Does anyone else feel like September is the beginning of a new year? We often find our schedules getting busy again as students of all ages return to school, many bearing the stress of beginning a new grade, and many businesses and organizations attempt to shake off the sand to resume committees and regularly scheduled meetings that were on a summer hiatus.
Are you all already looking forward to next year’s vacation?
We at Connect would like to help you balance the September rush by holding onto the “summer feeling” a little longer. With some thoughtful planning and mindset adjustments you may be able to hold the winter blues at bay. Here are several strategies you can consider:
- Extend Outdoor Activities: Continue engaging in outdoor activities that you enjoy during the summer. Whether it’s picnics, beach trips, hiking, or outdoor sports, these activities can help you hold onto the summer spirit, just don’t forget to pack a sweater.
- Be a Tourist in your own town: If possible, plan short getaways or weekend day trips to nearby destinations. This can help you maintain the vacation vibe without committing to a longer vacation.
- Create a Summer Space: Set up a dedicated space at home that reflects the summer atmosphere. Use bright colours, beach-themed decorations, and comfortable outdoor furniture to recreate that summer feeling. Consider using your “beach” towels in your bathroom to truly extend the beach vibe.
- Host Summer-Themed Gatherings: Organize gatherings with friends and family that embrace summer themes, such as barbecues, pool parties, or outdoor movie nights.
- Embrace Seasonal Foods: Enjoy the flavours of summer by incorporating fresh fruits, salads, and light dishes into your meals. This can help you maintain the connection to the season.
- Morning Routines: Start your day with activities that evoke summer memories, such as going for morning walks or practicing yoga outdoors. No one says you have to stop wearing sunscreen.
- Stay Active: Engage in physical activities and exercises that you enjoy. These can boost your mood and energy levels, helping you stay in a positive mindset.
- Listen to Summer Music: Create playlists of your favourite summer tunes. Music has a powerful impact on mood and can instantly transport you to warmer days.
- Wear Summer Clothes: Continue wearing your summer clothes and accessories for as long as the weather permits. Dressing in a way that aligns with the season can help you maintain that summer feeling.
- Mindfulness and Gratitude: Practice mindfulness and gratitude to focus on the present moment and the positive aspects of the transitioning season.
- Engage in Creative Projects: Explore creative projects that remind you of summer, such as painting seascapes or making DIY decorations.
- Capture Memories: Sort through your summer photos and create a scrapbook or digital album. This can help you relive those cherished moments.
- Set Future Plans: Plan activities for the upcoming months that you can look forward to. This anticipation can help mitigate the post-summer blues.
- Enjoy Evening Strolls: Take leisurely walks in the evening to soak in the warmth and extend the sense of summer relaxation.
- Focus on Self-Care: Engage in self-care routines like home-spa days, meditation, or reading in a cozy outdoor spot.
- Explore New Hobbies: Use the transitioning season as an opportunity to explore new hobbies or interests that keep you engaged and excited.
If this list isn’t long enough, considering volunteering or supporting any of the days of awareness listed below, giving back is a sure way to increase mindfulness and gratitude.
Remember that the change of seasons is a natural process, and finding joy in each season’s unique offerings can lead to a more fulfilling and well-rounded year.
Labour Day – September 4, 2023
The origins of Labour Day in Canada can be traced back to a printer’s revolt in 1872 in Toronto when labourers tried to establish a maximum 54-hour workweek. Labour Day is a statutory national holiday celebrated throughout Canada on the first Monday in September. Learn more about the celebration of Nova Scotia’s Nurses Union on Labour day 2022 here.
National Suicide Prevention Day – September 10, 2023
Let’s work together with our family, friends, healthcare workers, religious and political leaders to prevent suicide through active counseling and support. Canadian Mental Health Association Nova Scotia Division celebrates Suicide Prevention Day as an annual initiative to promote awareness and foster understanding of suicide and the impact it has on individuals and communities. It’s time we empower others to be in charge of their lives and value the one life they have. Here are a few ways you can help.
The Women’s Place Resource Centre – September 12, 2023
Annually, on average, the Women’s Place Resource Centre provides support to over 1,300 people over the phone, in-person, and through programs and initiatives. Our mission is: to advance and advocate for the well-being, economic status, equity, and equality of all who identify as women in the Kings and Annapolis Counties. We support women by collaborating with community partners, advocating for policy change, and providing a safe space for women to access programming and support services.
Gender Equality Week – September 18-24, 2023
Gender Equality Week is the result of the passing of Bill C-309, the Gender Equality Week Act, which received Royal Assent on June 21, 2018. It raises awareness of the important contributions women and gender-diverse communities have made to the growth, development, character and identity of Canada. Here are ways to get involved.
International Day of Peace – September 21, 2023
Each year the International Day of Peace is observed around the world on 21 September. In 1981, the UN General Assembly declared this as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace, through observing 24 hours of non-violence and cease-fire. Here are ways you can get involved.
Business Women’s Day – September 22, 2023
Business Women’s Day was recognized in 1983, honouring the increasing role that women have to play in the world of business. The mission of the association is to bring together businesswomen of diverse occupations and to provide opportunities for them to help themselves and others grow personally and professionally. It is passionate about breaking boundaries for women and advocating for equal rights and pay across all facets of work. In line with this, The Canadian Federation of Business and Professional Women aims to unite business and professional women in all parts of Canada and beyond.
Orange Shirt Day (Truth and Reconciliation Day) – September 30, 2023
The slogan for Orange Shirt Day – Every Child Matters – is a declaration that no matter how much they were ignored and dismissed during Canada’s residential school era, the lives of Indigenous children matter. The Commission urges all levels of government to work together and advance reconciliation, introducing the 94 “calls to action” which discusses two parts: legacy and reconciliation.
The unofficial day has been observed since 2013 and is called Orange Shirt Day in memory of a piece of clothing then-six-year-old Phyllis Webstad had taken from her on her first day at a residential school in 1973.
National Hispanic Month in Canada – Whole month of September 2023
Every year from September 15 to October 15, Americans celebrate National Hispanic Heritage Month by appreciating the community’s history, heritage, and contributions of the ancestors of American citizens who came from Mexico, Spain, the Caribbean, and South- and Central America. Here are five things to know about Hispanic Heritage Month, its history and why Canada celebrates it in the middle of September.