As summer fades and the routine of work looms, many people experience what is sometimes called the “September Scaries” – a feeling of ‘impending doom’ now the summer is over and with a busy end of the year on the horizon.
It’s the anxiety that arises as the relaxed days of summer give way to the demands of returning to work or school. Much like the “Sunday Blues” – a well-known phenomenon where individuals feel a sense of dread about the upcoming working week – this seasonal anxiety stems from the apprehension of facing responsibilities again after a period of more freedom.
The Effect of the September Shift
The transition from the ease of summer to a structured schedule can be jarring. After weeks of relaxation, if you have had time off or been on holiday, the thought of returning to busy days, early mornings, pressure, deadlines and meetings can feel overwhelming.
The shift from bright, sunny days to the shorter, cooler ones of autumn can also affect our mood, making it harder to embrace the return to work. Additionally, the “post-holiday blues” can make everyday tasks seem more daunting, as we feel pressure to immediately resume busy mode.
Also, it’s worth remembering that any time we face the start or return to a different routine, our subconscious mind tends to resist the change. Why? Because change feels ‘unsafe’. Your subconscious loves whatever is familiar. So, this resistance to change likely plays a big part in why September can be a difficult month.
What Does It Feel Like?
The September Blues often manifest as a sense of loss for the carefree summer days, reluctance to return to work, and anxiety about upcoming challenges. This can lead to restlessness, changes in sleep patterns, and feelings of anxiety, pressure, irritability or even sadness.
For instant support with these feelings about returning to work, do take a look at my blog: Easing September’s Return to Work Stress
Embracing This Month’s Theme
This month, we’ll explore the September Shift and the worries people often face in advance of a busy Q4 in a three-part blog series. Today’s post introduced the concept and why it happens. Hopefully, if you are feeling this way, you can now see that you are not alone and in many ways, it’s a natural reaction to change.
In the next installment, I’ll share strategies to ease the transition back to work, helping you start the Autumn season with more calm and confidence.
Finally, in the third post, I’ll answer a subscriber’s question asking how to maintain a healthy work-life balance to avoid burning out between September and the end of December, which can be a busy time for many.
The end of summer doesn’t have to be daunting…perhaps we can even find a way to look forward to this time of year? Stay tuned as we tackle both September and the forthcoming autumnal season together.
Kate x
