Summer Blues
As we continue to roll through the dog days of summer, I have noticed an uptick in new clients who come to me feeling depressed, unmotivated, and overall over things. It’s a pattern I have seen starting near the end of July through September.
Summers in the Midwest are awful enduring the 3 digit temperatures with high humidity where even going to the pool does not seem like a fun and cooling experience. Many of use choose to spend our time indoors with the cool air eschewing any outdoor activities. As a gardener, I call this survival of the fittest time of year as even going out to water the plants can seem like a big undertaking. Just like in winter where we start to get cabin fever, the same can happen in the depths of summer. Seasonal Affect Disorder (SAD) is used to diagnose people who get depressed in the winter, but the same can be said for summer.
The solution? Wait it out. Some of these clients come to me in late September or early October when things start to cool to tell me they are unexplainably feeling better! That’s great!
My point in writing this blog is to remind people that weather DOES impact our moods. And that’s okay. Since I cannot control the weather or want to move to Alaska where things are cooler right now, it’s time to start thinking about these times of years when your mood is impacted by the weather in a new way. I call it THE FLOW. We as humans are animals and like other animals we are meant to flow with the time of year and how the weather is at that moment. During the high heat of summer, we are meant to slow down and rest just like we are meant to in the depths of winter. Right now, we are resting for Autumn when things are cooler and there are many activities and things we want to engage in especially outdoors. I am active during the Fall as it is my favorite time of year and I want all the energy I can to do the myriad of fun and engaging things that fill my cup whether that is going to the pumpkin patch, hiking, getting my fall mums to decorate, bonfires with friends, and other community based things.
So take this time to rest up. Don’t feel guilty or unproductive about it. You’ll be plenty busy with motivation here in a bit. It is how we are meant to flow.
