The back-to-school ads are everywhere already, and school supplies have officially replaced the garden supplies in stores. 😢

But I’m still in summer mode.

I want to soak up the long hours of daylight and the deep green color of the leaves. I want to keep eating popsicles outside. I want to ride my bike to create a cool breeze that contrasts with the warmth of the sun on my face.

I’m not ready to think about fall or the new school year quite yet.

And maybe that’s how you’re feeling, too.

So what if we focus on staying present in this moment, instead of rushing ahead to the next?

What if we experiment with accepting whichever feelings surface, and not try to force ourselves to have a different experience?

After all, you can love your job AND not be excited to hear that alarm clock go off at 4:30 am.

It’s normal to mourn the loss of your personal freedom, family time, and opportunities to relax that you have over the summer.

It’s okay to feel a bit of dread as you think about the increasing demands on your time as fall approaches.

You can hold those reluctant thoughts and feelings at the same time that you hold some feelings of anticipation.

Life is rarely so black-and-white that we don’t feel a bit of excitement AND dread, enthusiasm AND anxiety at the same time.

If you'd like a bit more to think about along these lines, here are two of my favorite articles + podcast episodes for back-to-school:

Enjoy the remainder of your summer, and don't pressure yourself to get excited about returning to school.

And, embrace your first days back when it's time, knowing that they'll be filled with a paradox of emotions. Accept whatever feelings surface for you without judgment, knowing that these feelings will pass on their own and naturally change over time.

Just as we flow with the seasons, we can flow with whatever we’re feeling and experiencing throughout those seasons. The past is over and the future hasn’t arrived.

All we have to do is stay present in this moment and the experience we’re having now, trusting that we’ll be able to handle whatever comes next.

Angela
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Check out Finding Flow Solutions, my gr. K-12 curriculum for helping students manage their time, energy, and attention. (Yes, the early elementary unit is now complete!) Browse all units here, including a FREE set of lessons to teach students how to find their flow state and get focused. School purchase orders are accepted--just reply to this email for pricing.

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