From Summer to Fall
Summer means warm weather, sunshine, and vacations. It’s no wonder that many people consider summer their favorite time of year. However, all good things must come to an end, and eventually the long, lazy summer days must transition into more structured fall routines. The kids need to prepare for a new school year, with or without masks, social distancing, etc. Parents have to get ready for managing hectic after-school schedules, waking up early, and making sure everything stays organized. It can be a lot to take in all at once!
That means the end of summer can be disappointing, sad, and stressful, but there are plenty of ways to keep the end-of-summer blues from getting you down.
The end of summer might make you feel sad, stressed, or unmotivated, but simply giving in to those feelings isn’t going to help you make a smooth transition to fall. Keep yourself busy and work through some of those negative emotions by:
- Making a scrapbook or collage
- Writing or journaling about your summer experience
- Starting a new tradition
Find a creative way to preserve your summer memories.
What did you do this summer? Whether you went to concerts or amusement parks, spent your days lounging at the beach or went on a great adventure, chances are you have plenty of little mementos of your summer fun lying around.
Try turning them into a masterpiece! Whether you prefer scrapbooks, shadow boxes or collages, find a way to turn those trinkets into something you can proudly display.
All that matters is that it’s something you’ll enjoy.
As the days get shorter and the weather cools off, make an effort to take notice of the positive things you think, feel, and experience that aren’t necessarily a part of your summer fun. There’s the smell of fallen leaves. There are indoor activities you may have set aside over the last few months like reading, writing, or watching a good movie.
Taking some time to notice and be grateful for the good things going on around you will make you a happier, more resilient person overall.
Take some time working on yourself and reaching your goals
Spend some time getting to know yourself, and think about your goals. Where do you want to be next year at this time, or five years from now? How can you get there?
Put some of your free time into setting and reaching reasonable goals. If you do this every few months, rather than leaving all your goal setting for Jan. 1, you’re much more likely to stick with it and accomplish what you want to accomplish.