The summer months can be incredibly exciting, as it’s the time for vacations, summer break from school, sports, and many other events. While, for some, there’s nothing better than a day spent relaxing on the beach, summer brings extra stress and busyness for others. If you struggle to overcome overwhelming feelings or feel like you have no time for yourself, consider these helpful ways to boost your mental health this summer.
Use Your Vacation Time
Most employers offer their employees paid time off or some vacation time. Even though you might feel guilty for taking time off, consider taking a day or a few off anyway to reduce your risk of burnout. It’s no secret that life gets chaotic and busy, but you don’t have to work without reprieve. Give yourself some time off to do something fun, catch up on overdue household tasks, or simply relax at home.
Find a Relaxing Hobby
Hobbies are an excellent way to maintain your identity and add enjoyment to your life; however, your hobbies shouldn’t add stress to your routine. Consider a relaxing activity like reading, journaling, gardening, drawing, and more. Even though you might not know which hobbies interest you, understanding the ways gardening boosts your mental health or knowing that reading stimulates your mind can inspire you to try new things.
Spend Time Outdoors
Spending time outdoors is one of the best things you can do for yourself. You don’t have to complete a chore or activity, just sitting outside can work wonders on your mind and body. If you enjoy soaking up the sun, sit in direct sunlight for a few minutes daily. On the other hand, you can also sit in the shade to enjoy the fresh air without baking under the sun’s full heat.
Pro Tip
Don’t limit yourself on how to spend time outdoors—drive with all your windows down and enjoy the weather!
Reduce Screen Time
In most cases, daily screen time is inevitable; however, that doesn’t mean you have to spend all of your free time on your phone, computer, or in front of a TV. In fact, reducing your screen time can do wonderful things in your life. Many feel overwhelmed and don’t have enough time to do what they should, but spending less time online produces more free time to take up a new hobby or accomplish more tasks.
Now that you know of a few ways to boost your mental health this summer, you can make the most of these busy months. Being busy doesn’t have to be a bad thing if you learn to balance your life. Everyone needs time to rest and care for themselves, so don’t let your mental health go by the wayside this summer.
