The Livy Method Podcast - Beating the End-of-Summer Slump

Episode Date: August 11, 2026

The vacation's over, the "summer shoulds" are creeping in. Clinical psychologist Dr. Beverley David joins Odette to explain the actual psychology behind the end-of-summer slump and what to do about it. She shares why chasing the "best summer ever" backfires, how to make ordinary moments stick by truly noticing and savoring them, and her simple three-step tool for the post-holiday blues. Here is a practical conversation about softening the "September scaries".Where to Find Dr. Beverley:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drdrbeverley/Website: https://www.yourpsychologycentre.ca/If you are interested in joining the next Insomnia group, email [e-mail] This podcast aligns with August 10th of our Summer Club, members can find video in our Livy Method app or Summer Club Community Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/livymethodspring2026 Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

I'm going to be honest with you, this podcast is unapologetically a hot mess because that is what midlife feels like sometimes. Why, though? And how do we make it better? Do we all just need facelifts and JLP ones? I mean, let's talk about it. No bullshit, no wellness wankery here because we're trying to make real change and change is hard. But we're in this together. Welcome to the Livy Method podcast. Hey there, before we get into our conversation today and no doubt it's going to be great, I want to remind you. you that we have the most amazing weight loss program and maintenance program on the market. And our next live session for the fall is on sale right now. But if you don't want to wait until the fall, you can sign up today by joining our membership. For more information, go to libymethit.com. Well, good morning. Here we are in the summer club feeling summery, bringing those vibes.

Dr. Beverly is here with me today. So if you don't know Dr. Beverly, if you're brand new, She is our OG clinical psychologist, sleep expert, all of the things. We're so happy to have you here. So thank you, Dr. Beverly for joining us today. Good morning. Happy, happy summer. August the 11th already. I know.

Well, I love that you said that August the 11th already because we know that we are starting to feel this already, that it's August already. We can't believe it. Have we done enough? Have we done? the best had the best summer ever. So we're going to get into all of that and how we don't want to forget all the time that we've already had and still be excited for the time that we have left in this season because the season is short. It is short for us. Yes. And there's still plenty of time,

isn't there? Are you having the best summer ever? Oh, that's a hard question, isn't it? It's a tricky, it's a tricky summer because my mom and dad, are in a tricky phase. They're getting older. Um, mum isn't doing very well. So it's that navigating this newness and thinking, how can I be there for everybody, be there for my teenager, who I definitely feel like I don't see as often. It's a really big stage for him because it's less camps and more independence, you know, him arranging to go golfing or him working because he's a swimming instructor. So it's really different. Um, so I, um, so I, even said to him last night. I was like, I feel like we haven't seen each other. And he said, well,

let's plan. Let's make sure we schedule something in. And then mum and dad, it's a little bit like whack-a-mole, because I definitely feel like I've moved into that parenting of them now. And so it's a big shift. So a very strange summer. I'm very grateful because I look at my mom and dad, and I think, my goodness, I still have them. I know how fortunate I am. but it's how to how to be everything to everyone without burning out. So it's a struggley summer. So yes. So that's why I'm here in my office.

I left the house this morning. If anybody is thinking, where is she today? Yeah, sometimes it's just that change of scenery that can can just bring a bit of freshness, a bit of lightness. And I completely understand that about the struggling summer. and being in this place where, you know, they talk about your golden years. And I don't know if those start now. I'm 49. So I don't know if that's, you know, this place that we call the golden years yet,

where you're supposed to be moving into this place where it's about you and it's about enjoying yourself and enjoying your time. But I'm the same as you. I have an aging parent. I lost my father in October. My mom is still here, but she's aging. And I also have teenagers. I have an adult son who's 29, who has his, sorry, 21.

and I have a daughter who's going off, so taking care of them, taking care of my parent, taking care of myself. I mean, it can be a struggling summer and still trying to have the best summer ever. Yes. Yes, that's right. And it's all different, isn't it? Because if we think to ourselves, what would be the perfect summer? Because even Leo and I said, okay, well, let's write our list today.

