The Season of Transition

There is something about this time of year that can feel a little destabilizing.

The days are still warm, but the light is beginning to change, the sun feels a little less present. Summer routines start giving way to schedules, commitments, sports practices, earlier mornings, and packed calendars. The familiar ebb and flow of vacations, long evenings, time with family and friends, and the summer swell of freedom begins to fade.

For some, it is the excitement (or dread) of a new school year. For others, it might mean returning to work after a slower summer, watching children leave for school, starting college, beginning a new job, adjusting to an empty nest, or simply noticing that life feels different somehow.

Even when nothing dramatic or major seems to have changed, something has shifted.

We feel it in our bodies. We feel it in the crisp morning air that is slowly beginning to lose its humidity. Transition has crept up on us, demanding that we reprioritize our energy and begging our nervous systems to pay attention.

We tend to think of transitions as major life events: moving away, getting married, starting a family, changing careers, losing a loved one, graduating college, or beginning something new. But there are itty-bitty transitions happening all the time: A kiddo moves into a new classroom this year. A teen starts a new grade level. A college student moves into a dorm with an unknown roommate. A parent adjusts to a quieter house during the day. An adult returns to a fuller work schedule. A retiree notices the change in neighborhood rhythms as children wait in line for the bus instead of for the slide.

These changes may be positive. They may even be things we have been looking forward to! And yet, they can be unsettling. Burdensome. Uncertain. Transitions request that we let go of one rhythm before we have completely found our footing in the next one. There is often a period in between—when the old routine no longer fits, but the new one doesn't feel natural yet. We are a child learning to walk again, taking it one shaky step at a time. That in-between space can bring uncertainty, frustration, irritability, sadness, fatigue, anxiety, or a sense of being “off.” This doesn't necessarily mean something is wrong, it just means we are adjusting to something new.

There is another sneaky layer to this particular September transition that can weigh us down: the changing season.

In Wisconsin, as summer fades into fall, we experience changes in daylight, temperature, activity, and routine. The decrease in daylight can impact mood and may result in Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) for some. Sometimes this can feel like an extremely slow shift, so much so that we do not even realize it at times.

Maybe you're sleeping more. Maybe you're less motivated. Maybe the things that normally bring you joy feel harder to reach. Maybe you're withdrawing socially or finding yourself more exhausted than usual. Even things that you typically want to do (going for a run, picking apples with friends, potting fall plants, going to Packer parties) become things you don’t feel like doing anymore. It can feel as though life has suddenly become heavier. Like the thickness of humidity has been replaced with a mist of depression that hovers instead.

For some, the seasonal shift may not lead to depression, but it can still affect energy, mood, routines, and the way we feel in our days, especially as the light diminishes. We can notice these changes without immediately judging them and assuming we are the problem. Instead, we can ask ourselves: “What do I need in this moment to feel like me?”

And on a final note - back-to-school is not just a transition for kiddos. “Back-to-school” can make this time of year feel like something that only affects children and teens. But transitions ripple through whole families and communities. Students need school supplies, sports equipment, and new notebooks. Parents double-check calendars and work schedules. Teachers, administrators, support staff, and other professionals prep their classrooms to provide a safe and engaging learning environment. Bus drivers navigate clogged streets and tight drop-off lanes. (Shout out to all school staff and bus drivers!). And even if you aren't connected to a school in any way, you may still feel the collective shift that naturally happens this time of year.

We are all in a time of change, a season full of moments that excite us, terrify us, tire us out, and keep us guessing. During times of transition, self-care can help support emotional and physical well-being. When your life feels like a wobbly bridge to the next thing, prioritizing consistent sleep, regular meals, movement, daylight exposure (while we still have more of it!), and connection with others, including a therapist, can provide some solid ground to walk on.