It’s early August.  One full month left of warm weather, school vacation and, for some, summer vacations.  Even for those of us who aren’t students and don’t have summer vacation, warm weather often encourages us to relax, give ourselves an extra few moments and maybe head home from work just a few minutes earlier to enjoy the evening.

August is also one full month of back-to-school sales and anticipation of the end of summer and return of fall.  At some point in the summer, we all become conscious that the warm weather will end and that we will need to return to regular routines.  Whether you anticipate fall with relief or dread, these 9 easy activities can help you be present in this last month of summer and increase the positive experiences you have right now, before the inevitable changes of fall.

1. Take off your shoes.  Depending on where you live, summer may be the only season that you can go outside without shoes.  Take off your shoes and enjoy the freedom of walking barefoot.
2. Watch the sky.  As children a favorite pastime was watching the clouds.  Even now I find it impossible to remain stressed or anxious when lying in the grass watching the slow movement of the clouds.
3. Get wet.  Dip your feet into a lake, pond, pool, ocean or bucket.  Better yet, if you have access to water, jump in entirely.
4. Close your eyes and turn your face to the sun.  Take a few moments to bask in the warmth of the sun.
5. Wear loose and light clothing.  Let summer breezes cool you off.
6. Eat some watermelon.
7. Watch the night sky.  In fall and winter it’s often too cold to be out after dark.  In summer you can sit outside and enjoy cooler evening temperatures and comfortably see stars and moon emerge.
8. Listen for summer sounds.  Lawnmowers, waves, cicada’s, children playing.  Spend a few minutes listening for the summer sounds that surround you.
9. Get outside.  It may be hot mid-day, but find a comfortable time to sit outside for a few minutes.

The end of a season is always a reminder of the inevitability of change.  Summer changing into fall, in particular, brings reminders of change with the return to school and end of vacation season.  It’s easy to lose our connection with the present when we begin to anticipate our next steps.  The approach of fall might trigger a host of emotions from excitement to dread.  However, there are still 4 weeks left before you will need those back-to-school clothes, so don’t let our consumer culture rush you past these summer days.

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From Psych Central's website:
PsychCentral (August 2, 2010)

From Psych Central's website:
PsychCentral (August 2, 2010)

    Last reviewed: 2 Aug 2010