Let's write the list of things that we want to enjoy before September arrives. And maybe we all have to think about that. We have to think, okay, let's take the pressure off and then see, are we doing the things that we value and are we doing the things that we enjoy? Because we don't have to keep up with the jones. We don't have to be doing all of the things. But maybe we have to think, okay, have I paused for a little while? Have I seen the sunrise or the sunset? Have I gone for the walks or had my tea on the porch?

So tapping into what matters to you so that. When this season comes to an end, you can think, yes, I did realize it was summer. I did soak up the morning rays. And I did, you know, the fireflies have finished now. But maybe what moments did you capture? What magic moments were you there for? And it doesn't have to be all trumpets and all orchestra. It can be those very subtle magic moments that really land and matter.

I resonate with that so much about really thinking about doing. the things that matter to you and doing the things that bring you joy and not not falling into this trap of feeling like you have to do what you're seeing on social media, the big vacations, creating all of these memories. It's just doing little things maybe that can make a difference. And I had a few of these moments just being away last week. You know, you're away. I only have 10 days. I need to make them all every single day. And then you get a rainy day. do you do with that rainy day? And then you're disappointed, how you come out of that disappointed feeling. And what can you do in the moment that really matters? I think that's such a,

such a good point is understanding that you don't have to do all the things. Do the things that matter to you most. And what can you do from now until September, until that, that transition into fall? What are those things that are going to matter to you? And what are those little moments that actually bring you joy, not just those Instagram moments that you feel like you have to catch. Yeah, those summer shoulds. The summer shoulds that we think we should be doing all of that, but we don't have to be. And it's lovely when you get that rainy day,

I was reminiscing at the weekend when there was that really big storm, and I was remembering Leo running out to the road and just watching his little flip-flop, you know, float down the gully, just like a little boat. And I was like, the stormy days are some of the best days. You know, it's just how you view it, how you, how you spin it and put those goggles on that whatever the day is you can find magic. Okay, so how do we put those goggles on? How do we? What's the key, Dr. Beverly, to finding those

moments and seeing those glimmers? I think, first of all, it's even having this conversation to think, oh, yeah, we've got to be a little bit intentional. You know, if we want to see a little bit further away, we want to remember to bring our binoculars. So it's about being ready in the, morning to see those moments and to seize the day and to let go of those if we want to call them the summer should to think okay I'm going to not fall into the trap of summer shudding I'm going to look for what today does bring what is the weather like you know what does the sky look like what have I got on my plate am I at work today am I at home today who's around and be intentional because we often as we've mentioned before we often miss the magic moments because we're on

autopilot. And so we we want to notice that there's still a piece of bread in the fridge or there's still milk in the in the carton. We want to notice that the lawn doesn't need mowing today. Whatever those things are can be very subtle, but we've got to be there to be ready to absorb them. Because so often we're just looking for the things that didn't go well or the things that we missed or the things that we didn't finish or things we didn't manage. And that is number one, how our brain is. Why, because it's very critical, but then we miss that opportunity to think, actually, what a great day.

You know, I might have read a little bit of a book, or I might have picked a book, or I might have had a nice conversation with the neighbour or a fellow dog walker, soak it up. So look for the moments, actually absorb it, so you want to enrich it. You want to think about that moment,

feel that moment, add the senses, whether it's the sight or the smell or the sound or the touch of that moment, so that it installs it even better into your memory and then plan to retell it so that you actually pull it out of your memory later because then you've got the benefit of having the moment and then reliving it later on

where you're like, oh yeah, that was a wonderful moment. Well, you just said there about helping make it stick or helping it be real by adding the emotion, bring your senses into it. So it's not just, you know, like looking at, my window now, it's a beautiful sunny day. Okay, like that's, I've seen that. It's a beautiful sunny day. But it's a beautiful sunny day. It makes me feel warm. It makes me feel happy. It makes me feel excited about going out. You know, tying those emotions and those senses to it is going to help you just carry it

forward. Is that what you mean? Like, just going to help be like more ingrained into you. It will be high definition. It will be like you really were in that moment instead of letting it just pass. Yeah, I think we do that a lot. I think we do let it pass quickly. I mean, you know, I'm just using this example. Again, being away sitting on the dock, like, oh, yeah, there's a loon. I've let it pass. There's a, you know, there's a woman enjoying her paddleboard. I've let the moment pass. But maybe just taking it that one step further and letting our brain really soak in that moment. Like, look at that loon. I wonder if his feet are cold. I wonder what he's being. I wonder what I love that.

