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End of Summer Blues

by habituallychic

09 . 06 . 15

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I personally love fall. I can’t wait for it to arrive each year because autumn is New York’s best season. Fashion week starts right after the Labor Day holiday which starts things off with a bang. There is a palpable energy in the air. But I understand that not everyone feels the same way, especially young students going back to school.  I came across this list of 7 Tips to Survive the End of Summer Blues by Dr. Samantha Boardman on her site Positive Prescription that I thought was worth sharing.

7 Tips to Survive the End of Summer Blues

End of summer blues is a common affliction. I see it in my office, I hear about it from friends and in the spirit of transparency, Labor Day is more bitter than sweet for me. Transitions are hard and the end of summer can be particularly difficult for a number of reasons.

On a symbolic level, the end of summer signifies the end of fun for many people. No more carefree summer days, no more leaving work early on Fridays, and no bonfires or barbecues to look forward to. Even for people who don’t have kids, the “back to school” mindset can awaken anxieties of long ago about returning to school. The change in temperature and light also play a role. Days are undeniably getting cooler and shorter and for those sensitive to light, this can contribute to the end of summer blues.

The good news is that there is a remedy:

1. Reframe it: Cognitive reframing is a core part of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and is an effective treatment for anxiety and depression.  The idea is to think differently and “reframe” negative or untrue thoughts into more positive ones. In other words, think about what you enjoy about the fall, instead of fixating on what you don’t like about the end of summer.

2. Look forward: Apple picking, hot chocolate, wearing cozy sweaters, reading by the fire, going for long walks in the park and not dying of the heat, and gallery openings are among the many things to look forward to.

3. Must See TV: Your favorite television shows will be starting up again soon. Downton Abbey, Homeland, Modern Family, The Big Bang Theory and Scandal  will be back before you know it.

4. Plan a trip: Research shows that anticipation is often the most enjoyable part of an activity. According to a new study, just thinking about a trip you plan to go on boosts happiness.

5. Embrace the opportunity: Figure out what you don’t like about the fall and plan ahead. Rather than falling back into old habits, create new ones that reduce stress. For example, if you dread going back to the gym instead of exercising outdoors now that the summer is over, create a new routine of exercising in the park.

6. Take the best of summer into fall: Give yourself permission to take your summer mindset into September and beyond.  Continue to have fun, to eat fresh produce from the farmer’s market, to read trashy novels, to spend time outdoors, to go for walks after dinner and long bike rides on weekends.

7. Reset priorities: If you are a leader in an organization, take the opportunity of returning from vacation to build focus. Instead of catching up on emails and voicemails, Peter Brugman at Harvard Business Review says it the ideal time to realign priorities:

Coming back from vacation is one of those opportunities. You’ve gotten some space from the day to day. People haven’t heard from you in a while. Maybe they’ve been on vacation too. They’re waiting. They’re more influenceable than usual.

Don’t squander this opportunity by trying to efficiently wrangle your own inbox and to-do list. Before responding to a single email, consider a few questions:

What’s your top imperative for the organization right now? What will make the most difference to the company’s results? What behaviors do you need to encourage if you are going to meet your objectives? And, perhaps most importantly, what’s less important?”

The good news is that the fall is never as bad as you think it will be. In fact, it might just be awesome. It’s up to you and how you think about it.

In the words of Henry David Thoreau:

“Always maintain a kind of summer even in the middle of winter.”

By Dr. Samatha Boardman

Photo by me.