September: The Eye of the Storm

A Quiet Pause Between Seasons of Chaos

September slips in like an uninvited party guest. In Maryland, most schools start in late August, confounding the historical summer conclusion on Labor Day. Practices start for youth sports in August and even the little ones have half days before Labor Day. Certainly, someone somewhere thought this was a terrific idea, but it leaves September in the void, neither summer nor fall, a month bereft of its identity.

It’s a month caught in the middle—a strangely still time, as if the world itself is holding its breath. The “boys of summer” have gone, and the beaches have emptied. The whirlwind of family, plans, events, and obligations fades along with the heat, and your social media and email are flooded with pictures of family members with bright new school clothes and colorful backpacks.

It’s a relief at some level, the mornings and evenings are cooler, and frenetic energy has abated as routines are re-established. The reprieve is grudgingly welcomed, but there’s a sense of waiting, almost as if nature itself is recharging for what comes next.

The In-Between

This in-between nature of September makes it feel like the eye of the storm—there’s an uneasy calm. It’s a time of transition, but also of anticipation. Halloween stuff is already in stores, and giant displays and rows of candy shelves dominate the sight lines of retail establishments. For many, September brings a chance to regroup. It’s a month of new beginnings and old routines. Some businesses and industries feel the sharp turn that September takes in consumer buying patterns. Certainly, restaurants and hotels are at the top of that list. Historically, September is a soft or "shoulder" month for retail sales as consumer spending slows down between the back-to-school season and the holiday shopping rush.

It’s quiet out there, maybe too quiet. The Orioles and Nationals are playing out the string and there won’t be the anxiety of the fall classic in baseball here in Maryland for most, and the nascent football season won’t be meaningful for the Ravens or Commanders for a couple of weeks. But this slice of peace is fleeting; before long, the calendar will start to fill up with rivalry games and to-do projects as the holidays come barreling in with a fury, and the quiet of September will soon become a distant memory.

If you are running a business, this is a good time to make sure you are ready for the seasonal bustle that is on the near horizon. Are you staffed appropriately, are they trained, are they ready? It’s also a good time to look beyond the next 90 days to the coming year as well.

So, as September sneaks by, don’t miss the chance to take advantage of this moment of stillness. This is an excellent time to register for MarylandSaves, the retirement savings plan that is free to employers and easy for employees. Your core staff will appreciate it, and your seasonal staff may see your company as a place they would like to be for longer. Savor the silence, yes, and embrace the calm in the eye of the storm, but brace for what’s coming.

See how easy it is to register for MarylandSaves at marylandsaves.com and then enjoy the ride.