“In September…”: a time for a fresh start, with a touch of anxiety.

Ελληνικά

Generally speaking, September brings with it a certain psychological pressure. It is not simply the transition from summer to autumn, but a shift in one’s entire internal rhythm. After weeks of a more relaxed pace and greater flexibility, September arrives as a push to ‘restart’, reminding us that, once again, the days of carefree and unhurried living have come to an end. The time has come to gradually return to our routine, our schedule and our responsibilities. This return, in itself, is bound to bring with it a touch of anxiety…

But what about our stress levels when our social media feeds are flooded with posts in the form of memes, Reels and podcasts offering advice, such as:

This collective social return affects our psychology more than we realise. Although we can clearly sense the change in the collective energy around us – seeing the streets fill up again, the pace of life quicken – and people rushing about more, these reminders in the form of the aforementioned phrases also surface and contribute to the worsening of the anxiety we may already be feeling. In our efforts to ensure as smooth a transition as possible, even if our own lives are not changing dramatically, our environment sends us signals of tension that the body registers as a threat. Thoughts such as:

Let’s try to take it step by step:

We don’t need to do everything all at once. Our nervous system needs time to adjust to a daily routine that’s different from what it’s been used to over the past few months.
We don’t need to set ‘goals’. We can break down the things that fall under our ‘responsibilities’ into small, realistic steps, so that we can achieve the desired outcome.
Not everything has to be perfect, or live up to the expectations of others or society. There are many different paths that lead to the same destination. Do things your own way.
Don’t forget to set aside a little time for yourself during the day, for self-care and relaxation.

Remember!

A period of adjustment – it doesn’t require major changes, but rather consistency in the realistic steps we have set out in our plan. We can get back into our stride in a more mindful, humane and caring way. Transition is a process that looks after us as much as we look after it.