The summer months are a great time to plan relaxing vacations, get in some gardening, and spend time in the sun with family and friends. But, the summer months can also bring up mental health triggers that can lead to worsening symptoms. When others expect a person to be calm, relaxed, and happy, like is common during the summer months, this can put additional pressure on people living with mental health issues like anxiety and depressive disorders. So, it’s important that people living with these disorders take extra care of themselves during the summer in order to overcome these triggers, like taking part in self care activities. Self care can be an integral part of healing and managing debilitating symptoms of mental health issues. Fortunately, there are some easy and simple self care activities people can do in their spare time in order to take better care of themselves during the summer months.

Some of the best summertime self care activities to utilize for managing mental health issues can include:

Don’t Let Your Vacation Time Roll Over

It can be tempting to work through the summer months and get all of your hours in. But, it can be helpful to use your paid time off and take a break in order to reset your focus and unwind. Even if you don’t use your vacation time to go on vacation, you can still use this time to sit at home and enjoy the things you love like your family, time to accomplish some tasks you’ve wanted to tackle, or even read a book you’ve always wanted to read. Whatever you plan to do with your time, as long as it’s for yourself, is a type of self-care. So, don’t waste your vacation time this summer – take it and use it!

Immerse Yourself in a New Surrounding

Getting away from everything you know can help to clear the mind and help yourself focus on your goals and intentions for your life. So, if you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck with where your mental health is going, planning even just a quick staycation can help to get you out of feeling stuck. Once your getaway is over, you can return back to your life with a renewed sense of self, more energy, and an improved mood. Even if it’s just for a weekend or just down the road, giving yourself a new surroundings for a little while can be healthy for the body, mind, and soul.

Get Some Exercise

Exercise can help to boost mood as it helps the body release endorphins that are responsible for mood management. Therefore, it can be helpful for people who are struggling with mental health triggers to get some exercise into their daily routine. This can be as simple as getting out and taking a long walk around the neighborhood. Or, jumping in a swimming pool and doing a few laps. When you plan to exercise, you can start holding yourself accountable for being more active. And, soon, you’ll see that it’s easier to manage moods when it seems the hardest.

Getting Enough Sleep Every Night

It’s crucial to have and maintain a proper sleep schedule in order to manage moods and reduce the severity of mental health issues. Sleep is important for both physical and mental health. Without enough sleep, your body can begin to become worn and your mind can struggle with exhaustion, which can make managing moods even more difficult. So, this summer, you can make it a priority to get enough sleep. Some things to do to help you accomplish this goal are to make your sleep environment more welcoming and comfortable, go to bed and wake up at specific times, and refrain from stimulants like caffeine before bedtime.

Getting Help for Mental Health Issues During the Summertime

If you feel that the summer months are triggering mental health symptoms for you, it’s okay to get help. You aren’t alone in feeling overwhelmed by the symptoms of mental health issues. But, there is help available. For example, Yellowbrick offers therapy and treatment for people dealing with a variety of mental health issues. And, can provide you with the support you need to better manage symptoms of mental health during the summer months. So, if self care activities aren’t enough for you to keep mental health issues at bay, find out more about how treatment can help.