Healthy Living

The Everygirl’s “Best Self Syllabus:” A 30-Day Challenge to Transform Your Life

school is officially in session.
written by JOSIE SANTI & EMMA GINSBERG
best self fall"
best self fall
Graphics by: Caitlin Schneider
Graphics by: Caitlin Schneider

Let’s be honest: School was great, but in no way did it teach us everything we need to know about the real world. We all graduate from high school and college with looming questions about the real world, from how to take proper care of your body to strategies for saving for retirement. These are all way more useful skills than calculus, and yet, somehow, I still spent hours agonizing over derivatives.

Now that the autumnal chill in the air has us all reminiscing on back-to-school season, we’ve put together the ultimate September “syllabus” to help you audit your life, feel more motivated, and tap into your potential—it’s best-self fall, y’all. This is not the course schedule you remember from high school: Each week of September is focused on a different pillar of well-being (from manifestation to relationships to physical health), with a “class” or “homework assignment” to work toward that theme every day. The goal? To end September as your happiest, highest self. We suspect you’ll get a good grade.

Maybe you took AP Spanish or AP Calculus, but don’t you wish you could’ve taken an Advanced Placement class on how to achieve your dream life? Now’s your chance. Consider the first week of the Best Self Syllabus an advanced crash course on how to tap into best-self energy and manifest your goals.

  1. Write a list of everything you want to accomplish by the end of the semester, AKA the end of 2024 (think BIG—this is your dream life!)
  2. Read “Fall Is the Best Time of Year to Manifest Your Dream Life–Here’s Why
  3. Listen to the new episode of The Everygirl Podcast, “Everyone Gets Manifestation Wrong: 4 Simple Ways to Live Your Best Life”
  4. Spend time journaling one (or all) of these manifestation journal prompts
  5. Pick one to three goals and practice the 3-6-9 Manifestation Journaling Exercise throughout the day
  6. Listen to “Mimi Bouchard’s Formula to Become Your Highest Self and Design Your Dream Life” (or watch it on Youtube!)
  7. Make a vision board
best self fall

Sure, “social studies” typically includes European History or U.S. Government, and chemistry class traditionally requires goggles and a lab coat, but this week’s assignments entail studying the relationships in your life. Think of it as a master class in chemistry (whether you’re dating or in an LTR), as well as evaluating your social life to make your relationships more fulfilling to you.

  1. Perform a relationship audit: make a list of all the people you interact with regularly and identify who is worth investing more or less time depending on how they make you feel
  2. Read “We’re in the Middle of a Loneliness Epidemic—Here’s How to Combat It
  3. Listen to the new episode of The Everygirl Podcast with Allison Raskin on modern relationships and dating
  4. Whether you’re dating or in a relationship, put a date on the calendar you’ve never done before (check out these fall date ideas)
  5. Text or call someone you care about, just to let them know you’re thinking of them
  6. Listen to “How to Find and Keep Fulfilling Friendships According to Psychology with Friendship Coach Danielle Bayard Jackson
  7. Make a list of the things that you actually need in a relationship or the qualities, activities, and conversations that make you feel most cared for (rather than what you think you’re supposed to want). If you’re in a relationship, share the list with your partner, and ask them for their list.
best self fall

In high school, you might have taken Business Management as an elective or Economics as your math credit, but for The Everygirl education, this week of classes is focused on getting clear on your career goals, feeling in charge of your finances, and setting yourself up to get that next promotion, raise, or job.

  1. Read “​​The Very Demure Approach I’m Taking to My Career This Fall
  2. Pick a career or money affirmation, and then write it on a post-it note to stick on your desk or make it your phone background
  3. Listen to the new episode of The Everygirl Podcast with entrepreneur and motivational speaker, Lori Harder
  4. Set a career goal to accomplish by the end of 2024
  5. Read “Money Is a Key Part of Self-Care–Here’s What You Need To Know About Financial Wellness
  6. Listen to “Rich Girl Habits I Wish I Knew Sooner w/ Money With Katie
  7. Have a financial check-in date with yourself: add up all your necessary expenses per month, check in on the budget, set up automation for bills and paying debt, etc.
best self fall

Instead of running a five-minute mile or taking a pop quiz on human anatomy, we’re helping you level up your well-being, improve energy, and feel more connected to your body (we’re not regular P.E. teachers, we’re cool P.E. teachers).

  1. Go grocery shopping and load up on a variety of fiber-rich fruits and veggies
  2. Read “10 Green Flags Your Body is Healing
  3. Listen to the new episode of The Everygirl Podcast with Love Wellness founder, Lo Bosworth
  4. Make one of these recipes to support longevity
  5. Walk 10,000 steps today
  6. Listen to “I’m So Frustrated With My Health”: The Science-Backed Method to Try If You’ve Tried Everything
  7. Schedule all of your doctor appointments for the rest of the year
best self fall

For the last two days of September, it’s time to take your finals, AKA apply everything you learned, studied, and worked on this month so you actually change the daily habits that transform your life. After all, we can study all we want, but if we don’t apply what we learn, nothing will change. Feeling burnt out? Take your fall break a little early and spend the end of the month doing something extra enjoyable for you.

  1. Perform a Life Edit to reflect on the beliefs, actions, and people that are serving you or are not serving you. Click here for a step-by-step guide.
  2. Make a list of everything you did, learned about, or practiced over the past month that made the biggest difference for you, and then make a plan to implement it into your life regularly.