Tips for Your Mental and Emotional Wellness through Summer

While not everyone looks forward to the summer months throughout the year, it is often perceived as a season when everything is a little more laid back. People often seem happier. Restaurant patios are open late, it’s bright and warm. Backyard gatherings abound. And if you’re a parent, you’re not thinking about school lunches or alarms. It’s beautifully unscheduled. Yet, I often notice a few weeks in, many of us miss parts of being somewhat scheduled. Extracurriculars are over, you likely go to the dentist, and counselling might be something you struggle to prioritize. Who wants appointments in the summer?! You might have noticed that your mental or emotional wellbeing struggles a little during these summer months.

If you’re finding it hard to book with your counsellor, here are a few tips to support your mental and emotional wellness through the summer.

When you can’t maintain your typical counselling appointment frequency, perhaps booking once monthly might be helpful. This will give you an opportunity to connect with someone you know will offer you a sound hour of empathetic, non-judgemental support. You’ll be able to unpack boundaries struggles, family issues, or be reminded of how deeply healed you are. Possibly, you’ll explore ways to continue caring for yourself. This also gives your counsellor an opportunity to gain insight into how you are navigating these months.

Summer counselling might be more maintenance than pushing into new healing. And that’s important too!

If you typically attend counselling in-person, perhaps this is a time when you can attend online. Many therapists offer this virtual option and while for some clients it’s not ideal, you might find it’s better than not being able to attend. You might schedule something during baby’s nap, while your kids are at day camp, or on your lunch break (in your car or a private meeting room). Therapists often tweak availability during the summer, to accommodate our own schedules. This might work in your favour! Make sure to check in with your therapist about this.

If you know connecting just won’t be possible through the summer, be encouraged that there are ways that you can continue to support yourself!

If you find you’re not getting the alone time that you need, you might consider getting up just 15 minutes earlier in the mornings. This allows you a few moments to practice some grounding strategies to set you up well for the day. One of my favourite is the 5-4-3-2-1 Senses Grounding. You can find it here. Starting your day with a grounding practice, brings you into the present when you are at your best. You’re as fresh as you can be when you first wake up – even if you’re tired.

Another summer mental wellness tip is to give yourself permission.

This might be permission to take a day off. Perhaps this is a day off of laundry or housework. This might be a day off of meal making. (Alternatives could be cereal for lunch, “find your own dinner” in the fridge, a quick and easy charcuterie with pantry leftovers…for example.) If you feel the pressure to continue with all your daily and weekly expectations, give yourself a little space to breath. It’s okay to release yourself from some expectations once in awhile. If you work outside of the home, you might consider giving yourself a day off of work. Do you have any personal days to use? Can you work from home? What does it look like to drop the kids off at their camp or daycare and take the day for yourself. It might seem selfish if this is uncommon for you, but it could allow you to really refuel and recharge yourself. When you’re better, you can bring your best self to your friends and family.

The summer’s a lovely time to change up routine. It’s also an opportunity to breathe, to catch up on things that can often be overlooked through the year…but when life gets in the way, you might start to feel that the summer is just a variation of the rest of the year. I invite you to consider what it might look like to step into a new season literally, metaphorically and restfully! If you’re looking to connect whether in-person or online, please reach out.