It's keeping him in that spot. It's almost tying that, like you said, that emotion, that sense, making it more tangible, making it more real. I notice you're noticing it. That's the extra whammy to go, I am in a moment where I am noticing.

So that's the mindful piece where you're really noticing that you're noticing. Like if I get goosebumps with music, if I notice, I'm like, wow, I've just noticed that I've got goosebumps because I'm so in the music or in the crescendo

or in the key change. And so you're noticing your own brain's engagement and body, your body's engagement with it. And it takes that moment, it takes that moment that may not have been this big monumental memory and you've made it into something that it brings you joy, brings you happiness. And, you know, you... Savour it. Add the savor, you know, really savor these moments. It's just like mindful eating, isn't it?

It's savoring. What does it taste like? What's the texture? How does it feel in my mouth? Does it start to shrink? Does it start to melt? Is it crunchy? When we do that, we get a lot more out of the experience

instead of just not even noticing that we ate. If we're too quick and we're not present, we're like, did I have lunch? Yeah. And just as that moment of that mindful eating has your body feeling, feeling satisfied. That moment where you've made a bigger memory out of a moment is going to help you feel more satisfied as well, not obviously not from your hunger, but just from your, that feeling that

you have created that memory, that you have, do you have done enough, you have enjoyed enough, you have seen those moments. Yes. Okay. So we've seen, so here we go. So we have seen, we are here, we have taken in those moments, we've been away, we've had that memory, we come back, we know the fall is coming. Dr. B. It is coming. We know it's just around the corner. How do we, how do we, how do we not anticipate a slump coming? How do we not anticipate the end of the summer, that end of summer feeling? How do we, again, I just got back yesterday. Kim and I went live and I was like, oh yeah, I'm back from vacation. It was wonderful, but now I'm back. You know, so how do we, how do we, how do we keep?

keep, and we know it's coming. We know that that feeling is coming. You know, how do we, is there a trick that we can, you know, have our mind go somewhere different? How do we keep this feeling? How do we keep that, that happiness or that, whatever that might be, whatever that feeling is going? That's an interesting question because maybe we're not supposed to keep it. You know, maybe we're not supposed to. Maybe it is, it has, it's been, it's there, it's going to be a memory it's going to have filled our bucket and be able to be there for us to access. But we might not be able to keep things just as they are because, of course, things change. And when you were speaking, I was thinking about the three ends, the name it, the normalise it and then navigate it.

Because that's you noticing. So you're naming it like, oh, I feel a bit like, flat, I'm back. You know, so you're naming the feeling. You've got maybe the post-holiday blues. Very normal. Okay, so then you're going to normalize it and think, yes, my brain is probably sad. It's past. It's gone.

What am I going to look forward to now? So be really kind to that part of your brain instead of allowing yourself to think, I'm so this, I'm so that. I didn't soak it in enough. I should have done this. I should have. Because we can't go back in time because then we go to the last end. So we're naming it, we're normalising it, and then we're navigating it. And that navigation and normalising is going to be, it'll take me a little time just to regroup and put my roots back. And what can I do to help myself? You know, so even when I'm thinking about helping, you know, parents prepare their children for the back to school and some people say, don't do that yet. It's only August the 11th. But if we're thinking about that, it's okay. It's okay to be preparing to think, okay, have we.

We've got the things and have we seen our friends? Because the navigating is going to help. So if you know, oh, when I get back from holiday, it's a bit of a blow. What can we do to help ourselves? You know, maybe we've tidied the house so that when we get home, it feels all fresh. Maybe we pick up some flowers or a pretty orchid from the store when we get home. Maybe we then think, right, I'm going to be a little bit low that first few days or that week. so I'm going to really, really look after myself.

