Making the Mental Transition From Summer To Fall

Can you believe the kids are back to school or comfortably settled into their dorm rooms? Summer wreaths are coming down, lightweight clothes and tropical shirts are slowly getting pushed to the back of the closet, and the kids are no longer running around the house. The transition of many things, large and small, may leave many people feeling a little lost and lonely as the house is quieter and daily routines continue to adjust. What can you do to make a seamless transition from one day to another, as one season is closing and a new one will soon begin? Keep reading for a handful of summer to fall strategies to bring a sense of comfort into your day.

Transitioning From Summer To Fall

Rock and Roll With Tennis Shoes

Whether you enjoy dancing, hiking or walking around the neighborhood, studies show that physical activity boosts your spirit and suppresses the hormones that cause anxiety. Getting out and moving, especially in a group setting, is a way to meet new people and reestablish bonds with those you may have lost touch with in the past few months.

Establishing a fitness friend group exposes you to people with similar interests and those who may introduce you to other hobbies and activities. For example, a new friend you meet at a beginner’s yoga class may also be involved in an art workshop, and you may find you are also interested in the colorful experience. You may also want to treat yourself to a new pair of tennis shoes or workout clothes, a fresh set of art supplies or your first pair of hiking boots.

Even if you have limited time in your day, you can find some fabulous resources on social media to motivate you and give you a jump start to better health and well-being in the comfort of your own home. However, you won’t have a personal connection, so it’s important to mix it up with some physical activities with friends in between.

Embrace a Different Lifestyle

A few years ago, a friend gave me a book called The Little Book of Hygge, (pronounced hyoo-guh) Danish Secrets to Happy Living. I moved it around from table to chest for a while and finally sat down to read it. It was an interesting read and may also be something you enjoy.

Central to the Hygge lifestyle are small gatherings with friends, simple meals made together, flickering candles, cozy blankets, comfort foods, sweet pets, small groups of close friends and family, board games, holiday celebrations, “Christmas feeling year-round,” and basically all things that bring a level of “comfort” to your busy life.

Interestingly, Denmark is known for being the happiest country in the world, despite the cold, wet, dreary weather based on their way of Hygge living. My next-door neighbor from Denmark authentically lived this lifestyle until her death in her 90s and was one of the happiest people I have ever met. She found great joy in small and simple pleasures. The whole culture and ideas sound amazing, especially since I am a full-on holiday fanatic.

The Oxford English Dictionary defines Hygge as “A quality of cosiness (their spelling) and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being (regarded as a defining characteristic of Danish culture).”

Hygge consists of comfort, companionship, relaxation, connection to nature, simplicity and scarves. The book says scarves are “a must.” Hmm… This way of life may not be for everyone, but it certainly is worth investigating if it resonates with you as you learn more about it. While I am not sure I could ever totally embrace the entire lifestyle, I do find comfort in many things that are traditionally Hygge, especially as we move from summer to fall.

Write It Down on Paper

With any transition, professional, personal or seasonal, things need to get done. Summer tends to lend itself to putting tasks off until later. For the past few weeks, I have had an unidentifiable feeling of angst and couldn’t put my finger on it. There isn’t anything in my life that is out of place. But, occasionally, things would “pop into my head” that I have to do—nothing urgent, and I would tell myself I will remember and move on down the road. Psychologically, this growing list of tiny to-dos weighed on me while I took care of the bigger, more pressing tasks. Make my regular dental appointment for November, start looking for a birthday gift for a friend in October, return something I ordered on Amazon before the deadline, plant some basil in a pot, buy more baking soda (I keep forgetting because I don’t write it down), get Marty a new leash, etc.

Things are never really urgent … until they are. When you have a running list, you can check tasks off as you go and take some of the pressure off of yourself when you see you are making headway. Keeping an ongoing list or writing daily in a journal is an easy way to get your thoughts down on paper.

Get Some Sleep

It’s common for busy people to burn the candle at both ends, then go to bed and catch up on their reading, social media friends or binge-watch Netflix. (guilty about the binge-watching!) Especially when going through any type of transition, a good night’s rest really makes a difference. A solid sleep schedule is important to your overall health and attitude. Make your bedroom your sanctuary to ensure optimum sleep.

A heavy comforter may look beautiful during the day but can be a source of too much heat. A weighted blanket is a great way to stay warm and feel soothed at the same time. While you may love your furry friend, if they require stroking and petting throughout the night or tend to hog the entire side of the bed, you may want to find them a comfortable alternative very close to you, but not on top of you.

Old pillows and a lumpy mattress are not welcome bedfellows when you are trying to catch some z’s. Invest in a good quality mattress and pillows. You may have to go through several different types of pillows to find your favorite but it’s worth the effort.

Here are a few more bedroom essentials:

• Soft lighting
• Relaxing scent – lavender essential oil
• Meditative playlist
• Blackout curtains
• Comfy sheets
• Cozy PJ’s
• Cup of chamomile or other herbal tea

Full disclosure: I am not sure if I finished the book, but I loved many of the ideas. I need a little more superficial “fluff” to round out my life. And, my husband has a huge problem with my “knick knacks” (which bring me cozy Danish comfort) around the house.

I don’t like wearing scarves, and I’m not fond of always wearing black and grey, which is another suggestion in the book for the Hygge lifestyle. Especially when orange is my favorite color! But, this is a very comforting lifestyle, and the idea is to enjoy the simple things, the moments that matter.

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