It’s that time of year again. The summer season is ending (or completely over, depending on how
you view things) and we are saying goodbye to the warm weather, the long days, and for those
where it applies, to summer vacation. It is common for individuals to take stock of their summers
at the start of September and hold a feeling of regret. Regret for not making most of their
summer. Regret for not going on that vacation. Regret for not going to the beach as much as you
would have liked to. Regret for not catching up on the work you were behind on. The list of
potential post-summer regrets goes on and on.

Post-summer regrets often contribute to what many people consider “the post-summer blues.”
When we find ourselves in moments of “post-summer blues”, it is important to remember the
tenets of REBT. It is important to offer ourselves unconditional acceptance, despite our
perceived shortcomings during the summer season. It is also important to remember that goals,
when held flexibly, can be great for helping us live fulfilling lives, but when held inflexibly, can
often contribute to unhealthy negative emotions such as despair, anxiety, shame, etc. when we do
not meet up to those goals.

Disputing irrational beliefs that often contribute to these unhealthy negative emotions can be an
effective way to combat the “post-summer blues.” Along with the irrational “demanding” beliefs
mentioned above, other common irrational beliefs associated with the end of summer can
include, “I can’t stand the fact that summer is over and it will get cold again soon,” or “I’m a
failure because I did not meet the goals I set for myself at the start of summer.” Summers always
end and even though we may not feel like we can stand that fact, we have survived multiple
summers transitioning to Fall just the same, and just because we may have not met all of the
goals we set for ourselves over the summer, we are not complete “failures” as human beings
because we did not “succeed” at meeting each and every one of our goals.

It can feel difficult to experience the end of summer and the approach of Fall for many different
reasons. Like most difficulties, the “post-summer blues” are temporary, and when we make it
through this period, the next summer is that much closer.