goals for yourself it’s important to take the time to recognize what you’re already doing well and be proud of that, says Evans.

“It can be hard for people to acknowledge their own strengths but assessing what you’re doing well can be the motivation you need to keep moving forward in an empowered way,” she says.

Start with one small step. Breaking down a bigger goal into a smaller first step can make it easier to get started. Once you’re able to consistently achieve the smaller goal, you can start adding on.

“If you have a goal to walk every day after work, consider packing your walking shoes with you. Drive straight to the park or begin your walk right at the door from work,” says Evans. “Make it easy. Remove the friction and any distractions to set yourself up for success.”

Clearly define your goals. Just saying, “I want to eat healthier,” or “I want to exercise more” does not provide a target for reaching your goal. Get specific about what you want to achieve and how you plan to achieve it. For example, you can set a goal of adding at least one serving of vegetables to every meal or walking for a half-hour every day.

Taking on too much or too many goals can become overwhelming, says Foss. Keeping your goals simple, specific and achievable will greatly increase your chances of succeeding.

Track your success. Foss says it helps to focus on progress that you can easily track. This helps keep you focused and gives you confidence as you clearly see a pattern of achieving your goals.

“Research shows the power of putting an ‘X’ on the calendar or crossing an item off a list to track that you’ve accomplished something,” adds Evans. “We don’t always feel the effects of our goals right away and as humans we tend to focus on what we haven’t yet accomplished. But seeing a visual indication that you’re making progress helps with the motivation to keep going.”

Account for time management. Evans says an important part of goal setting is time management. Be specific about when and how you are going to accomplish the goal logistically. “Most of us lead very busy lives – so it’s important to plan out not only how, but when you are going to find time to do each step toward your goal,” she says.

For example, if your goal is to pack a healthy lunch instead of going out to eat, plan out how you are going to do that each week. For example: factor in time for finding recipes you’ll enjoy, writing the grocery list, grocery shopping and meal prep.

Laying the Groundwork for a Healthier Life

Creating a healthier lifestyle isn’t about dramatic transformations, it’s about steady progress made and consistency. Over time, those small, repeated actions become habit, shaping your routines and improving your well-being. Be patient with yourself and celebrate each victory, keeping your focus on little changes that can make a big difference in your life.