Summer rise
It’s summertime and time to take a break — to rest, recharge and enjoy your free time. If you’re the kind of person who embraces the opportunity to try new things, explore new places and find the most fun you can in the long summer days, congrats! Your time is now. Enjoy every moment of the days ahead.
But some people find it difficult to enjoy the summer. The absence of structured time, anxiety around body image and discomfort from the high temperature and humidity can be challenging. It can be easy to fall into a summer slump — sleeping and lounging during your free time, scrolling on your phone, neglecting to make plans, becoming irritable or lethargic from the heat and feeling bored and restless. If that’s been your tendency, there are ways to plan for — and prevent — a summer slump from lessening your enjoyment of the season.
Tips for boosting your energy
- Rebuild gentle structure into your days by choosing consistent times for things that anchor your day. Maintain a regular time for sleep, breakfast, and a morning walk to start your day.
- Beat the heat and stay hydrated. Wash your face and run your wrists under cold water. Hydrate throughout the day, prioritizing healthy drinks such as cold water with fruit inside, instead of sugary beverages. Wear comfortable clothing.
- Fuel up to prevent dips in energy. Nutrient dense and protein rich snacks such as watermelon, citrus and berries, paired with nuts, yogurt or cheese, can help keep your energy high. Aim for complex carbs such as whole grains along with lean protein.
- Embrace morning movement and exercise before the heat of the day. This can improve your mood and set you up for a more active day ahead.
- Unplug. Put away your phone and devices and focus on the present moment.
- Start a gratitude journal, writing down the moments you appreciate each day. It can be a brief and powerful way to refocus your perspective.
- Plan for some daily outdoor time: Consider a walk along the beach, a picnic in the park or reading on a shady bench with a view.
Adding motivation
- Caffeine helps with focus and alertness, but to maximize its positive effects, enjoy it earlier in the day and limit or avoid it after noon, so it doesn’t interfere with your sleep at night.
- Create goals that are meaningful to you. While we all have externally-driven goals, make sure that your personal goals are not neglected. That’s where you’ll find the joy and the meaning in your summer and in your life.
- Try something new. Whether it’s ceramics, painting, sailing, horseback riding, or something else — you may surprise yourself by how much you like it!
- Make sure to see friends and family and create social events that you enjoy. That can leave you feeling refreshed and ready to tackle the work and chores that need to be accomplished.
- Overcome your fear and share your talents and interests with others. You can motivate each other to take the next steps to develop your skills.
- If you still feel you are in a summer slump, seek support. Therapy isn’t just for crises; it can help you find your footing and move forward with coping tools and a new perspective.
“And so with the sunshine... life was beginning over again with the summer.” — F. Scott Fitzgerald