Good Mental Health Tips for a Fun Summer

After a long and chilly winter, summer can provide a nice respite from those short days and all that time spent indoors. But it can be even more important for your mental health. After all, seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a real thing, coming on in the fall and continuing until winter lifts in the early spring. In fact, SAD therapy often utilizes light therapy to trick the body into thinking it's summer, though for some SAD may be an affliction that comes on in early spring or summer.
But whether or not you're suffering from the winter blues, it's important to get the most out of the summer months. Warm weather and longer days are great for getting out and enjoying the sun, and it's easy to engage in a myriad of fun activities when you're outside and living life -- it's also great for your mental health!

Get off the Couch and Get Outside
While it can be tempting to stay indoors after a long winter of doing just that, our first good mental health tip is to get off the couch and get outside. Even if it's just for a few minutes to read a book or to catch up on your favorite Netflix series, that little time in the sun will energize you and uplift your mood until you can get back to it tomorrow.

Take a Walk Outside
After spending much of your days inside, summer is a great time to get outside for a leisurely walk or a hike alone or with friends or family. Walking is a great activity that gets the muscles moving, and it's also a good way to clear your head or catch up with an old friend. At the end of your walk, you just might find that your mood has improved.

Visit Your Local Farmer's Market
For activities that get you out of the house and help you get your errands done, a good mental health tip is to check out your local farmer's market. Unlike grocery stores that are stuffy and filled with lots of rushing people that are themselves filled with anxieties, your local farmer's market is a great place to meet local food growers and real people that have a passion for what they do. Who knows -- you might even discover a great new food and start incorporating healthier options into your diet!

Start a Garden
If you have some unclaimed space out back or in front of your home, or even if there's a neighborhood garden in your area, gardening is a great way to get outside and into the sun. Furthermore, because you're learning how to care for plants and other foods, you'll gain an appreciation for where your food comes from in addition to watching out for your mental health.

Engage in Some Spring Cleaning
While it's easy to let your cleaning responsibilities go during the winter when shorter days make it harder to keep up, spring or summer is a great time to engage in a whole-home clean. Open up the windows as well as the blinds and bring some warm sun and crisp air inside. Cleaning might be annoying, but once you're done, you'll feel that sense of accomplishment and the calm and peacefulness that comes with having a clean home.

Make a Mixtape or Playlist
When summer hits, many of us turn to that summer music that makes you want to get outside and share fun times with friends and loved ones. And nothing gets the party started like a summer mixtape or playlist to get you moving and uplift your mood. A good mental health tip to take things to the next level is to incorporate exercise or cleaning into your music listening time. 

Plan a Picnic
After months of cold and chilly weather, the summer is the perfect time to plan a picnic with family or friends. The sun will help lift everyone's mood while the good food, drinks and company are all things that are great for everyone's mental health. For bonus points, bring a Bluetooth speaker or pack the croquet set so that everyone can get up and moving, too.

Start a New Exercise Plan
When it's cold outside, the last thing on your mind might be to get some exercise in. But when warmer weather hits, walking, running, swimming and biking are excellent exercises to get the body up and moving and to set the mind right. Group sports like volleyball, soccer and touch-football are also great ways to get everyone out and having fun. Just don't forget the sunscreen!

Check Out Community Events
Most communities have many events happening each day, especially during the sunnier, warmer months when everyone is outside and looking for things to do. It's a good mental health tip for those that like to be around others, and community events are a nice way to discover new things and to meet new people. From outdoor movies to concerts and even outdoor workouts, there's something for everyone whenever the sun is out and shining.

Go Exploring
If you're new to an area or there's a part of town that you're unfamiliar with, summer is a great time to start exploring what your community has to offer. Grab a bike if you're trying to cover a large area, or just stick to walking if there are some new stores you've been itching to check out. Just getting out can be enough to lift your mood, and anything you discover while you're out and about is the icing on the cake.

Try Meditation
While there are many different forms of meditation out there, you don't have to ascribe to a specific one to clear your mind and focus on your mental health. Just find a clear, quiet spot outside and allow yourself to be truly present in the moment. Focus on your breathing and take note of any other sounds -- but don't dwell on them. This is your time to recharge, and after a few moments you'll start to feel your burdens lift away. 

Brought To You by Quick Results Counseling
If these good mental health tips aren't working for you, you may be battling a serious mental health issue. Instead of hoping that things will get better, you can get the mental health help you need from Quick Results Counseling. With a diverse staff of mental health professionals, you don't have to suffer alone. Book your appointment today to schedule a free 45 minute consultation call.