You know the commercial. The one for the office supplies store where the father is skipping gleefully through the aisles collecting school supplies as “It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year” plays in the background. Zoom in on the kids and they look as miserable as can be. It’s back and we can all relate on some level. We start the end of summer blues as soon as August begins and have some anticipation for fall, be it for school, the change in weather, or the change of routine. Change can be upsetting and scary, but also exciting and something to look forward to. If your routine changes come September (whether you have children or not), there are a few things to think about and start working toward to make that transition easier.

Establish some level of routine. Start getting up earlier and around the same time everyday (if you haven’t been already). You don’t need to get up exactly at the the time you would normally, but the exercise is to start training your brain and body to adapt. This will mean less crankiness for you and the kids when the real thing starts!

Implement structure. Start trying to have some expectations and responsibilities if you haven’t been. Dinner around the same time, household duties to be done, exercise routines etc are all things that can help adjust to the grind of school, activities, and the like.

Have some fun! Too often we get caught up in what is coming next, the days getting shorter, and the sadness of summer ending. Schedule fun events or activities with friends or family. As you do this the FOMO will diminish when school starts and you can enter into a new school year fresh and with a whole lot less resistance.

Good luck and have a happy August!