As summer winds down, I’m finding myself weary.
The last couple months were filled with adventure and fun-filled family memories, to be sure. We crammed more into our weeks than we intended, filling our calendar with many of the things we couldn’t do during the past year-plus of pandemical living. We camped with friends and again with family, we served at Young Life camp, we celebrated birthdays and retirement, and we took a legit vacation with just the four of us.
We’ve squeezed every last bit of joy out of the flexibility and sunshine of summer.
But now, I’m tired.
I’m worn down from the pace, the lack of structure, the full days and late nights.
I need an end-of-summer reset.
Summer is my favorite season, the time when all the normal rules and routines fly out the window and we give ourselves permission to show up in a different way. It’s a season with less restraint and more indulgence, less structure and more freedom, less discipline and more playfulness.
Summer invites us to exhale. It’s the space between the end of spring and the beginning of fall where we can unwind from the hustle and recover our energy for what’s ahead. It invites us to let down our guard and rest a bit more, play a bit more, eat a bit more.
But like all seasons, summer is not meant to last forever.
My body feels the weight of so much time spent traveling and so few days at home (and my clothes are fitting noticeably tighter from all the burgers, s’mores, and margaritas–some of my summer favorites).
Parenting requires a different type of energy away from home–none of us are at our best when we’re running hard and living with fewer of the boundaries that help us rest and recover.
My mind is spinning, like I’ve been knocked upside down by a tidal wave of near constant activity and now find myself swirling underwater, struggling to find my bearings, to remember what day it is, to keep track of what’s coming next.
When I get this tired, everything feels bigger, harder, and more desperate. I lose my ability to separate how I’m feeling right now from how I will be feeling from now on (as in, once I’ve had a minute to catch up on laundry and sit still by myself, uninterrupted).
In my overwhelm, I’m more likely to choose coping strategies that offer quick relief but no lasting comfort, the ones that often leave me wading in a puddle of shame.
Summer has served its beautiful purpose, but my body and mind are ready for a new rhythm.
Even before the weather shifts, our internal clocks tell us a change is coming, a shift is needed. Our bodies crave different food, different clothes, different routines.
The weariness we feel at the end of one season is perfectly normal. It doesn’t mean we’re doing anything wrong–it just means we’re ready for a change.
Sometimes we just need to stop long enough to notice our own weariness in order to make space for something different.
Here are two simple questions we can ask if we need a reset (in any season):
1. How are you doing, really?
It seems like a straightforward enough question, but it’s easy to brush off. Pause and get curious about what is happening inside you that no one else can see.
Check in with your body–is it tired or rested? Relaxed or tense? Hungry or thirsty?
Then move to your mind–is it spinning or peaceful? Foggy or focused? Distracted or clear?
And finally, notice your heart–are you feeling grateful or discouraged? Grounded or scattered? Connected or lonely?
Sit still long enough to give yourself space to observe the state you’re actually in. If you’re willing, writing down your answers might help you slow down a little more, giving you even greater clarity.
Once you can put words to how you are really doing, you’ll be ready to answer the next question:
2. What do you most need right now?
Before you move into something new, think about how to help your body, mind, and heart recover from the season you’ve just lived. Do you need rest? (And what would real rest look like?) What kind of support could you ask for? Where do you need encouragement or a listening ear?
Maybe it’s as simple as a nap, a walk with a friend, a couple hours to plan for the week. Or maybe it’s something a little more involved, something that requires you to ask for help or invest in community or change the way you approach your days.
Naming what we need may seem simple, but don’t be fooled–it’s rarely easy. Yet, if we want to move into the next season differently, we’ve got to identify what is happening below the surface. Our thriving depends on it.
If you’re sensing yourself longing for a reset, it could be time to pay attention to what’s already shifting within you. This could be your invitation to make space for the natural transition from one season to the next, thanking summer for all it’s provided while welcoming fall with open arms.
If you’re looking for a way to move into fall with greater intentionality, I’ve created this 4-week guide to help you identify what it might look like to stop surviving and start thriving in this coming season. Download it for your own reflection, or as a tool to spark meaningful conversation with friends!