What is the Autumnal Equinox? When does it begin and end | How to organize your busyness with a planner using the 24 solar terms
Finding Balance at the Autumn Equinox.
Using Your Planner to "Separate, Narrow Down, and Appreciate"
The 24 solar term "Shubun" (Autumn Equinox) is the perfect time to reflect on the balance between day and night, and to recalibrate your mind and body. Why not use this time, which coincides with the autumn equinox (Ohigan) and often brings a sense of busyness and restlessness, as a chance to get organized with your planner?
Only three months left in the year.
Before we know it, we're hit with both
a packed schedule and a sense of restless urgency.
Why not use the Autumn Equinox as an opportunity to find "balance" with your planner?
What is the Autumn Equinox? When is it in 2026?
The 16th of the 24 solar terms. The sun rises exactly in the east and sets exactly in the west, making the length of day and night nearly equal. In 2026, it runs from September 23 to October 7. It also marks the middle of the autumn Ohigan (Higan begins Sept 20 / Higan ends Sept 26) and is known for the tradition of offering Ohagi (sweet rice balls).
Why not use this turning point, the "Autumn Equinox," as a time to observe the balance between day and night and recalibrate your heart and body? Today, I’ll introduce three steps to help you organize your life so you aren't swept away by busyness and restlessness.
For many, this period is a time when both "being busy" and "feeling restless" tend to overlap. Whether it's the start of the second half of the business year or the final push for a quarter for employees, or supporting children with school entrance exams or the new school term, this is a season when your to-do list suddenly grows.
Reiko Tanaka
Forte Diary Creative Director
Personally, around this time last year—during my first year with Forte Diary, leading up to our first planner launch in November—I was having some truly frantic days in September and October. Preparing the website and arranging packaging materials... the anxiety of wondering, "Will customers like it?" only fueled the busyness.
In my private life, supporting my daughter with English proficiency exams and my son's college entrance exams overlapped, leaving me on the verge of burnout. Looking back at my time as a corporate employee, it was almost always in September when end-of-year deadlines and new project launches converged. I’m sure I’m not the only one who faces this overlap of busyness and restlessness.
① Separate with your planner: "Busyness" and "Restlessness" are different
Write out and distinguish between "Busyness" and "Restlessness"
The first thing I did was use journaling to distinguish between "busyness" and "restlessness." "Busyness" is having many tasks or chores to do. "Restlessness," on the other hand, is a state of mind lacking composure, or feeling unable to keep up with rapidly changing situations. Often, these two get confused in our heads, leading to the spiral: "I have so much to do → I feel anxious," which only invites more anxiety.
List "To-Dos" and "Worries/Anxieties" separately
I recommend using the journaling pages at the end of the Forte Planner. First, list everything that makes you feel busy. Next, make a separate list of the worries or anxieties causing your restlessness. Whether it's anxiety about shipping procedures, the fear of "will it actually sell?", or worries about your child's exams—just write down your internal monologue on paper as it is.
"Being busy" and "feeling restless" are
actually different things. Just separating them quietens the mind.
② Narrow down with your planner: Just 2-3 key items for Monthly/Weekly
Write only the 2-3 most important items in the memo section
From the "busyness" list you made, pick only the 2-3 most important items and write them on your Monthly or Weekly pages. In the Forte Planner, the memo space on the left side of the Monthly/Weekly pages is perfect for this. The trick to preventing "restlessness" is to narrow your focus rather than trying to do everything.
I recommend writing these 2-3 items in the "Monthly Theme" section of the Monthly Planner. Since you see them every time you open your planner, you won't lose sight of your priorities.
③ Appreciate with your planner: Celebrate your achievements with autumn treats
Savor the sense of accomplishment and reward yourself
Once you’ve tackled your "busyness," take time to reflect. Experiencing that sense of achievement and fulfillment itself will give you the strength to overcome the next busy season. I also recommend taking a break with autumn-inspired sweets, like chestnut, sweet potato, or pumpkin treats.
The period from the Autumn Equinox to Cold Dew sees significant temperature swings. If you're concerned about autumn fatigue or weather-related illness, please also check out our article on Risshu (Start of Autumn).
Separate, narrow down, and appreciate. By doing just these three things during the Autumn Equinox, you’ll find that the way you spend the final three months of the year will change significantly.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the 2026 Autumn Equinox?
The solar term "Shubun" runs from September 23 to October 7, 2026. It falls in the middle of the autumn Ohigan period; Higan begins on September 20 and ends on September 26.
Is the "Autumn Equinox Day" (holiday) different from the 24 solar term "Shubun"?
"Autumn Equinox Day" is a national holiday that refers specifically to September 23. Conversely, the 24 solar term "Shubun" refers to the approximately 15-day period from that day until the day before the next solar term, "Kanro" (which is October 7 in 2026). This article covers Shubun as a period.
What is the difference between "busyness" and "restlessness"?
Busyness is a state of having many tasks or chores to perform. Restlessness is a state of mind lacking composure, or feeling that your emotions cannot keep up with rapidly changing situations.
During busy times, where should I start with my planner?
First, write out your "to-dos" and your "worries/anxieties" separately on the journaling pages. Then, copying only the 2-3 most important items into your Monthly or Weekly pages will help clear your mind.
Goals, schedules, and journaling in one.
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