Written by Shannon Wise, MM, MS : Resident in Counseling
August is almost over and the signs of summer ending are all around: school buses on the roads, “Back to School” ads, fall displays in stores (Halloween already?), and the underlying thrum of busyness that accompanies this time of year. The end-of-summer blues can be a real challenge as the season winds down- for parents, for kids, for anyone who feels overworked and overextended, looking at vacation time in the rearview mirror and already wishing for the next chance to get away.
If these statements resonate with you, you’re invited to do a little experiment:
Close your eyes, take a deep breath, and let it out. Let your thoughts wander to the last time you were able to really relax. Bring to mind what that time looked like, smelled like, tasted like, or felt like.
You might hear the crash of waves, smell delicious food, feel a gentle breeze on your skin, taste the cool sweetness of ice cream on your tongue, or see a beautiful sunset filling the sky with streaks of color. As you settle into this memory, think about the pace of things during that relaxing time. What rhythm do you remember keeping during the days and nights when you were able to get away from it all? Or even if you were home enjoying a “stay-cation”, what did you notice during that break from routine? Maybe there were moments of stillness, of open time where less was planned, and more room was left for living in the moment. You might remember less conflict, more meaningful connection with loved ones, a feeling of flexibility or flow, or a sense of internal balance being restored. Chances are, this gentler rhythm allowed for more creativity, more rest, and (dare I say) even a little boredom.
Chances are, you allowed yourself to slow down.
Now, bring to mind what it felt like to come back to reality afterwards. Were you able to continue that sense of ease in your daily rhythm? Or did you do what most of us do post-vacation: launch right back into a frenzied pace with long work hours, packed schedules, and too much on your to-do list?
In music, a frenzied pace is called “presto”, and it’s one of the fastest tempo markings a song can have. “Presto” can be equated to a sprint- where the notes rush by so quickly that they are almost impossible to play. In the busy D.C. metro area, “presto” living seems to be the norm rather than the exception. Phrases like “rat race” and “hamster wheel” are often used by my clients to describe their busy lives, and many struggle with anxiety, burnout, and a chronic sense of fatigue. It seems they are in good company. In a July 2025 report comparing the stress levels of major American cities, Washington D.C. scored the 5th highest for average weekly work hours and received an overall stress ranking of 34 out of the 182 cities surveyed.
High stress levels caused by a rushed life tempo can negatively impact physical health, mental balance and the ability to enjoy the positive things in life. By contrast, there are multiple benefits to slowing down, including reduced stress levels and increased mindfulness and connectedness. In musical terms, this slow down is called “ritardando”- pulling back from a faster pace and taking more time on each note instead of rushing to the end of the phrase. If “presto” is our work pace, then “ritardando” is our summer vacation pace- the slowed-down feeling that we wish could last throughout the year.
While most of us don’t have the luxury of being on an endless vacation, we do have the power to mindfully set the pace of our lives. And harnessing the power of tempo can make a big difference in protecting against burnout, overwhelm, and exhaustion.
Here are 5 small tempo shifts to help make that summertime “peaceful, easy feeling” a year-long practice, and manage the summer’s-end blues:
Wake up 15-30 minutes earlier to allow for a slower morning pace. Make time to ease into the day with a cup of coffee or tea and some quiet moments, rather than rushing out of bed feeling stressed out from the day’s start.
Create breathing space in your daily schedule- allowing 10-15 minute breaks between appointments or activities to help ease transitions and give your mind and body time to reset.
Allow for at least 1 hour of intentional unplugged time each day- making space for mental rest where you can be flexible and fully present- doing whatever feels right in the moment.
Resist the urge to pack the weekend calendar with back-to-back activities. Block off one morning, afternoon, or evening for free time at home to avoid over-packing your schedule- prioritizing relaxation over rushing around. This practice can be especially helpful for families managing a variety of different temperaments and inner tempo needs.
Embrace the power of a “less is more” approach to calendar planning. Less rushing and less busyness means more time for rest, recharge, and enjoying what really matters. We live in an area with so many options and opportunities, but sometimes the best option is choosing quality over quantity.
The end of August can be a tough time, when vacations are over and summer break comes to an end. Most of us experience a letdown going back to work or back to school after enjoying some time away from the rat race. Slowing down the pace of your life won’t make the warm, long days of summer last forever. But choosing moments of ritardando over presto can make a big difference in reducing stress and improving wellbeing- creating a slower, sustainable tempo that brings rest and renewal to every season.
References
McCann, A. (2025, July 7). Most and least stressed cities in America. WalletHub. https://wallethub.com/edu/most-least-stressed-cities/22759
Sreenivasan, S., & Weinberger, L. (2022, August 17). The price of rushing around. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/emotional-nourishment/202208/the-price-rushing-around
Taylor, S. (2024, July 20). The benefits of living more slowly. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/out-of-the-darkness/202407/living-slowly