As the end of summer approaches, the list of responsibilities start to grow, and our sense of freedom seems like it diminishes. The end of summer doesn’t mean you have to stop having fun. In fact, if you develop a strategy to make things easier and less stressful, the whole family will have an easier transition. Here’s some help on how to fight the end of summer blues and how to prepare for the change in season:

  1. Plan ahead
    The biggest challenge especially for us parents, is getting everyone back onto schedule. Start thinking about the September routine of earlier wake up and bed times. Start your back to school shopping early so you’re not overwhelmed on the last couple of days before school.
  2. Revamp your closet
    It may be a little early to clean out the closet entirely, but it’s certainly a great time to go shopping for those gorgeous fall pieces like jeans, sweaters, booties, scarves, and jackets. Take the time to go through your closet and get rid of those items you haven’t worn in a while. L
  3. End with an end-of-summer bang like a party, BBQ, a vacation, camping, a family road trip.
    A lot of Torontonians head to the CNE. It marks the official end of summer in the city. We go every year and enjoy the rides, the farm building, and of course, the food building.
  4. Make a scrapbook or frame a collage
    Find pictures or other memories (ticket stubs, bracelets, odds and ends) that you can hang on your wall of a collection of things you did this summer.
  5. Think ahead and reflect back positively.
    Reflecting back on your summer experiences are just as important as thinking ahead. Take the lessons you have learned this summer and learn from them. Start off the new season acknowledging your successes, and making changes to the things that didn’t go as planned for you.
  6. Reset your priorities.
    Take the opportunity to build focus, If you are a leader in an organization, take the opportunity of returning from vacation to build a new focus, network with new people, and clear out clutter by making room for the more important stuff.

The good news is that the end of summer is never as bad as we think it will be. In fact, it might just be better than summer itself! It’s up to you and how you think about it.