Many people experience better mental health and mood during the summer due to longer days and sunlight. Yet the season is stressful for others; summertime stressors and extreme weather conditions may even worsen symptoms of seasonal affective disorder.
To cope effectively, it’s first important to understand what triggers anxious or depressive feelings. For example, summertime triggers may be related to the weather—such as the heat, sun or humidity—or finances, as pressure and stress result from spending money on trips, experiences and child care or being unable to take time off.
Try these tips to support your summertime mental well-being:
- Get outside. Spending time in nature can help improve your mood by reducing stress, combating anxiety and depression, and enhancing cognitive function.
- Stay active. Exercise can help reduce stress, so prioritize daily movement.
- Maintain a healthy sleep schedule. Long, hot summer days may make sleeping difficult, but regulating your sleep is critical to improving your overall mood.
- Stick with a routine. Establishing and following a routine can help you feel more in control of your summer and motivate you.
- Don’t compare yourself with others. It’s easy to get overwhelmed while scrolling social media, so try not to compare your day and activities and keep the fear of missing out (or FOMO) at bay.
- Be realistic. It’s important to control—and potentially lower—your expectations and be realistic about what you are able to do during the summer.
It’s easy to get overwhelmed or burned out in the summer by pressures and expectations, but understand that it’s common. Contact a health care provider if you need help this summer.