6 Ways to Get You Through Those End of Summer Blues
As soon as we start swapping basket bags for raincoats, there’s a certain kind of sadness that starts to emerge.
The shift in seasons when you’re uncertain if you should have a post-walk ice-cream or succumb to the peer pressure of having an autumnal banana bread matcha.
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ummer is synonymous with days that beg us to move slowly, evenings we don’t want to end and enough sun to put us in a never-ending state of joy.
Once the temperature starts to dip and our bodies sense that the chill in the air isn’t a welcome summer breeze but the wind that needs a trench coat; our mood can often dip with it. As much as spending time on our phones convinces us otherwise, we are deeply connected to nature and the world around us, especially the seasons. If you’re starting to feel those end-of-summer blues and making lists of all the hottie activities you’ll miss doing, we can also use this change in seasons as a time to reflect. As the leaves start to turn and days get shorter, here’s some mood-improving wellness tips to ease the transition.
Research suggests that music releases feel-good dopamine and can help with low moods, relaxation and promoting greater well-being. Similarly, we all know just how good it feels to shake things off with an impromptu dance party.
It's time to be present
It’s easy to focus on what you’re leaving behind, so while it’s important to acknowledge how you’re feeling right now, focusing on the present will be your ally. We’re often stuck in thoughts of the past, reminiscing about rooftop cinema nights and spending the weekend lying in the park. If it’s not the past, then we might start worrying about the future, trying to anticipate all of the cold weather to come. Instead, see how it feels to prioritise what’s here right now. Notice the beauty in the changing seasons, get excited about your autumn/winter wardrobe and skincare swaps, see how the trees on your street are evolving. Make the most of those precious end-of-summer sunsets and browse the exciting new-in section at the supermarket.Write down your joys
Take a trip through your camera roll and cherish what you got up to over the past few months. Create a joy mood-board (Canva has your back) of your favourite photos, or simply write a list of all the things that blissed you out this summer. It’ll help you shift out of feeling down about what has gone, to appreciating what you experienced. Look for the small, quiet moments of joy and not only the highlights. Savour it all and keep this practice going by writing one thing that made you smile on your phone, each day. Even when you’re feeling absolutely over it, there’ll be a tiny moment of joy that catches your attention.Audit your routine
We change just as the seasons do, so you might need a shift in your routines to adjust for how you’re feeling at the moment. Take a look at your morning routine, work-life balance and wellness practices, to see what needs a refresh. It’ll help you to feel motivated and energised, but most importantly, any updates will be a response to what your mind and body are craving. You might want to add in some journaling or breathwork to help you focus, or if you’ve had your fair share of salads then it might be time to try out some new recipes.Make a new playlist
Do we ever need an excuse for creating a playlist? There’ll be summer road-trips and party playlists in abundance, so make one for now. Fill it with new music, summer hits that now have lovely memories attached to them, or songs that match your priorities for autumn. If you’re going hard with work, make a playlist with songs that help you push through and focus. If you’re craving some time to be still, then a mix of soothing sounds is the way to go.Keep going outside
Yes, it’s tempting to press pause on going for walks or runs as soon as the sun decides to hide from us. But, natural light is incredibly beneficial for its mood-boosting properties, so it’s worth a 15-30 minute early morning stroll even on cloudy days. Physical movement will help with that too. We know the temperature will continue to fall, so use these still-warm days to your advantage and spend some time outside. It’ll also help you to both connect to and appreciate the cyclical nature of things as you get to witness how nature adapts to autumn.Dive into your calendar
It’s okay to feel a bit down after a full-on social summer. For some of us, work might be the priority now and we’re staring into a hectic calendar which is adding more stress. Others might be feeling the loss of all that busyness, with a lack of social activities on the horizon. Either way, this is a good time to schedule in anything that you’re in need of right now. It could be a massage or acupuncture session that you’ve been putting off. You might fancy planning a solo-date to reconnect to yourself, or committing to regular hang-outs with your friends so you don’t slip out of community.
If you’re looking for further support, contact your GP in the first instance or head to Mind (UK) or Mental Health First Aid (US) for other resources.