One Thing Remains the Same: Change
Author: be well™ with Big Y® Registered Dietitian Team
It's time to roll with the changes of going from summer to fall and you’re doing great.
It isn’t that we don’t know it’s coming, it’s just that some of us dread it. Change, especially foreseeable changes due to the end of summer and the beginning of a new school year, can mean more than just the beginning of an academic year for many.
The changes underway may indicate the end of free-flowing days spent with the ones you love most. The shift may mean the mark of a rite of passage from childhood to adulthood, from living as a family unit to having your child move away to further their studies.
Whatever feelings you’re experiencing as summer vacation comes to an end, we’re here to remind you of how awesome you truly are as you handle these changes and share our favorite techniques for coping with the changes ahead.
Acknowledgment
First, recognize where you are. Maybe you’re not having the most loving feelings about changing from the laid-back energy of summer to a more hurried pace. Give yourself permission to acknowledge this. State matter-of-factly that you’re feeling bummed about summer coming to an end. Putting words to your feelings isn’t only big for you, it’s a powerful, long-lasting lesson for everyone around you, especially your children.
Gratitude
Once you acknowledge how you’re feeling, take a pause and think about what you’re grateful for. Are you grateful to have had the time with your children that you did? Do you have gratitude that the opportunities to grow in a new direction in the weeks ahead are upon you? What is it that these changes make you thankful for?
Share what you feel grateful for in a journal or out loud to friends and family. Modeling the practice of acknowledging change is hard but feeling grateful to be in the flux of change impacts others as well.
Slowing Down
We know the thought of slowing down right when your schedule is picking up may sound counterintuitive (or even unfathomable), but it’s often the answer. Going slow can help you process change mindfully. As your to-do list gets longer, weave in moments to pause. These can look like scheduling yourself breaks to step away from tasks so you can simply sit quietly and enjoy a cup of tea or carve out time each day to be by yourself to move your body and feel grounded. By being mindful of your own self-care, you’ll feel more balanced and able to respond to stressful moments without overreacting.
Write and Rewrite
Start your days with a rough draft plan of what you want to accomplish but don’t get too attached to your vision. Prepare by giving yourself 15 to 20 minutes at the end of each work day to look at what’s coming up in the day or week ahead. Taking this time makes remembering your dentist appointment is in a few days feel less stressful than when you receive the auto reminder the day before. 😊
Whether you feel ready to take on the change of pace or are in a bit of denial, you are exactly where you need to be in the process at this moment. Relax in knowing this. If you need a little nudge to embrace the changes ahead, we hope our tips above make you feel empowered to do so. Good luck and remember, you’re doing great!
Published 9/12/2022