A new TikTok trend is shedding light on why this month is the time for transformation, in what has been dubbed the “October Theory.”
Izzy Utterson (@izzyutterson), 27, a content creator from London, has been at the forefront of the trend, explaining how the arrival of spooky season marks a 90-day lead-up to the New Year—offering a catalyst for self-reflection and personal growth.
In a video that has garnered 25,800 views, Utterson urged her followers to become empowered by the transitional period and set themselves a 90-day challenge.
She told Newsweek: “The October Theory to me is this idea that October is a transformative period in our life. It’s three months until the New Year, so we start to really reflect on what’s behind us and look to the year ahead.”
Utterson explained that she noticed how October prompted people to “hibernate” and work on themselves, whether through a new fitness challenge, a health-focused lifestyle shift, or simply slowing down after a summer of indulgence.
She added: “When looking back on my last five Octobers, they have been the most pivotal and defining points of the year, something I didn’t actually realize until reflecting.”
Utterson believes the reason people gravitate toward change in October is that they’re more conscious of investing in their well-being. “We can’t just wait until New Year’s Day for some magical bout of inspiration and motivation, instead we use these last three months of the year to dive into our goals, hopes, and dreams.”
Utterson shared her personal “one to 10” method with her followers. She encouraged viewers to envision the habits and routines of their “dream” selves.
“If you have crazy goals, I want you to get those vision boards ready, get the dream version of you ready to go, and then work backward from there,” she said. Utterson encouraged followers to examine every detail, from the daily habits of their ideal selves to specific fitness goals.
“For the next 90 days, we’re gonna use October as a springboard to get us into the most glowed-up era of our life,” she said. “By the time 2025 rolls around, we are already on the way to becoming the dream version of ourselves,” she added.
Other creators have echoed Utterson’s sentiments, including Kelly Sites, who shared a way of revisiting October’s significance. She encouraged people to type “October” into their camera rolls and take a visual trip through previous Octobers to observe personal growth.
In her viral TikTok, which has amassed 1.5 million views, she reflected: “For me, they are like different from the beginning of October to the end … and for each year, I’m like, wow, I grew so much each entire year after that.”
October Theory struck a chord with viewers, who took to the comments to share their own reflections.
“I feel like October is better than January,” remarked Clodagh, one user who said they preferred the energy of October over pressure-filled January resolutions.
Another commenter suggested that the universe seemed to favor October for change, noting: “The universe is in harmony in October, Libra is represented by the scales. Equal part sun, equal part moon. It’s ripe for new beginnings and transformation.”
One viewer shared how their October journal entries consistently revealed “Aha!” moments that led to life-changing realizations.
Therapist Seth Eisenberg weighed in on the phenomenon, noting that October’s seasonal shift often encourages deeper reflection and growth.
“October brings a natural shift in seasons, and with it, a subtle reminder of cycles, change, and renewal,” he told Newsweek. Eisenberg explained that the transition from summer’s busyness to autumn’s quieter energy prompted many people to slow down, and that this deceleration provided space for personal assessment.
“When we slow down … we give ourselves the chance to ‘see what is there to be seen.’ This process is crucial for self-growth,” he said.
Eisenberg suggested that those hoping to make the most of this period should engage in practices that enhanced mindfulness and self-awareness, such as journaling or meditation. “Growth requires both reflection and action—understanding where you are, acknowledging your internal landscape, and then deciding how you wish to move forward,” he added.
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