Summertime Sadness? Here’s Introducing a Series to Help You Navigate the Imminent Sunshine Season

Welcome to our Summer blog series where I will explore how the often romanticized and eagerly awaited summer—and the vacations that come with it—can be a challenging time for some of us.
 
While summer is associated with blissful relaxation, travel plans, time with family, endless and often excessive hours of pursuits of hobbies like video gaming, sleeping late, awakening later, and afternoon naps-the seasonal transition and the loss of a routine can significantly alter one’s circadian rhythm (colloquially known as our internal clock), and affect our brain’s functioning. This apparent inability of circadian rhythm to adapt to seasonal changes is hypothesized to be the reason for a relative increase in the risk for mood changes, depression, fatigue, sleep issues, lack of motivation, and behavior problems, as well as frequent exacerbations of clinical symptoms in those dealing with mental health-related ailments. My goal in this series would be to ponder how the brain works under of this and provide you with scientifically backed information, practical tips, and mental health advice.
 
Although this series welcomes all, it shall specifically address, high school and college students, graduate students and young professionals in academia—a cohort known to juggle intense academic endeavors, innovative hobbies, artistic predilections, and a seemingly endless to-do list. Thus, when despite of their robust personal expectations and determined efforts to meet them, any shortcoming is considered (erroneously) a personal failure in making the most of the ‘perfect summer time.’ I find it important to remind them throughout this series that the myth of a ‘perfect summer’ is just that— a myth. They are not alone if they find themselves feeling gloomier than what the shimmering sun outside might suggest.
 
I strongly believe in the importance of representation and are dedicated to empowering young people by enhancing their understanding of how seasonal changes, especially the transition into the summer heat, can affect their mental health. This will help them recognize and handle the unique seasonal challenges better and, perhaps more importantly, urge them to give themselves grace for not feeling their absolute best when they perceive people around them seemingly to be having a blast.
 
By the end of the series, I hope these tips will make this summer a pleasant one, rather than a scorching one.
 
Join us next week, as we start our series by understanding the intricacies of summer and anxiety.