Ever Heard Of October Theory? Here's What It's All About + How To Use It To Your Advantage

There's something so magical about October, isn't there? The veil is thin, the leaves are falling, the air is crisp—and suddenly, there's only a few months left until the New Year!

Enter: "October Theory." The term has recently gone viral on TikTok, with countless videos garnering millions of views, all discussing this seemingly universal phenomenon.

While most of the world goes by the Gregorian calendar today (which has New Year's Day slated for January 1), plenty of cultures recognize this time of year as a significant opportunity for both reflection and renewal.

With Halloween, Samhain, and the Day of the Dead all around this time, for instance, we're reminded of the passage of time and those who came before us; That's where the reflection comes in.

Then, of course, with reflection comes renewal. In Jewish tradition, Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) falls at the beginning of October each year. October is also considered a time of late harvest when we can round up the last of summer's bounty to get us through the winter.

Put it all together, and October Theory explains why so many of us feel a push to "get our act together" during these last few months of the calendar year. As psychic and astrologer Jana Stern explains, "October is actually the time when we plant seeds and get ready for next year. We've harvested everything and we should be setting our goals in October and starting anew now."

Between the back-to-school vibes and the holiday season on the horizon, it's a great chance to focus on reinvention. We can even look to the stars for more inspiration, having just come out of Libra season, which prioritizes balance and harmony. Now, in Scorpio season, the focus is on transformation and rebirth.

"It's perfect for Scorpio season, right?" Stern says, adding, "Set your intention, set your goals, and focus on what it is that you're planting, what it is you want to see come to fruition over the next year."

It's easy to say you're going to improve all your relationships, start going to the gym everyday, and meditate every morning. It's a whole other task to actually do it.

That's why when it comes to setting goals, you always want to start small. Being realistic is key, so pick one thing you'd like to start doing. It could be adding something into your routine, like taking a walk after dinner, even if only for a few minutes. Or maybe you opt for a swap, switching your usual grab-and-go, carb-heavy breakfast for a protein-rich smoothie.

As you're building your small goal up into a real, everyday habit, you might need to set reminders for yourself. As mindfulness coach Krista-Lynn Landolfi, MCC, previously told mindbodygreen, it can be a good idea to "write your intention on a Post-it and put it on your bathroom mirror, car dashboard, your desk, refrigerator, or wherever it'll stand out," says Landolfi.

If you've never heard of habit stacking, it's a concept popularized by author S.J. Scott in his book Habit Stacking: 127 Small Changes to Improve Your Health, Wealth, and Happiness.

Essentially, it involves grouping or "stacking" new habits with a habit that has already been implemented. Going back to the example of taking a walk after dinner, for instance, you would "stack" another habit onto your walk, once the walk has become a daily, second-nature part of your routine.

Let's say your next goal is to be more grateful. So, you would combine walking and gratitude, thinking of things you're grateful for as you stroll.

As another example, if your goal is to eat more vegetables, you would come back from your walk and nosh on some carrots and celery with hummus.