For many of us, summer is the best time of year. Warmer weather, longer days, sunkissed skin, holidays and fun plans with friends and family is everything we dream of during the other 3 seasons of the year.
But with increased plans can often come increased burnout. We’re not only working but spending all of our free time making plans and socialising. Rather than waiting for autumn and winter to ‘hibernate’ we should be able to enjoy a social summer whilst ensuring we’re taking proper care of ourselves, both physically and mentally.
To avoid a summer crash, we’ve compiled our top tips for staying happy, healthy, and the best version of you this summer and beyond.
Stay Active
You’ve heard it all before: keeping up with a regular exercise routine is one of the best things you can do for your mental health. And the reason you’ve heard it all before is down to one simple fact: it’s true.
Being active releases chemicals in your brain that make you feel good - lifting your mood, boosting your self-esteem and improving cognitive function. Sounds good, right?
The problem is, many of us find it difficult to get into a regular exercise pattern without it feeling like a chore. That’s why it’s uber important to find the right exercise for you.
Whether it’s a regular gym class, joining a run club, finding a local sports team, or making a game out of your at-home workout classes, YOUR exercise is out there, you just need to find it.
Give various exercises a try until you find the class, routine, or specific exercise you enjoy without feeling like it’s something you ‘have’ to get done.
Remember, even walking is being active, so if you’re struggling to balance being active with all of the plans you have coming up, combine the two - meet your pals for a hike or a walk to a specific destination.
Maintain a Routine
It’s just as important to maintain a daily or weekly routine as it is to build a regular exercise routine.
That doesn’t mean each week needs to look exactly the same, but ensuring some elements of your day or week stay consistent is really important in feeling calm and in control.
This doesn’t mean you have to wear the same clothes on each day every week, but simple consistencies on chosen days, for example:
- A weekly exercise class.
- An at-home pamper evening every Thursday using your favourite bathing products.
- Making a home-cooked meal from scratch every Friday evening.
- Ensuring you close your laptop at a certain time each day.
Be Your Own Bestie
If you’re starting to feel as though saying yes to plans has turned into saying no to yourself, it’s time to step in as your own best friend and set some boundaries in place.
It’s often hard to say no to plans, we’re social creatures who want to build community and make memories. But saying yes all the time can lead to social exhaustion, and we end up neglecting our own needs for the sake of others.
It’s ok to reschedule or simply say ‘not this time, I need to recharge.’ When you do turn down plans in order to reset your batteries, ensure you’re filling that down time with activities that have a positive impact on your mental health.
Here are some examples of ‘me time’ activities to do whilst recharging your social battery:
- Get stuck into a good book. Put the screens down and have a digital detox whilst letting your imagination run wild with a novel you simply can’t put down.
- Listen to podcasts whilst doing ‘life admin.’ So that you don’t feel completely alone, listening to a good podcast whilst doing everyday tasks such as ironing or changing the bedding can be a really beneficial way to get jobs done and learn something new.
- Take yourself to the cinema or do a solo activity. You’re allowed to take yourself on solo dates to reconnect with you.
- Turn your bathroom into an at-home spa with candles, calming music and pampering essentials such as our Natural Bath Bombs and Bath Salts.
Soon the days will be getting shorter, the sun making less and less of an appearance and plans will slowly dwindle into once or twice a month. Make the most of creating summer memories but don’t neglect your mind and body in the process.
If we’ve made it as part of your me-time activities this summer, share your experience with us on social @sentobathing 🧴🫧
