Even though the transition into fall comes near the end of a calendar year, there’s something about the change in seasons that feels like a new beginning. People are settling into new apartments, sending kids back to school, or returning to school themselves. As with other turns of season, a feeling of a new beginning can be a time of reflection on the past and looking ahead to the future.
As we approach the fall and subsequently the end of the year, ask yourself how you would like to spend the final months of 2021. This year, like the one before it, has been tumultuous and uncertain. In the final months, how do you want to handle that uncertainty? How do you want to care for yourself?
Using the mindset of a fresh start, now may be a good time to develop a new routine or habit that can help you round out the year on a positive note. Maybe with the change in temperature (and the end of brutal heat waves!), you can add a daily walk in nature to the end of your work day. Maybe you can find exciting and comforting autumnal recipes to try. Maybe you could pick up a new hobby to promote your mental health (I highly recommend knitting; it’s meditative and super cozy). Use this time to assess your needs when it comes to maintaining your mental health.
We’re getting closer to the finish line of another difficult year. What can help you make that final push?
Bethany Kriegel, LMHC, earned her master’s degree in mental health counseling from Boston College. She has experience working with adults in residential treatment settings, helping those struggling with eating disorders and obsessive-compulsive disorder, among other issues.
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