Summertime brings lots of exciting times filled with pool days, vacations, bonfires and more. Summer months can also be overwhelming with sports and social activities, especially after being in quarantine for such a long time.

With a busy calendar and returning to the workplace on a more traditional schedule, you may feel overwhelmed with the lack of control over your environment and schedule. Self-care is important all year, but it’s crucial to take time for yourself during one of the busiest times of year.

Focus on the below tips to stay mentally healthy all summer:

• Enjoy vacation time. Instead of using your vacation time to clean out closets or organize the garage, use your time to enjoy yourself. Take a day to do some restorative activities, like sleep, read a book or soak up the sun! Your vacation time should be used to relax and unwind.
• Get outside. Exposure to sunlight increases levels of Vitamin D and serotonin, which are known to boost our mood! Take a walk around the neighborhood or a local park. Even if it’s just a few minutes, spending time outside is a great way to stay physically active while clearing your headspace.
• Sleep. When we were in school, summer meant summer break – which meant sleepovers and staying up late. Especially if you’re out in the sun all day, you can feel drained by the evening hours. Getting regular sleep will help you wake up each morning recharged and ready to take on the day.
• Stay hydrated. It’s important to drink plenty of fluids during the warm months. Our bodies will naturally sweat and lose more water in the summertime heat. Tired of plain water? Spice it up with some fresh-cut fruit or seltzer water.

Everyone deals with different levels of stress and feelings of being overwhelmed, so in those moments, evaluate what you can do to take care of yourself. It’s time to make summer “break” a break again!

If you think you might be struggling with mental health, take a look at this blog about mental health first aid.

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