I'm going to plan to see my friends. I'm going to make sure that I'm connecting. And excuse me, we could use the acronym, the base the day. We could think this week I'm definitely going to prioritize my body, my sense of achievement, my sense of connection, and I'm going to make sure I have enjoyment in this week. So that it's not all and nothing. It's not, oh, holidays are so fun and life is so boring.

Or life is just such, so love. So we want to be able to scaffold and create the conditions that are going to make it a little bit nicer. So even if we're thinking, okay, first day of school is coming up for children, they might be a little bit nervous. So we might plan something. We might say, oh, I wonder if you could have a friend over that first day. Or I wonder if we can meet them before. So we're softening the landing. And adults are just the same.

We want to soften it. We want to think, oh, yeah, it is. I am a bit sad. I'm sad that it is over and normalise that and think, isn't that wonderful that I get to be sad because I had such a great time? Could I shift that emotion to some extra emotions? You know, I am nostalgic. I am satisfied. I am thoughtful.

Whatever those feelings are, there's more to it. So unpack it a little bit. And speak about it because sometimes we'll come home and we'll all be a little bit irritated because, of course, course it comes out in our behaviour, that thought, feeling, behaviour and body CBT cycle. So if we're home and our children a little bit irritated or agitated, likely they're also feeling really disappointed that they're home or anticipating, oh, it's back to school. Because I used to be terrible towards the end of the summer because I would start getting the nerves, the sick feeling, the anxiety, far beyond probably people would have worked it out.

but I would be very aware, oh, September's coming, you know, and people, there are September scary for people, not only students, but, or, you know, us as well, thinking, right, it's a hustle time again, you know, we're going to be getting there and there and there. So those three ends might help, and that would be a journaling exercise. That would be everybody writing it down and then putting, like, name it, what am I feeling? What am I thinking? What, you know, what does my body feel like right now? normalize it. Talk to that part of yourself really nicely. I've had a really exciting adrenaline.

You know, I've been full of adrenaline. I've been full of excitement. I've probably had oxytocin the love. I've had the extra serotonin happiness. And now I'm home. It's going to be a little bit of a down. Perhaps some people will get home and they'll see their pets and they're like, yay, I never want to go away again. It's different for different people. So then normalize it to think, of course, it's a change. It's something that's happened. And then navigate it. Well, how do I want to navigate this?

How do I want to maybe print my photographs so that I can look at them or make a photo book? How can I have coffee with my friends so I can tell them all about the holiday? Some people will immediately book their next holiday. You know, we all know the sort of methods to avoid this feeling of, oh, it's finished. My sister and I, Kerry and I, we used to be so bad at the first day effect, you know, because she lives in Australia. And the day I'd arrive or the day she'd get here, we'd both be like, well, it's basically over. And it hadn't even begun. You want to be careful of that and think, actually, let's be here for this.

Let's enjoy it. Let's soak it up. And let's be really grateful that we're going to really miss this and be sad when it's over. because what a glorious place to be. It is. And I think just normalizing it, like you said, like knowing that that's how you're going to feel, knowing that that's the first thought that comes up. And that's okay.

It's okay to feel that way. It's not that you, it's in that putting that gratitude to it. Like, I'm feeling this way because I did have such a beautiful time. I'm feeling this way because I got to have that experience or that moment or that memory happened. So, of course, it's normal to feel sad, however that might come. And I, so what you said there about, well, it's basically over. So we had Kim here in Ontario just in, at the end of June, she came into Ontario and stayed with me for a few days.

And I'm picking her up at the airport. And I thought, I'm already at the airport. We've been talking about this for two months. It's like, now we only have four more days and it's going to be all gone. So it's true. It's about just. you know, not letting, not about not letting those thoughts come because they are going to come and just normalizing them, normalizing that that's a part of it, normalizing that's just a part

of the ebb, part of the flow. You can't try and not make it happen. You don't want to not allow it to come, but just normalizing that it's going to happen. And yeah, and having a plan for yourself, how do you want to navigate it? How are you going to come through this? This is probably not the first summer that we've had this summer slump. I think I have gone through it many times, you know, last summer as well. Summer's over. Here's my stump. But now coming this year, maybe we'll look at it a little bit different. We'll see September as more opportunity versus just a season to cast. Think of the colors that are going to be coming. Like every season brings it a different, beautiful moment. You know, the leaves will change. There'll be holidays to look forward to whatever

