The summer holiday can be a time of mixed emotions, whilst we often think of sunshine, beaches and spending time with friends and family, in reality it can be very different.
Summer can mean juggling responsibilities around holidays and childcare, it doesn’t always see us getting away or having a break.
We think of summer as a time to relax, but having spoken to a colleague this week she said she found it one of the most stressful times of the year. With September approaching there is a mentality of new starts, change and progress, finding herself explaining that she wasn’t going on holiday for one reason or another, and really struggling to maintain any semblance of a work life balance.
That got me thinking, and it got me talking to other friends about anxiety and the summer, a time where we expect to relax commonly sees high stress levels and increased anxiety. Do we spend so much time thinking about what we should be doing, how we should be having fun with others, spending time with our families, or prepping for our big launches and projects in September, that we forget to take a moment to think about our mental health.
So how can we work to feel less anxious and enjoy our summers?
Breathe
The feeling of overwhelm is scary, it can creep up on you and take hold in the blink of an eye. Remembering to take a break, to stop and just breathe is a great way to put things into perspective, to reset and to realign before carrying on with your task of day.
You can use an app for guided mediation or even just set the timer on your phone, just sit, close your eyes, and spend a minute thinking about your breathing, feeling the air move in and out of your lungs.
Exercise
The sun is shining (in the most part), and it’s the perfect weather to get out and do some exercise outside. That doesn’t mean that it’s any easier than getting yourself to the gym, but even a short, brisk walk in the morning or evening will help you to feel calm and happy. Exercise kickstarts our metabolisms and causing the release of endorphins, the happy chemicals that make us feel great.
Plug in your earphones, put on your favourite music and get walking. Whilst you’re out look around and take note of all the interesting things that you can see. Whether it’s the birds or bugs flying around, or other people that are out as well. There’s always something interesting going on around you that at the very least will make your smile or laugh, and maybe even inspire or spark a great idea.
Socialise
Whilst the British weather is somewhat unreliable, it’s the safest time for socialising outdoors in the UK. Catch up with friends and family, whether it’s for a coffee, cocktails or BBQ. Getting together with the people you love the most and setting the world to rights is one of the best ways to pass the time.
Co-work
Working for yourself or remotely can make it harder to get out and socialise, it can feel like you’re alone in your quest and in turn it’s easy to feel lonely. Think about signing up to a coworking space for the summer, surround yourself with people that are on the same journey as you and learn from each other. Coworking spaces often have great events that will allow you to meet like minded people, from sports through to BBQ’s and after work drinks.
Know it’s OK to not be OK
Lastly, but most importantly… It’s OK to feel overwhelmed and anxious. Anxiety doesn’t have a schedule or working hours. Having a set of tools at your disposal to help you when overwhelm or anxiety strikes can help you recover and prevent future attacks.
Whatever you’re doing this summer remember however you feel is ok!