LOOKING FORWARD TO YOUR FAMILY GATHERING?

Fresh off the summer when we’ve had a break from stress, a more carefree vibe, holidays, fewer obligations, then it’s back to school time! This generally means back to routines, shopping for new clothes, school supplies, weather changing. Back to the grind.

With the plethora of vitamin D during the summer months, we often feel happier, more motivated, and have more positive mental health and wellness as we head into the fall and winter months. But September can also bring its fair share of worry and dread too. With the new school year approaching, or the return to work from summer, this can be a difficult time.

Whether or not you cringe or celebrate the fall, how do we get ourselves and our families ready for this new year?

While you may have your own systems in place, there are some basic tools that will help to ease into this transitional time of year.

Communication is key. A good old fashioned family calendar is an effective way to track weekly events and commitments. This is also a great tool to help your kids learn about time management. Trying to keep our own schedules in our heads, let alone what others are up to, can add to feeling overwhelmed. Write it down.

Another helpful tip is to have weekly meetings as a household. At this time we can discuss if we have more or less time in the upcoming week, if we need a hand, or have to adjust what has been scheduled in order to make time for ourselves or ‘down time’.

Change your work tasks. Consider doing more challenging tasks at times during the day where you have more energy or are at your best. Perhaps if reading through your email is daunting, try doing it at different times. If you have too many meetings, or meetings fall at a time of day where you’re not feeling as productive, have a conversation with the others about re-scheduling.

Don’t give more of yourself than required. Be aware of what your job description is and what you are paid for. Are you putting your energy into the right place? Maybe you could better utilize your time keeping up to date in your industry, reading, looking for ways to add value (professional development, volunteering, lunch & learn, interest groups, etc.). Focus on what you like and what you’re good at and have a conversation with your boss.

Leave work at work.

Acknowledging workplace stress or conflict and finding appropriate solutions will help to alleviate some of the work-related dread. Sometimes this is out of our control, and so learning what battles to fight, and what we need to learn to let go of, will be very helpful. You can address concerns with a supervisor or manager, but can’t expect the outcome to be what we want. So finding alternatives will be healthier for you than putting toxic energy into something out of our control.

Transform your workspace. Doing a minirenovation can be a great way to change things around in your office or lunchroom. This might mean moving your furniture around for a different perceptive, bringing some new colour by way of a new throw pillow, blanket, or piece of art. Reorganize your files, or move things around on your bookshelf.

Prioritize your wellbeing. Schedule self-care into your week.

Burning the candle at both ends may feel necessary to keep our momentum going, however this is the best recipe for burn out and fatigue. We need to learn how to blend work and life, not balance.

Self-care is not indulgent, nor does it mean going to the spa weekly. It simply means taking a few minutes or hours to ‘down regulate’ or be less busy. This could mean reading a book, or making a cup of tea and watching the action outside your window. You could join a yoga class, or go for a walk. Pour yourself a bath, and light some candles. It does not include bingeing on movies or zoning out on a game. It is an appointment with yourself to check-in and calm.

Changing things in our lives can breathe new energy and life into a once mundane or anxietyinvoking situation.

If we don’t change things, things don’t change.