Do you feel sad as summer transitions into fall? You may have what social scientists and TikTokers alike call “end-of-summer sadness” or “end-of-summer blues.”
There are biological, psychological, and social reasons for a seasonal mood swing. Daylight starts to wane and the temperature may drop, which can cause the body to generate less serotonin, a neurotransmitter linked to mood control and sensations of well-being, says biological psychologist Mary Poffenroth, author of Brave New You: Strategies, Tools, and Neurohacks to Live More Courageously Every Day. Melatonin levels, which are also linked to mood, also fluctuate, she explains.
“There’s the likely dopamine crash that occurs when all the fun summer activities end, and we enter a lull of adjusting to going back to school or work,” says Gilly Kahn, a clinical psychologist based in Atlanta. Fall typically means increased demands on our time. “After more freedom and less responsibility, jumping back into regimented routines can be draining psychologically,” says Poffenroth.
Though these emotions are natural, they are not beyond your control. “Our brains are remarkably neuroplastic, which lets us adjust to changes and affect our emotional states by deliberate behavior and thought patterns,” Poffenroth says. “Knowing the biological basis of end-of-summer blues will help us to apply scientifically based solutions to reduce its consequences.”
Ahead are seven things you can do to keep the seasonal malaise at bay.
Get excited to start a new chapter
The most effective way to beat the end-of-summer blues is to find meaning and excitement in whatever you’re transitioning to next. “If the excitement isn’t already in there, I work with clients to find a way to add it,” she says. This approach is rooted in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which focuses on creating a sense of meaning in a person’s life by helping them identify and live by their values—like family, creativity, and adventure….
