Transitions are hard. Whether you’re a kid heading back to school, a parent juggling supply lists, or just an adult who suddenly has to deal with more traffic because buses are back on the road ……August and September can feel like chaos.

As a social worker, I’ll tell you: transitions often spike our stress, even when they’re “expected.” We crave routine because it makes life feel predictable, but change has a way of shaking things up…. and that tension is what makes transitions so stressful.

The back-to-school blues aren’t just for kids — they’re for anyone feeling the shift. More emails, earlier mornings, busier schedules, shorter patience. It’s a lot. And the truth is, self-care isn’t optional here. It’s survival.

Now, self-care doesn’t have to be an expensive spa trip or a perfect morning routine you saw on Instagram. Sometimes it’s simple: a quiet moment, deep breaths, or, in Jam’n style — a cart, dispo, or gummy that smooths out the edges.

Here’s what helps during transitional stress:

• Routine anchors → Find one or two daily rituals that ground you. (Coffee counts. So does Jam’n.)

• Permission to pause → Rest is productive. Give yourself a break, even for 10 minutes.

• Joyful escapes → Laughter, music, and the right terp profile can shift your whole mood.

So as we roll into a new season of alarm clocks, after-school chaos, and to-do lists that grow faster than weeds, remember this: you can control your calendar. You don’t have to say yes to every invite, every obligation, every ‘should.’ Saying no is self-care, too. Protecting your time, energy, and peace is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. And if Jam’n is part of how you make that space feel better, we’re honored to be in your toolkit