The lyrics to a favorite song by Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald say it all: Summertime and the living is easy Fish are jumping and the cotton is high Oh, your daddy's rich and your ma is good-looking So hush, little baby, don't you cry One of these mornings you're gonna rise up singing Yes, you'll spread your wings and you'll take to the sky But 'til that morning, there's nothing can harm you Yes, with daddy and mammy standing by Summertime and the living is easy Fish are jumping and the cotton is high Oh, your daddy's rich And your ma is good-looking So hush, little baby, baby, don't you cry. Well, summertime is coming to an end. It’s almost September, schools are starting up again, those wonderful, carefree summer vacations are over, and it’s time to rejoin the world. “There’s evidence that the return of chillier weather, including shorter days as we edge toward winter — can raise anxiety levels among adults and school-age children alike. “If you’re a summer hater, you’re antsy to be done with it and move on already. If you’re a summer lover, you’re probably feeling some panic about it coming to an end. In both cases there is likely guilt over not having done enough with the time, after all what season comes with more pressure to ‘make the most of it’ than summer?” (Hayes, 2018) SAD, or Seasonal Affective Disorder identified by psychiatrist Norman E. Rosenthal, is not quite the same phenomenon as Autumn Anxiety. Although similar, SAD is actually an officially diagnosable condition, whereas Autumn Anxiety is more of an agitated and anxious depressive state. For a variety of reasons, this could be a particularly challenging fall for a lot of people. But the change of seasons holds dramatic bright sides, and health experts are offering some low-cost and simple strategies to mine them. (Wood, 2020) Those strategies include, be aware that any sense of melancholy this time of year is normal. Be aware of the fact that, as we lose light earlier in the evening, our moods may be affected by the loss. Light has a direct effect on mood – the lighter and brighter it is around us, the lighter and brighter we are. It's totally natural for us to sleep more during the colder months, but you might start to realize you're sleeping in much later than usual right at the start of fall. We actually need light to regulate our sleep cycles, so you might need to consider exercising in the morning if you're having trouble shaking the groggy feeling in the gray fall mornings. (Wylde, 2017) One suggestion is to use a timer to set your lights to come on earlier than you normally get up – that way when you do wake, it is light in the house, if not outside. Of course, a balanced diet and plenty of exercise are also recommended – all the time, not just during the change of seasons. This is also a good time to embark on a new journey – maybe a new hobby, or learning a new skill. Give yourself something to look forward to during the ‘dark days’ ahead. References
Hayes, L. N. (2018, August 27). August Anxiety: Why We Get Anxious at the End of Summer. Retrieved from TalkSpace: https://www.talkspace.com/mental-health/conditions/articles/august-anxiety-summer-end/ Wood, A. R. (2020, September 22). With Autumn Upon Us, Darker Days and Moods May be Ahead. Retrieved from Inquirer: https://www.inquirer.com/news/fall-equinox-2020-autumn-seasonal-affective-disorder-coronavirus-philadelphia-weather-20200922.html?outputType=amp Wylde, K. (2017, September 22). The Fall Equinox Will Actually Mess With Your Health in a Few Unexpected Ways. Retrieved from Bustle: https://www.bustle.com/p/11-ways-the-autumnal-equinox-can-affect-your-health-2406457#:~:text=Mood%20Imbalances,you%20to%20lift%20your%20mood
0 Comments
Last time I wrote about the benefits of traveling and your mental health. I hope you took my advice and went on vacation – or have one scheduled soon. However, there is a caveat (or more) to vacations – that is, returning from vacation. That feeling of euphoria, relaxation, and peace might just be quite tempting, and you might find it difficult to return to the reality of your lives. There are some things you can do to prepare yourself for your immersion back into work and day-to-day living. Start by planning to give yourself a few days to get back into a routine. Plan your return so that you have time to adjust, unpack, and rest. I have heard many people say they need a vacation from their vacation. Vacation schedules can sometimes be hectic – in different ways than work schedules. During your weekend before returning to work, spend some time reflecting on your trip. When you travel, you learn to live with less, and when you come back, you might want to de-clutter. You might begin to evaluate your life from an objective standpoint. You may begin to ask yourself, “What’s not working in my life and what do I need to get rid of?” (Clements, 2019) Use that reflection time to organize your trip mementos and souvenirs. Don’t just stick them in a drawer somewhere to ‘take care of later.’ When later comes, you might not even remember where those trinkets are. Take the time to review your financial activities while on vacation – check your credit card charges, sort through your mail (but don’t check your work email until you go back to work.) Suzanne Degges-White, a therapist and chair of the Department of Counseling and Higher Education at Northern Illinois University, says, “Once we get back into the work world, the majority of us have to answer to someone about what we’re doing, how we’re doing it, and when we’ll be done. Many people dread the return as they know that problems may have stacked up in their absence. There may be a pile of new requests of their time on top of the unfinished tasks they left behind,” (Blok, 2022) There are some things you can do BEFORE your vacation that will make your homecoming easier. The last thing you want to do is come home to a dirty house, or a desk piled with unfinished work. Take the time to do these things:
References
Blok, J. (2022, January 3). Why You Hate Going Back to Work After Vacation. Retrieved from Popular Science: https://www.popsci.com/story/blogs/ask-us-anything/vacation-work-transition/ Clements, A. R. (2019, April 24). 8 Tips to Help You Adjust to Life After a Vacation. Retrieved from Astrid Solo Travel Advisor: https://www.astridtravel.com/blog/8-tips-to-help-you-adjust-to-life-after-a-vacation Stephanie. (2016, July 19). After Vacation, Returning to Reality. Retrieved from Happily Homegrown: https://happilyhomegrown.com/after-vacation-returning-reality/ |
AuthorI am a Performance Enhancement Specialist with a background in Emergency Psychiatric Medicine and Community Addiction. Archives
December 2023
Categories |