The feelings can be overwhelming. Anxiety, sadness, excitement, hope, love – all intertwined as a child (young or old) steps into the classroom and away from home.
It’s a big adjustment for children and those who care for them while out of school. After a summer of being together so frequently, when the first bell rings it can be a bit disorienting; the silence alone can be deafening!
Which may mean it’s time to regroup.
Bringing focus back to yourself can be needed after an immersive summer taking care of others. So if you feel it’s time to find your way back to yourself, here are ways that can guide that process.
Lose the guilt
As soon as a wave goodbye takes place it can be easy to head straight into production mode; there’s so many things that need to get done!
Just try not to jump in too intensely at first. Chances are, you’ve probably neglected yourself just as much as the other things which means you need attention as well.
While guilt loves to creep in when many of us take time for ourselves, self-care should be a priority on the to-do list.
Embrace the silence
After months of chatter, a quiet car, home, and office can feel odd. Rather than filling the void with background noise, lean into the silence for a while. Sit with the quiet and listen to your mind, body, and spirit. What are they telling you? What have you been too busy and pre-occupied to notice or become aware of? Are there feelings you have that need expression? Is there something that needs to be addressed or recognized?
Do something by yourself
One of our staff members finds the act of doing something by herself a powerful way to regroup. Typically, she drops her children off at school on that first day and heads straight to the lake to paddle board. She takes the entire day off of work and spends time with herself, doing something she loves. The decompression from a busy summer allows her to clear her mind, relax, think, and formally move forward in the change in schedule.
Whether it’s taking yourself out to lunch, going to see a movie, getting a massage, going for a hike, or any other activity that you love, consider enjoying time alone to rediscover yourself.
Spend time with a friend or loved one
Adult conversation may have been hard to come by throughout the summer, so it’s incredible how refreshing something as simple as a coffee date with a friend, mentor, or loved one can be.
Set a personal goal
The start of school can be filled with hopes and dreams for our children, but what about our own? This can be a wonderful time to create a goal for ourselves.
Think about questions such as:
Are there things I’d like to learn more about? (such as with higher education or training classes)
Is there an issue or goal I’d like to work on for my physical, mental, and/or spiritual health?
What activity, sport, or hobby are of interest to me?
What in my life have I been settling for that could use attention?
Are there changes I’ve been wanting to make?
In what ways could I give back and help my community/the world?
Sending a child off to a new school year is no small feat. Remember to acknowledge all you have done for sport schedules, play dates, vacations, activities, meals, etc. in addition to work, household chores, and the like. Give yourself time to unwind and space to regroup.
Acupuncture, herbal supplements, massage, and holistic counseling can also help recover the nervous system from an active summer. To schedule an appointment, please call us at (303) 688-6698 or click here.
The CNMA office provides naturopathic care, testing, massage, and holistic counseling to those in Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Centennial, Parker, Larkspur, Monument, Colorado Springs, and the greater Denver metro area. For those outside of these areas, virtual appointments are available.
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