1. Take care of your mental health this summer by going outside.
Exposure to natural sunlight increases levels of vitamin D and serotonin, which are known to boost your mood. Taking a moment to step outdoors, feel the sand under your toes or watch a sunset can provide a sense of calming and well-being.
2. Take a Time Out from Social Media
Scrolling through social media pages can distract us from being present in our lives, while also influencing us to make comparisons between ourselves and those we see on social media. You can start by scheduling certain times of the day to check your social media feeds. This gives you a break from comparing yourself to others and instead be fully present in daily life.
3. Schedule Days of Rest
Getting rest is crucial in a similar way to sleep, where it allows the body and mind to recover from activities of daily life. However, rest is often lumped in with sleep, and we often don’t allow ourselves to relax and rest on a regular basis away from busy activities and schedules. Plan a day or two to do what you feel you would enjoy doing in the moment without outside pressures or expectations.
4. Get enough sleep. Maintain a healthy sleep schedule for mental health; 8-9 hours of sleep each night is best. To make your nighttime sleep count more, practice good “sleep hygiene,” like avoiding using computers, TV and smartphones before bed.
Just because school is out for summer, and you can stay up late and sleep in does not mean you should.
5. Stay physically active.
Whether it is going to the gym, signing up for a yoga class or taking a walk outside, physical activity is known to boost your mood. During the summer months, it is easy to stay on the couch and binge-watch the latest television series, but being inactive can promote negative consequences on our physical and mental health. Try to maintain 20-30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise each day.
6. Practice relaxation exercises, meditation, or mindfulness.
Deep breathing, meditation and progressive muscle relaxation are easy, quick ways to reduce stress.
Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment without judgement. This includes your thoughts, feelings, and the world around you. Being mindful means being “aware.” So, it is the opposite of being on Autopilot, when we do things without thinking.
Exposure to natural sunlight increases levels of vitamin D and serotonin, which are known to boost your mood. Taking a moment to step outdoors, feel the sand under your toes or watch a sunset can provide a sense of calming and well-being.
2. Take a Time Out from Social Media
Scrolling through social media pages can distract us from being present in our lives, while also influencing us to make comparisons between ourselves and those we see on social media. You can start by scheduling certain times of the day to check your social media feeds. This gives you a break from comparing yourself to others and instead be fully present in daily life.
3. Schedule Days of Rest
Getting rest is crucial in a similar way to sleep, where it allows the body and mind to recover from activities of daily life. However, rest is often lumped in with sleep, and we often don’t allow ourselves to relax and rest on a regular basis away from busy activities and schedules. Plan a day or two to do what you feel you would enjoy doing in the moment without outside pressures or expectations.
4. Get enough sleep. Maintain a healthy sleep schedule for mental health; 8-9 hours of sleep each night is best. To make your nighttime sleep count more, practice good “sleep hygiene,” like avoiding using computers, TV and smartphones before bed.
Just because school is out for summer, and you can stay up late and sleep in does not mean you should.
5. Stay physically active.
Whether it is going to the gym, signing up for a yoga class or taking a walk outside, physical activity is known to boost your mood. During the summer months, it is easy to stay on the couch and binge-watch the latest television series, but being inactive can promote negative consequences on our physical and mental health. Try to maintain 20-30 minutes of cardiovascular exercise each day.
6. Practice relaxation exercises, meditation, or mindfulness.
Deep breathing, meditation and progressive muscle relaxation are easy, quick ways to reduce stress.
Mindfulness is paying attention to the present moment without judgement. This includes your thoughts, feelings, and the world around you. Being mindful means being “aware.” So, it is the opposite of being on Autopilot, when we do things without thinking.