holidays that you celebrate. But yeah, and it's important. It's important. It's important. for the tide. It's important for the moon changes. And that's just like us. It's important to have the busy and the rest and the calm as well as the hustle. You know, we, we work so that we can do things like this. When we, when we reap our, you know, when we, when we harvest our fruit, it's also a celebration of, wow, I've worked hard and we've been able to have this holiday or we've been able to have this experience or this build this memory. And, And so it just comes and it's part of that tidal wave. Oh, yes, I'm going to be mindful of that as well.

It's not over yet. I think I saw something the other day. And it was something like you've probably only got this many summers left with your teenager. And I was like, yeah, we've just got to spend all the time together. You know, we've got to do the pit. And he's like, Mom, relax. Yes. I read that too.

Well, my son's 21 and you just moved back home. Okay, few. So we have more than 18 and I don't, he's very cozy here, so I don't see him. Good. I'm going to make it really cozy. Yeah, make it very cozy. I mean, I still have summers with my mom, so here we go. Oh, yes.

We've got lots of summers. They might not look quite the same. None of these seasons, really none of these seasons, whether it's summer, fall, year after year, they never look the same. But it's not about the only having this much last. You get to have this much left. Lovely. You don't only have this much left. That's a lovely change of word.

Beautiful or death. Yes, that was lovely. Yeah. So you have more than 18. Don't worry. We're stressing these people out because we want to fill everything into this short amount of time. And we still have time. Dr. Bea, I'm so happy you came today.

I know it's summer where I'm all over the place. You're all over the place. Our team is here and there. I'm sure you've seen Gina in Europe on her family vacation. Yes. So to take that time and spend some time with us and our members here is so, I'm so grateful. I'm so thankful. So thank you for being here.

It's lovely. And she has everybody up because it is. It's connecting, isn't it? Because sometimes in the summer you don't see people as much. Yes. You know, and so that's sometimes a really nice part of September when you're like, oh, you get to see your friends at school drop off or whatever it is or back at work. And so it was really nice.

I was like, oh, this will be lovely. Yeah, and like full transparency. We came into today not really sure what we wanted to talk about. How are we going to give members a takeaway? What are we going to leave them with? And I think, you know, we just talking it out and talking through what we know our members are going through, what we're going through, what's happening, I think is such a nice way to connect and have this community come together. And, you know, if they can just now look at those little. those memories that may not have been monumental as bigger memories and just know that they

are doing enough. You are creating enough. You are having the summer. It may not be your best summer ever, but you're still having a summer that is yours and you can still enjoy and come out with some memories. So if members want more of this and more of you, they can find you on your Instagram, of course, at Dr. Beverly.

They can also head over to your website, your psychology center at dot.ca. What do you have what do you have going on? what do you have coming up in the fall that our members might be interested in or might want to know about? There will definitely be another insomnia group, so the cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia. So definitely write to me if you want to be included in that next cohort. You can write to me where you just saw hello at your psychology center.com. And then also I'll run another calm your anxious brain and catch it, cancel it, correct it. So that's to manage the, how to change our goggles, how to gently help the wiring so that if we are noticing the negatives all of the time, or if we feel like we are self-sabotaging or just not doing the things that we plan to do or want to do.

It's how to just use our brain, use the psychology to gently not only understand the why, but then how, how to start the rewiring. So that's, I enjoy that group as well. Yeah, that cancel, capture, sorry, capsule. Cact it, catch it, cancel it, correct it. That is, I mean, that is, I think you said that on one of your very first lives years and years ago, and it's still something we circle back to. It's such a relatable concept and such a great tool for people to have. So I think that's, that one is always.

Thank you. Always worth mentioning. Okay, Dr. B, we got to go because we have to get on with our summer day. That's right. That's right. Find those little moments, find those little memories. Thank you to everybody that was here watching or listening after. Thank you, Dr. B, again, for taking some time at a view or summer to be with us. And we'll see you soon. We'll see you soon. Thank you. Bye-bye.