September Slowdown

It’s mid-August, and your calendar is packed. Friday: your summer work barbecue. Saturday: a flight to your in-laws’ across the country, kids in tow. Wednesday: another flight back home, just when you’ve started to kick your jet lag. Thursday: summer camp drop-offs and back to work after a night of tossing and turning in the heat. 

Summer is often framed as restorative, but for many of us, our packed schedules quietly create the opposite effect. Instead of wearing ourselves out further once our autumn routines resume, we can intentionally find ways to reset, recover, and rebalance.

Too much of a good thing

After a busy summer, when September rolls around, instead of feeling renewed we may feel depleted, overstimulated, and dysregulated—just in time for the intense back-to-school season. 

“When the school year ends, our childcare and work schedules can be thrown into flux, and this can create a lack of predictability or stability that can easily fatigue our nervous systems,” says Stephanie Davis, RCC, a certified organizational coach and co-owner of Shoreline Counselling in Fort Langley, BC. “The expectation of adventure, travel, and socializing can also create extra pressure to juggle all of these pieces at once.”

Travel, disrupted sleep, heat, irregular routines, and constant stimulation can leave the body in a prolonged state of low-grade stress. 

“People don’t often associate feelings or symptoms of burnout with summertime, but often this is what shows up for folks,” says Davis.

The science of stress

Our body’s nervous system is like our control centre, and it has two opposing branches: sympathetic and parasympathetic. The sympathetic nervous system is responsible for our body’s “fight-or-flight” response, which can be activated by stressful events—even positive ones, such as raucous backyard parties or long-awaited trips. 

Jet lag, for example, can increase levels of cortisol, also known as the stress hormone. Meanwhile, social events that involve a level of uncertainty or anxiety can also leave us locked in fight-or-flight. 

“We can find ourselves exhausted, resentful, and often feeling stuck in the comparison game—am I doing enough? Am I making the most of the summertime? This can impact our relationships and our parenting, which only perpetuates a cycle of exhaustion and frustration,” says Davis.

Increasingly hot summer weather can also have an impact on our health: studies show that warmer nights are associated with shorter and lower-quality sleep, which can in turn trigger symptoms of mood disorders.

Stuck in place

Fight-or-flight is an evolutionary response designed to help us manage high-stakes events. However, when experienced constantly, it can lead to anxiety, depression, cognitive impairment, or cardiovascular disease. 

“In fight-or-flight, the body prioritizes survival over recovery and repair,” says Briana Takeshita, ND, of Luna Health Clinic in Vancouver, BC.

According to Takeshita, these are some signs of nervous system dysregulation:

• irritability or emotional overwhelm
• headaches
• difficulty falling asleep
• digestive upset
• muscle tension
• heart palpitations 

An overstimulated nervous system can also leave us “tired but wired,” where we feel exhausted but are unable to switch off and rest. 

Softening into September

The cooler September air offers an opportunity to tap into the powers of our parasympathetic nervous system. 

The parasympathetic nervous system is responsible for our “rest-and-digest” state. It slows our heart rate, increases gut motility, and allows us to feel relaxed. This in turn can help reduce stress and inflammation.

One way to activate it is by stimulating our vagus nerve, which runs throughout the body and affects major systems and organs. “Toning” this nerve can help us signal to the brain and body that we are safe. 

Takeshita says that the vagus nerve can be toned through simple exercises:

• slow diaphragmatic breathing and extended exhales
• humming
• singing
• gargling

She also recommends meditation, mindfulness practices, gentle yoga, and exposing the face to cold water. 

“These practices should be accompanied by the foundations of a healthy lifestyle: prioritizing restorative sleep, consistent meal timing, daily gentle movement, and limiting screen time,” says Takeshita. “Spending time with safe social connections can also help us to relax.”

Making it a habit

Along with practices to improve vagal tone, you can help ground your nervous system by 

setting boundaries and sticking to a routine—habits you can take from this fall into next summer to avoid feeling overwhelmed. 

While returning to school or work may seem daunting, setting up a schedule that works for you can help ease the transition. 

“I have found in my work with clients that the routines that September brings are often most welcomed,” says Davis. “The return of some semblance of predictability in our daily lives can help us refocus and be more present.” 

This article was originally published in the September 2026 issue of alive magazine.