Navigating the shift into summer
Whether you’re graduating, finishing up another school year, or beginning summer classes, know that it’s completely normal to have mixed feelings about these transitions. During times of uncertainty and change, it’s important to recognize how these transitions can affect your mental health and well-being and consider how you can take care of yourself as you enter a new season.
The transition into summer can feel disruptive, as you experience the change in routine and start to adjust to a different pace. Although the summer offers a break from school, it usually comes with different responsibilities that take up your time in a new way. For example, you might be working a job, getting ready for life after high school, taking care of siblings, or doing chores at home. Your days might be less structured, and you may be spending more time on your own or with family instead of with classmates. While transitions like these can be exciting, they can also be stressful because they require you to adapt, grow and try new things.
Getting ready for change
So why is this important? Summer can be a challenging season, but it’s also a time to try new things, set goals and take care of yourself! With the end of the school year coming soon, it can be helpful to think about how your daily routine might look different and reflect on strategies you can use to support yourself during the transition. You may not be able to control the fact that summer is around the corner, but you can control how you respond to this change and prepare yourself by planning ahead. Being prepared and having a few strategies ready can make the transition to summer feel a bit less scary and more manageable.
Here are a few tips to consider as you prepare for the shift to summer:
- Check in with yourself and what you need. Are there any strategies you can start using now to make the transition feel easier (e.g., building a mentally healthy nighttime routine)? What self-care strategies have helped you manage feeling stressed or overwhelmed in the past?
- Remember that it’s okay to move at a slower pace. You might feel pressure to be doing fun things every day, especially as the weather gets warmer. But taking the time to rest and recharge is important, too. Make decisions on how you want to spend your time in a way that makes sense for you!
- Stay connected. Without school, it may be harder to spend time with friends every day, and it’s totally normal for this time to feel lonelier than usual. You might need to be more intentional with reaching out to friends and setting up specific times to hang out (in person or virtually). Summer also offers an opportunity to get involved in your community and build connections outside of school.
- Try something new. Take advantage of having less structure to your day. Explore a new hobby or go somewhere in your community you’ve always wanted to visit!
- Ask for help. Being away from school can change what mental health supports you have access to, but you do not have to deal with this transition on your own. Consider the supportive, caring adults in your life who you can reach out to during the summer, such as caregivers, mentors, Elders and coaches.
Remember, practising self-care and reaching out for help when you need it is just as important during the summer as it is during the school year!
Looking for more resources to have in your toolkit for the summer?
Check out some of our other resources for more strategies and tips to have ready as summer begins!