As summer ends and the return to work looms, many people feel a creeping sense of low mood, often fueled by the close of holiday activities, shortening days, or a feeling of not having made the most of summer.
This feeling should not be confused with seasonal depression, or seasonal affective disorder, but it reflects legitimate emotions. When planned summer projects do not happen, a form of disappointment can set in. Even when summer goes as planned, its end can still bring on nostalgia. Therapist Bonnie Scott told the website Verywell Mind that adults know how quickly the days pass.
Accepting emotions instead of feeling guilty
It is important not to try to fight off this dip in mood right away. Instead, it can help to identify what one is feeling in order to understand the cause, whether that is anxiety about returning to work or simply a sense of unfinished business from the holidays.
Speaking on the French television programme "Bonjour ! La Matinale TF1" on Wednesday, 19 August, philosopher Fabrice Midal recommended allowing oneself to feel what one feels in order to avoid guilt. He said that trying to force oneself to feel fine only adds a second layer of hardship to an already difficult situation.
To move past this low patch, Midal instead encouraged people to rediscover their sense of enjoyment through various activities. Experts interviewed by Verywell Mind also advised taking time to reflect on what summer brought, for instance by putting together a photo album.
To ease the transition between holidays and the return to routine, the outlet suggested creating an end-of-summer ritual. That could mean one last calm, unstructured day, an outing built around a symbolic activity, or a weekend spent with friends.
Finding reasons to look forward to autumn
Once the end of summer is accepted, the next step is to look ahead. The start of the new season does not just mark the end of one period, it also marks the beginning of something new. One suggestion is to draw up a list of activities to try in the coming weeks.
Trying new things is one way to shift focus. The start of autumn is also considered a good time to take up a new hobby or sport, a piece of advice strongly encouraged by Midal, who described a deep link between the body and the mind through sport.
Keeping expectations light
Midal also encouraged people to approach the new season with a lighter touch. While it is important to plan ahead, he said goals should not become resolutions that are impossible to keep, since that risks disappointment or feeling overwhelmed.
Midal, author of the book "Foutez-vous la paix ! et commencez à vivre," called instead for bringing more humanity into work and rediscovering meaning in what one does.
