Sundays never scare me, but maybe I was always destined to develop August Anxiety. Nearly every job I’ve held since I was 16 has followed the same seasonal rhythm.

As a high school lifeguard, August meant squeezing out the last rays of sun before the pool closed. As a teacher just out of college, it meant decorating the bulletin board and cranking out lesson plans for a new school year. Later, I spent the bulk of my career lobbying Congress, August recess became sacred: vacation, breathing room, and a chance to recharge before the legislative and political season came roaring back to life.

No wonder that September feels both exciting and exhausting to me before it even begins – and perhaps to you, too. That tension is exactly what leads to August Anxiety.

Although August Anxiety” isn’t a clinical term, it has become a cultural buzz term for the anticipatory stress associated with a shift from summer to fall.

Clinical psychologist David Rosmarin describes anxiety as “normal emotion we all feel from time to time (especially during transitions).” Writing for the Anxiety and Depression Association of America, he notes that the final weeks of summer can produce anxiety about renewed deadlines, crowded inboxes and the pressure to produce after time away.

For women working in print – where a fast pace is generally the norm – September can be a jolt from longer, sun-filled days to a busier travel schedule, industry conferences and events, renewed community commitments, and, for some, extra caregiving duties. Not every woman in print faces the same responsibilities but may recognize the feeling of multiple demands accelerating at once.

Perhaps that why we romanticize the end of summer so fiercely and feel conflicted when it winds down. Even pop music reflects the push and pull. From Olivia Newton-John and John Travolta pining away for “Summer Nights” in Grease or Taylor Swift’s wistful “August,” we’re told to immortalize the season. Meanwhile, Earth, Wind, and Fire has been turning “September” into a celebration since the 1970s.

We’re asked to hold on and move forward all at the same time. So how can we ease August Anxiety as we make that transition? Here are a few practical tips:

  • Decide what truly deserves urgency. The back-to-school energy of September can feel similar to January, a month when it’s tempting to jump back into every work project or personal goal with renewed fervor. But not every project is an emergency. Set yourself up for success by prioritizing what’s truly time sensitive.
  • Carry one summer ritual into fall. Keep dining al fresco, taking a walk at dusk, or enjoying a  warm-weather activity that makes you happy. Wear the sundress. Eat the watermelon.
  • Give your colleagues some breathing room. They may be returning from vacations, sending children back to school, managing caregiver transitions or simply adjusting to a busier routine. Give grace where you can as your teammates back up to speed at a slightly different pace.
  • Check in with your community of women in print. The change of season is a wonderful time to reconnect with your network. Ask someone what helped her recharge over the summer or exchange a productivity hack. Groups like Women in Print Alliance area here to ensure women support one another through times of transition, even if it’s only the flip of a calendar page.

September will arrive with fuller schedules and renewed expectations before you can say “pumpkin spice,” and I know I will have a bit of my annual August Anxiety. If you do, too, I hope the tips above help you make the transition intentionally.