End of Summer - Making the Most of It

How to Savour the End of Summer 

By Aviva Boxer, Registered Psychotherapist 

I know we all say the same thing every year at this point in August – how did summer go by so fast? How is it possible that the days are getting shorter, the evenings are cooler and the talk is already all about back to school? 

With this stark knowledge, it would be too easy to fritter away the next couple of weeks worrying about time going by and missing the chance to savour what is in front of us – this most special time of year when summer is winding down and we are making our way into fall. 

The end of summer can bring up a lot of feelings 

Before we can get into appreciation mode, it can be helpful to acknowledge whatever feelings the end of summer brings up for us. 

For some people, summer means looking back on lovely time spent with family and friends, travelling, relaxing and enjoying life. For others, it may have meant being extra busy shuttling kids to summer camps, juggling childcare or covering for colleagues who were on vacation. 

And sometimes summer simply doesn’t turn out the way we imagined it would. 

There can be so much expectation attached to summer. We are supposed to make it “the best summer ever,” pack in as much fun as possible and take advantage of this supposedly slower, more carefree season. Summer can become the ultimate reward for getting through a busy year. 

But in reality, summer doesn’t always feel slow or carefree. We can be working, parenting, worrying, travelling, dealing with family dynamics or simply trying to keep up with everyday life. 

Acknowledging that summer is coming to an end can bring up feelings of disappointment about what didn’t happen or sadness about what we didn’t get to do. Maybe the vacation wasn’t as relaxing as you hoped. Maybe you spent more time working than you wanted to. Maybe someone you love was away for much of the summer. Or maybe you simply expected to feel happier than you did. 

There is nothing wrong with any of that. 

We don’t have to convince ourselves that our summer was wonderful before we are allowed to appreciate it. 

Savour what is still here 

This is where savouring can be a game changer. 

Savouring means intentionally paying attention to a positive experience while it is happening. It asks us to slow down enough to notice something rather than rushing past it. 

And interestingly, savouring can change our experience of time. When we are constantly thinking about what is coming next – the end of summer, the start of school, the next busy season – we can miss the actual moment we are living. 

So rather than trying to hold onto summer or wishing we had somehow made better use of it, what if we simply became more present to these last few weeks? 

Here are three simple ways to practise savouring the end of summer. 

1. Start your morning outside 

When you wake up, make your coffee or tea and step onto your balcony, porch or into your backyard. Instead of immediately reaching for your phone, spend a few minutes outside and get some natural morning light on your face. 

Morning light can help support your circadian rhythm, and stepping outside gives you a moment to notice the season you are actually in. 

Notice the warmth of the air. Listen to the birds. Feel the breeze. Look at the trees. 

You don’t have to turn it into a formal mindfulness practice. Just be there. 

2. Take a gratitude walk 

Step outside for a short walk around your neighbourhood and look for five things in your environment that you feel grateful for. 

When I do this, I often notice my neighbours’ gardens, birds singing, the sunset or the feeling of a breeze on my face. 

These are simple moments, but they can be surprisingly profound. 

Gratitude doesn’t mean ignoring what is difficult. It simply gives our attention somewhere else to go. It reminds us that even when life is complicated, there are often small moments of beauty happening alongside it. 

3. Give yourself something to look forward to 

Say out loud three things you are looking forward to over the next couple of weeks. 

It could be a new show you want to watch, a book you have on hold at the library, an evening with friends, an end-of-summer dinner, a visit to the beach or the beginning of apple-picking season. 

Anticipation is part of pleasure, too. 

When we are focused only on summer ending, it can feel as though something is being taken away from us. Looking ahead reminds us that the end of summer is not the end of enjoyment. There are still experiences to come. 

You don’t have to hold onto summer 

There is something bittersweet about this time of year. 

We know summer is ending. We know the days will get shorter and the evenings cooler. We know that routines will return and the pace of life may change. 

And maybe that is exactly why these last weeks can be so worth savouring. 

We don’t have to make them perfect. We don’t have to squeeze every last drop of fun out of them. We don’t have to pretend that we aren’t disappointed about the things that didn’t happen or sad that the season is ending. 

We can simply notice what is here. 

The warmth of the evening air. The taste of a perfectly ripe peach. The sound of children laughing outside. A walk after dinner. The golden light at the end of the day. A quiet morning with a cup of coffee. 

These moments are fleeting – but they are also happening right now. 

And sometimes, when we stop trying to hold onto time and simply pay attention to it, it feels like it slows down just enough for us to enjoy it. 

If you are finding that the transition from summer into fall is bringing up more difficult feelings than you expected, therapy can give you a space to slow down, make sense of what you are experiencing and move through life’s transitions with greater self-compassion. You don’t have to navigate those feelings alone. 

If you are finding that the transition from summer into fall is bringing up more difficult feelings than you expected, therapy can give you a space to slow down, make sense of what you are experiencing and move through life’s transitions with greater self-compassion. You don’t have to navigate those feelings alone. Reach out to learn more about how therapy can support you.