Surviving September

Back to school for some, back to work for others, and end-of-year deadlines for many: September is crunch time in our culture, and widely regarded as one of the most stressful times of the year. The transition from one season’s pace to another can increase stress, lower immunity and leave us feeling drained.

At a time when you are going and doing constantly, consider implementing these strategies to survive September:

1. Clear Your Calendar. The commitments you may have for work, school or children likely dominate your September calendar. Resist the tendency to schedule more. Keep non-essential events to a minimum, push meetings back if possible, and give yourself lots of wiggle room to decompress.
2. Try Scroll-Free September. Scroll-Free September is a UK-based initiative encouraging people to give up social media for the month. By reducing social media consumption, you may also find yourself giving up negative body image, fear of missing out and poor sleep habits. If nothing else, it’s one less “thing” demanding your attention.
3. Practice 4-7-8 Breathing. This mindful breathing technique can calm your nerves in just a few moments. Breathe in for a count of 4, hold the breath for a count of 7, and then exhale for a count of 8. Repeat 3 times. Use this throughout the day when faced with stress or if you are feeling overwhelmed.

If you can’t do all of these things, just stick with #3: When things get rough, remember to breathe.

As always, if you need guidance, please call our Helpline at 610-687-6391.

Happy Fall!