As summer begins, it’s important to keep mental health in mind. Here are a few ways to optimize your well-being over the summer. Since the weather is warmer during the summer months, outdoor activities are great.
- Go to the beach. The sounds of the waves and the smell of the salty air soothes the mind.
- Go barefoot in the grass. Either a backyard or a nice park—feel the earth beneath your feet and in between your toes.
- Find time for a summer nap. It is the perfect time to rest and rejuvenate your mind given the warm weather.
- Take a hike. Studies have found that being in nature improve well-being and that a walking in forests have been associated with lower levels of anxiety.
- Spend some time gardening. It helps us relax while reminding us of growth and the circle of life.
- Volunteer your time for a local charity or non-profit organization. Giving optimizes reward centers in our brain.
- Relive your childhood years: spend an afternoon playing with bubbles, having a water fight with the garden hose, or doing a cannon ball in the pool.
- Watch your favorite old comedy—a reliable movie that makes you laugh. Laughter has been shown to improve mental health.
- Find an outdoor concert. Music soothes the soul sitting under the stars.
- Engage in a random act of kindness. Give someone an unexpected gift and watch their surprised smile.