How to Enjoy Those Last Few Days Of Summer:End-Of-Summer Blues

Summer is my most favorite month of all, but unfortunately I don’t get to enjoy those warm sunny days more than three months here! How disappointing!

If you are anything like me; you must already be feeling low and having those unsettling thoughts about saying goodbye to summer this year! Sept. 22 marks the first day of fall, which sadly marks the end of summer. I usually start feeling sad and unmotivated to know that, August is here; that tells me, “summer is almost coming to an end.” But this year, things have been so different! I was wishing to hold on to those summer vibes just a little bit longer this year. But amidst my surreal reality of expecting long, hot sunny days; even after mid-august, I’ve found comfort in keeping my “best” memories alive; while eagerly waiting to move on to 2021 immediately! This means, letting go summer this year to have it come back next year, pandemic-free!

There’s also an anxiety around anticipating the fall- whether because of starting of school that requires a strict schedule for kids and family, or the anticipation of the change in season.

Summer doesn’t just come with the perks of relaxing under warm sunny days; but also with a demanding bucket list- where families are supposed to go on too many trips, lots of beach visits, more barbecue and deck parties, playing lots of outdoor sports, pool parties, camping, summer shopping, and lots more! But due to global COVID-19 pandemic, every activity has been either cancelled or limited; you may not have got a chance to throw a summer party[s] at your place this year, but I’m sure you must have had awesome time bonding with your family this summer- with more indoor activities, regular walks, biking, or running in and around your community/neighborhood!

Goodbyes are never easy! But before you say final goodbye; I’ve some interesting and exciting ideas to enjoy those last few days of summer, and to beat the end-of-summer blues. So, are you ready to dive in? Then, come along!

Here’s how I’m holding on to summer for a little bit longer:

By planning last-minute getaways

Escape to your favorite nearby places, and catch a glimpse of those fading summer memories before they are completely gone. Take lot of pictures to share it on your social media, or on Instagram, and create mini summer memories’ albums. If you’re a book lover, stack up some season’s hottest summer reads; that you wanted to read at the beach, or by the pool; but now, you can read by laying in your bed [especially during lazy winter days] , or by sitting in your living room couch with open windows, to make your days feel like an relaxing escape!

Engage yourself in activities indoors, that you usually like doing outdoors

Force yourself to do things that you would normally find pleasure doing! Be it sports, volunteering, photography, playing with your kids, or just brisk walking. “I’m preparing myself to turn towards indoor photography when there is not enough light/sunshine outside, and also when it too cold to play outdoors. I wish to get better at low light photography!”

Me and my kids are excited to get back to our “dancing exercises,” that we normally do during cold winter days. Remember it is just a season transition, and summer will be back in no time.

Utilize these end of carefree days by taking up a course or challenge

End of summer is always a bittersweet experience for me! Though I feel bad that our carefree days are over; I also feel happy to get into a disciplined routine of waking up early and going to bed early at night, plus doing all my other tasks in time- as we start following daily routines for work, school, bedtime, mealtimes, and everything else in between.

I see this transition as the best time to plan ahead for my career, blog, blog post ideas, hobby classes, to learn new skills, and to improve my overall performance as a communicator in various aspects of my life!

This year transition to fall and then winter is going to be very interesting for me, as I have taken up some new tasks at hand like; my Instagram stories/posts, my YouTube Channel , sketching and doodling, writing for Fashion Potluck , and writing a lot for my dream- my book 🙂

Shopping for my fall and winter favorites

Shopping is one of many favorite things that we like doing, and that instantly improves our mood. We don’t spend fortunes in shopping, but sometimes just simple window shopping work wonders for us- as a family!

Shopping some season’s favorite clothing, accessories, beauty products, or home decors can make you feel positive, and can ease your anxiety around anticipating any other season, but summer!

Start planning for your next summer break

Yes, even before the global pandemic hit us; we had already planned our travels for this year! And we’re going to do the same for next year; except that this time we will plan local travels and to visit nearby places, which we still haven’t seen in our state! But as we learn that the threats of catching the infection goes away; we will quickly book our future travel tickets. We always try to create reasons to look forward to- even if it means, in small tiny ways!

Look for more ways to be creative in your everyday life

Creativity is a natural healer! Tapping into our inner creativity helps us release all the toxic negative emotions, and helps us connect more strongly to the divine universal energy.

With this new addition of using masks regularly, as we step out; I’m more curious about learning more different creative ways to style and to add eye make; until this stays as our ‘new normal!’

We [our whole family] are also working on finding new ways to navigate happily through our not-so-exciting-indoor-days, and we know that the days ahead are going to look much uglier than what it it now! But we are all set to flex our creative muscles, and find different ways to make it easy, exciting, and productive for everyone in the family.

A little mindfulness can take you a long way!

A little mindfulness everyday can keep you grounded and will help you to be present in the moment- in every situation. When you pause to practice mindfulness even just for few minutes in your day, you will be more aligned with how your day is supposed to look like; and that will make your day feel better and brighter from inside out.

Other day, while reading the book called, ‘The Dalai Lama’s Book Of Wisdom’, by His Holiness the 14th Dalai Lama, where he says, “I believe that if someone really wants a happy life then it is very important to pursue both internal and external means, in other words, mental development and material development. One could also say ‘spiritual development’, but when I say ‘spiritual’ I do not necessarily mean any kind of religious faith. When I use the word ‘spiritual’ I mean basic human good qualities. These are: human affection, a sense of involvement, honesty, discipline and human intelligence properly guided by good motivation. We have all these qualities from birth; they do not come to us later in our lives.” How enlightening. Isn’t it?

I hope you find them helpful too! And let me end this post with some inspiring end of summer quotes to keep the sunshine in your heart- even during those dark gloomy winter days.

“Summertime. It was a song. It was a season. I wondered if that season would ever live inside of me.” ~Benjamin Alire Sáenz, Last Night I Sang to the Monster

“Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” ~Sam Keen

“The summer night is like a perfection of thought.” ~Wallace Stevens

” Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass on a summer day listening to the murmur of water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is hardly a waste of time.” ~John Lubbock

“One must maintain a little bit of summer, even in the middle of winter.” ~Henry David Thoreau

“I wonder what it would be like to live in a world where it was always June.” ~L.M. Montgomery

“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness.” ~John Steinbeck, Travels with Charley: In Search of America

“Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August.” ~Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty

“Cause a little bit of summer is what the whole year is about.” ~John Mayer

“The grill is the summer equivalent of a fireplace; everyone gravitates to it.” ~Katie Lee

“I love how summer just wraps its arms around you like a warm blanket.” ~Kellie Elmore

“I love summertime more than anything else in the world. That is the only thing that gets me through the winter, knowing that summer is going to be there.” ~Jack McBrayer

“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.”~ Audrey Hepburn

“Rise above the storm and you will find the sunshine.”~Mario Fernández