As warmer weather and longer days signal the shift towards summer, many of us feel a burden lifted from our shoulders. Summer means greater opportunities to spend time with our friends and family, go on vacations, and enjoy the outdoors.
The mood boost provided by warmer weather is also an excellent opportunity to strengthen your mental health and invest in building habits that promote individual growth and self-confidence.
To help you make the most of this summer, the experts at A Caring Approach have put together this concise guide to help you improve your mental health while the sun shines.
Why does warm weather affect mental health?
Research into the seasonal impact on mental health and the improvement in mood experienced during the summer months has been linked to an increase in vitamin D, more sunlight leading to increased serotonin production in the brain, and longer days allowing your body to produce more melatonin to help you sleep at night.
There are also social benefits to sunny weather. Longer days and nicer weather increase the opportunities to spend time with friends and family, explore the outdoors, and exercise, all of which benefit our mental health.
Forming habits and setting boundaries
Summer is a great time to take advantage of the mood boost caused by warmer weather to put lifestyle habits and strategies in place to help support your mental health. Here at A Caring Approach, we’ve found the following to be effective and simple ways to support your well-being:
- Try to build an exercise routine: The beneficial impact of regular physical activity on mental health cannot be overstated. Summer gives you far more opportunities to exercise outdoors and enjoy the sun. A simple walk or hike daily can help to support your mental health.
- Make time for friends and family: Take advantage of the opportunities that warmer weather creates to socialize. Spending time with your friends and loved ones can significantly improve your mood.
- Don’t get overwhelmed: Just because you’ll get invited to more social events in the summer doesn’t mean you have to attend all of them. While social interactions are important, there’s no harm in refusing the occasional invitation in order to spend time relaxing at home.
If you find you are still struggling with your mental health, reach out to A Caring Approach. Our affordable therapy options can help you build your self-confidence and work towards genuine individual growth. Call us today to find out how we can help!