Summer is not over until September 23. But once school starts, people start waxing poetic about cooler temperatures, cozy sweaters, and pumpkin spice lattes. But the girlies with seasonal depression might not be too thrilled about the change in season. We’ll call it the end-of-summer blues. The close of summer can often mean rainy days, less sunshine and the prequel to a long and brutal winter. If you find that the end of the summer season leaves you feeling a true sense of melancholy, here are some tips and tricks to deal with your end of summer blues.
Stay Outside as Long as Possible
There’s a reason people tend to feel better in summer. The increased sunlight lifts the mood. And there are innumerable healing properties of spending time in nature. Those good vibrations don’t stop once the summer is over. Many places around the nation still enjoy pleasant temperatures in the early and even later fall days. Take advantage and get outside. Go on a hayride, pick apples, and spend time outdoors, watching the leaves change colors. Your body will thank you.
Clean and Decorate Your Place
You likely spent your summer ripping and running. With less time spent indoors, you might have neglected some of the deep cleaning your place could use. Now that the weather is changing and you’re going to be spending more time indoors, make it a place you enjoy. In addition to the cleaning, hang the art you’ve had stashed away. Put some seasonal or dried flowers on your table. Make it aesthetically pleasing.
Appreciate the Summer Memories
One of the reasons many people feel forlorn about the summer is because they didn’t go to everything they wanted to this year. And with the presence of social media, it can seem like friends, acquaintances and even complete strangers had the best summer ever. Log off for a minute and look through your own archive. You’ll likely find that you made some incredible memories as well. Be grateful for those as you think about what you might want to do next year. Or better yet, what you can still squeeze in during the fall.
Be More Intentional About Your Time
During the summer, you don’t have to be so strategic about plans. It’s just vibes. And it’s all too easy to just run into people. But in the colder months when you spend less time just meandering around outdoors, you have to be more intentional about seeing your friends. If you’re thinking about someone, invite them out for dinner, a movie. If you have a good solid group of friends, a game night is the perfect way to uplift your spirits on even the most unpleasant days.
Reasons to Love Fall and Winter
Denying our emotions is not helpful. It’s fine to acknowledge that you feel bad about the end of summer. But you don’t have to stay there. Practice a little bit of gratitude about the things you are looking forward to in the change of seasons. Maybe you’re looking forward to layering some fly pieces and stunting in your wardrobe. Fall and winter provide more opportunities for us to reconnect with our loved ones during the holidays. You can catch up on the shows on your bucket list. It can also be a time for you to get clear about what you want for the end of the year and the start of the next one. Take the increased alone time to reflect on what you really want.