A Sound Mind for Summertime: 9 Tips to Keep Your Cool When Stress Heats Up
When you reminisce about summertime, you probably think about taking a much-needed break, having fun in the sun, and enjoying cookouts with friends and family.
Unfortunately, this isn’t the case for some people. For many adults in the United States, the burnout from work alongside their kids being home for the summer begins to take its mental and emotional toll after a while. There are additional tasks, schedule changes, social obligations, and even financial strain that occurs during these few weeks that tend to make the summer months the most stressful part of their year.
Common Causes of Summertime Blues
Feeling down during the summer may bring a form of loneliness. After all, it’s common to see joyous social posts bragging about vacations, barbeques, and cherished memories being made during the summer.
So why does it seem like your mental health takes a nosedive mid-year? A few common reasons include:
Seasonal Affective Disorder
Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is most commonly associated with the winter months, however experts believe that it may also be a contributing factor to the summertime blues. SAD directly affects your circadian rhythm as well as your hormone levels.
Schedule Changes
If you’ve ever dealt with depression or know someone who has, you’ve probably heard that creating a routine and sticking to it helps lessen the symptoms. When summer comes around, there are activities on the weekends that many feel obligated to attend. This throws off sleeping patterns, errand running, and the rest and relaxation you’re used to. If you have school-aged children, this disruption to your normal schedule is even greater.
Finances
The summer season is the time for vacations, cookouts, and even a new wardrobe. The cost of everything can be quite burdensome for many people. And, for parents who work from the office, they now are required to cover the cost of daycare or babysitting for their young children.
Body Image
With each passing day, the temperature increases. We begin peeling back our layers of clothing and revealing more skin. For some, the thought of showing the amount of skin that most people consider normal for hot weather is terrifying. Whether it’s the belief that they’re not toned enough, tanned enough, or dealing with some other insecurity, this embarrassment can lead to social isolation.
The Heat
Some people love the heat and humidity. They could lay out by the pool all day long and relish in it. For others, the heat brings oppression. They get moody and depressed when they’re hot and decide to stay indoors as much as possible. This may lead to a decrease in much-needed sun exposure, exercise, and social interaction. (Reference 1)
9 Tips to Take the Stress Out of Summer
Whether you’re experiencing the stress of summer for the first time or it’s a yearly occurrence, there are some strategies you can implement to make the most out of the season.
1. Take Note of Triggers
Make yourself a list of triggers that appear to bother you the most during the summer. Whether it’s social gatherings, body image, or financial obligations—once you understand exactly what is causing the stress, you can begin to put together a game plan.
2. Prioritize Sleep
Attempt to time your sleeping schedule so that you are able to get a full night’s rest with the extended daylight hours. You may even opt to purchase a sleep mask to keep out the sun or bedding that is designed to keep you cool.
3. Implement a Routine
Routines are important for many reasons, but they also help you stay motivated. When you maintain a schedule, you feel more confident in your ability to get things done.
4. Create an Emotional Safe Space
If you feel your emotions building, provide yourself an outlet to express them. Keeping them bottled up can lead to additional anxiety.
5. Avoid Common Traps
It’s common to get bored in the summer. Some common traps we all fall into include binge eating, endless hours of tv, or napping all day. These are unhealthy coping mechanisms that cause additional depression.
6. Keep Yourself Cool
Prevent heat agitation by wearing breathable clothes, staying hydrated, and taking breaks indoors.
7. Detox From Social Media
People love to show off their lives on social platforms. And summertime is when many people begin showing off their fun activities. Do your best to stay away to avoid comparison.
8. Partner with Other Parents
If you’re an overwhelmed parent, attempt to set up something that allows you all to take turns with the kids. Whether it’s an afternoon away at the park or a sleepover—you’ll all get a reprieve from parental responsibilities.
9. Self-Care
Do what you love doing the most. Take a relaxing bath, read your favorite book, or go on a scenic hike. Ensure you’re taking the time to take care of you. (Reference 2)
MHT: Helping You Navigate Mental Health Conditions
Individuals who are prone to experiencing higher levels of stress are at an increased risk of suffering from a chronic mental health condition, such as anxiety. (Reference 3)
As a primary care physician, diagnosing a mood disorder as acute or chronic is daunting, as you don’t have the time—or tools—to do so properly. With MHT, we take this burden off your shoulders.
When you implement our screening assessments into your clinic, you:
Gain confidence in probable diagnoses
Save appointment time
Allow automation to upload results and make referrals
If you’d like to learn more about what MHT is capable of doing, contact us today.
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