It will always be sad when summer ends. It is the beginning of the end of bright days, warm evenings, and that carefree, easygoing attitude that turns the world into a film about coming of age. The true end of the season is September 22, but everyone on TikTok appears to agree that the gloomy, dreary sentiments begin on August 1. May, June, and July are full of summer vibes, but as August arrives, things start to shift. All of a sudden, the leaves appear desolate and burned rather than lush and green, the light appears gloomy and yellow instead of clear and cheerful, and the intense heat and humidity will make you doubt everything in your life.

The August Blues

Artist @noellemartiinez stated, “Ever since I was little August has always had the worst vibes. School starts, post-vacation depression hits, you’re registering for classes, the sun starts disappearing, and you realize summer is over.” It is obvious that many people would experience strange feelings in August for all of these reasons, but researchers claim there’s more to the story than that.

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The Psychological Impact of The End of Summer Break

The month has a “Sunday Scary” vibe, according to Carly Harris, LMFT, a therapist and director of Newport Healthcare’s young adult family program. According to her statement to Bustle, “August can be seen as the ‘Sunday night’ of the year when people feel the looming pressure of returning to routine, work, or school.” August can elicit similar feelings on a larger scale, as it signals the end of a period of relaxation and freedom, just as many people experience a sense of dread or anxiety on Sunday evenings. According to Harris, even if you haven’t attended school in a long time, the holiday season can still elicit strong feelings, almost like you’re returning to the classroom.

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Change in Lighting

You may not be completely aware of it, but there is another change in the light that can seriously mess with your head. The days start to get visibly shorter in August, which may have an impact on our circadian rhythms or the body’s internal clock, according to her. Every day grows shorter as the weeks go towards autumn, providing you with less light each evening. “[That] can lead to changes in mood and energy levels, similar to what some people experience with the onset of fall or winter or seasonal depression,” explains Harris.

Fashion Limbo and FOMO

August’s extreme heat and humidity make fall, with its pumpkin spice lattes, cool temperatures and Halloween celebrations, feel just out of reach for many who adore the season. You may be prepared with an entire new wardrobe of plaid shirts and sweaters, but it will take months before you can wear them, so you’ll be stuck in a fashion limbo. Then there’s Instagram and TikTok, which are frequently brimming with pictures from beach outings with friends and summers in Europe. According to Harris, “social media highlights the enjoyable, exciting experiences other people had during the summer.” More melancholy may result from thinking that you may not have made the most of your summer when you see these trips or social events.

Last but not the Least

To put it another way? August is when you realize you never got to go on vacation at all, or you didn’t get to go to the lake as much as you would have liked, and now you have to wait a whole year to swing in a hammock or enjoy the salt air by the sea. Until then? There’s nothing except frigid temperatures, rain, and wind. For one last point, Harris claims that August acts as a sharp reminder that you’re going to have to say goodbye to Summer Fridays and go back into your regular schedule, which is swiftly followed by the rapid descent into the Christmas season. It can be difficult to accept that most of the year is already behind us in August, according to her.

It’s Not All Sad in August

According to Harris, the end-of-summer blues are genuine and it’s normal to feel really uneasy in August, but there are plenty of things you can do to get rid of the eerie feeling. “Coping with August sadness can be approached by first recognizing that it’s OK to feel sad or nostalgic during this time,” she advises. Then, tell yourself that there is still plenty of time to make reservations for a beach vacation, lounge in the poolside sun, or read a good book while reading in a park. After all, there are still a lot of warm summer days ahead of us. Even though August is terrible, it will soon come to an end. You can still go outside and enjoy it in the meanwhile.

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