August can have a weird vibe.
Obviously, it’s still summer. The sun is shining, the days are long, and the evenings are warm. But emotionally? It’s already starting to feel like the end—and a mental shift might be happening for you.
You can feel September inching closer, and suddenly, summer doesn’t feel so light and free anymore. Instead, there might be a subtle but heavy sense of time running out.
The Emotional Shift of August
it’s common to feel an internal shift as August begins. You might not even realize it at first. But there’s often a quiet unease that surfaces this time of year, tied to the subtle but unmistakable signals that summer is winding down.
Some signs this emotional shift is happening:
• A vague sense of dread or pressure to “make the most of what’s left”
• Guilt about plans you didn’t follow through on
• Feeling low-energy or unmotivated, even though you want to enjoy things
• Irritability or restlessness with no clear source
• A sense of grief about how fast time is passing
This emotional shift is often triggered by subtle but powerful environmental cues:
• Back-to-school displays starting to pop up in stores
• End-of-season sales on summer merchandise
• Noticing that when evening rolls in, it does so just a little earlier than it did last week
Your nervous system picks up on these signals, even if you’re not consciously thinking about them. Suddenly, your body is responding like something is ending. Because in a way… it is.
Two Kinds of End-of-Summer Grief—And Both Are Valid
As summer enters its final stretch, you might find yourself feeling a quiet heaviness. That feeling can stem from different places, but it’s often rooted in one of two kinds of grief:
1. Grieving Something Good That’s Ending
Maybe you had time off this summer. You traveled, rested, played, or simply stepped outside your routine. Now, as work and structure start to reassert themselves, you might feel a subtle resistance—or outright sadness—about what’s slipping away.
But this grief isn’t limited to people who had time off. Maybe you kept working as usual, but you still made a point of enjoying summer: spending more time outside, saying yes to plans, taking a slower pace when you could. That version of summer—the feeling of more lightness or freedom—is also something real, and its ending can carry real emotion.
2. Grieving Something You Hoped For But Didn’t Get
On the other hand, maybe you’re mourning the summer you intended to have. The one you pictured back in May but never quite managed to create. You told yourself you’d take that day trip, go to more events, or spend a weekend at a friend’s cottage or the beach—and somehow, none of it (or not enough of it) happened.
That doesn’t necessarily mean you were lazy. And it doesn’t mean you “failed at summer.” It likely means you were overwhelmed, coping, or simply maxed out. Sometimes life just gets in the way—plans are made with the best of intentions, but energy runs low, work demands pile up, or unexpected responsibilities take over. Maybe you overestimated how much time you’d actually have, or the thought of organizing something fun felt mentally exhausting. Even something simple, like going to the beach, can feel out of reach when you're navigating burnout, decision fatigue, or financial stress.
Resting at home with a good book or streaming movies instead of “making the most of summer” might’ve been exactly what your mind, body and soul needed.
Whether you're mourning a summer that’s ending soon—or one that never quite got started—the emotions that surface in August are real. And they deserve to be met with compassion.
This Feeling Makes Sense
You’re feeling something a lot of people feel at this time of year.
We live in a culture that ties seasons to expectations:
Summer should be fun. Summer should be relaxing. Summer should be productive.
So, if you're sad it's ending, that makes sense—something meaningful is coming to a close. And if you're sad it never really began, that makes sense too as there is likely a disconnect between what you hoped for and what actually happened.
You might be thinking:
• “I had so much fun—so why do I feel so heavy right now?”
• “I thought I’d do more. Why didn’t I?”
• “I can’t believe it’s August. Where did the time go?”
You’re allowed to feel anxious or sad about the end of something, even while it’s still happening.
This is normal.
But, if you’re noticing deeper sadness, anxiety, or dread that isn’t going away—this might be your nervous system waving a little flag:
“Hey… I’m not okay.”
This might just mean something in you is asking for support.
When to Pay Closer Attention
Some emotional discomfort in August is completely normal. The seasonal shift from summer to fall can bring up complicated feelings.
But if the weight you're feeling is sticking around or getting harder to carry, it may be worth checking in with yourself.
You might benefit from extra support if you're:
• Feeling persistently down, unmotivated, or disconnected
• Struggling with your daily routine (or avoiding it entirely)
• Overwhelmed by guilt, shame, or frustration about what you “should have” done
• Noticing signs of burnout that aren’t improving with rest
• Feeling increasingly anxious about transitions or change in general
How Therapy Can Help with Summer Anxiety, Burnout, Stress and Grief
Sometimes the emotional weight we feel at as summer starts to wind down isn’t just about summer.
The shift into a new season can stir up deeper things—like persistent anxiety, burnout that hasn’t been acknowledged, stress you’ve been carrying for too long, or grief that never had space to land. It can also bring up questions about how you're living, what you're prioritizing, or how you’re really feeling beneath the surface.
Therapy can offer a place to pause, reflect, and feel supported in making sense of all that.
Some things we might explore together:
• What this time of year is bringing up for you emotionally
• How to manage anticipatory anxiety, stress or dread about what's next
• Why “wasted time” may actually be your nervous system asking for rest
• How to cope with transitions and changes
• How to reconnect with what’s important to you—without pressure to perform or "catch up"
If you’d like to explore what you’re experiencing and feeling more deeply—or find ways to support yourself through it—reach out. I’m here when you’re ready.
Online therapy for adults across Ontario, specializing in anxiety, stress, and life transitions. Based in North York.
Reach out to book a session or learn more.
