Lately I’ve been encountering a lot of friends, colleagues, and students exhibiting signs of the End of Summer Blues. At first they are subtle: short sighs, gazing out windows longingly, squeezing out every minute of spending time in the sun in the evening and looking a bit glum when the sun sinks below the horizon.
If you don’t take these symptoms seriously, things can get serious. You might find yourself obsessively posting your summer beach pictures all over social media, or even, oh no, don’t say it…..listening to Jimmy Buffet on REPEAT….all day. When that happens, you know you have a serious case of End of the Summer Blues, and it’s time to take action.
Here’s what I recommend doing to combat your End of Summer Blues:
1. Acknowledge your struggle. Don’t resist experiencing the End of Summer Blues. Resistance won’t help the healing process. Instead, embrace it and look deeply into your experience to see what you can learn from it.
2. Remember! Create a list of the most special parts of your summer, or create a photo collage of some of your favorite shots. Put your work of art at your desk and gaze at it when you feel an attack of the End of Summer Blues coming on. Host your own End of Summer Soiree and celebrate the last clear, late-sun evenings of the season.
3. Look Ahead. Spend some time getting focused and clear on what you’d like to work on in the Fall season and don’t delay in putting some action steps into place. Each season has its own unique flavor and fun, so recall what you love about Fall and start planning!
4. Escape to Nature. Set a date for an outdoor escape and follow through! While we still have nice weather on the horizon, make the effort to drink in a beautiful day. I am currently enjoying my own beautiful jaunt in nature. I write this list for you while taking in a little sun, sand, and wave-jumping at the beach. If you’re not a beach person, maybe instead you plan an afternoon hike at your local park. Or it could be as simple as packing a lunch and heading to some riverside park and enjoying your meal by the slow-flowing water. Nature nurtures, and what better way to combat the End of Summer Blues by spending time in the amazing elements that give Summer its own unique character.
5. Breathe into the Now. Today. Right Now. Head outside on your lunch break or take a lovely stroll around the block after your dinner. While you’re basking in the great outdoors, take a few deep belly breathings and notice that underneath the summer blues, there is a part of you that is content. That part is always there, always has been there, and always will be there. Breathe deeply and remember to connect to this space often. It will shift your perspective in a powerful way!
Be Well,
Meg Townsend
E-RYT 500, Ayurvedic Yoga Specialist
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