If you’re like me, you love summer, which means that you hate when summer ends. Sure, fall is a good time for flannels, jeans and bonfires, but summer is awesome! Here are the five typical stages of summer ending that I and many other people have experienced.

1. Ignorance

When the end of the summer is approaching, you start pretending like it’s not happening. You tell yourself that you have however many more weeks left of summer, so you’ll be sad later. Really, you’re just putting off your feelings of sadness about summer being over. This isn’t necessarily a bad thing because you should be enjoying summer while you still can. You can be sad about it ending later on, but right now, focus on what’s happening, and eat some ice cream so you can really keep the summer dream alive.

2. Slight Recognition

You start to recognize and acknowledge that summer is ending soon. You’re not happy about it, but you start to say things like, “I can’t believe how quickly this summer went by!” or, “There are only a few more weeks left until…” In these little ways, you acknowledge that summer is ending without recognizing how quickly the end of summer is coming. Keep living in the moment, but don’t put off schoolwork, loan applications, or textbook rentals until the last minute just because you’re emotionally protesting having to go back to school soon. Order your textbooks and apply for your loans, and have a bonfire with some s’mores before it’s too late.

3. Longing

You don’t want summer to end because things are going to change again. You want to hang out with your friends all the time for the rest of your life, but you know that you can’t. So you hang out with them every opportunity you get, do crazy things and stay out until forever. It’s worth it. Keep doing it. Soon you won’t be able to, and then you’ll be sad that you didn’t. Take advantage of the last few weeks you have to be free, and jump in the pool or go to the beach before they’re all closed.

4. Sadness

You start to feel sad that summer is ending because that means school is starting and your freedom is coming to a close. You’re sad that you won’t be able to see your friends as much anymore and you won’t be able to sit poolside for much longer. You’re upset that soon you’ll need to trade in your flip flops for your boots, and you might even be a little upset that you won’t see that summer job until next year. Hang out with your friends as much as possible, enjoy that summer job while you still have it and be your awesome summer self! There isn’t much time left.

5. Reluctant Acceptance

You don’t want to, but you ultimately accept that summer is ending, or if you waited long enough, you’ve accepted that summer is over. You realize that there isn’t much you can do about the seasons changing and time passing, so you reluctantly accept it. You understand that school has to start again and that you’ll see your friends again soon. Maybe it won’t be so bad. Maybe the school year will pass just as quickly as summer did. Be hopeful for next summer, and enjoy the school year ahead. It only happens in that way once.

Summer ending can be a sad time, but don’t forget to enjoy everything that comes with summer while you still can. Go to the beach, jump in the pool, eat some ice cream, have a bonfire, have a barbecue, eat some burgers and hot dogs and have fun!