The long-awaited countdown to the summer break is finally over! This is now the perfect time to relax, rejuvenate and give yourself some much-needed TLC. Whether you’re heading off on a great adventure or taking time off to slow down and spend time with your home comforts, the summer holidays is an amazing opportunity to invest in yourself and improve your mental health. This guide will provide various ways to enhance your emotional and psychological wellbeing during your time off.
Reconnect with what you love
Your summer break provides you with an excellent opportunity to reconnect with the people you love and hobbies that bring you joy. Use this time to foster meaningful relationships with family and friends and spend quality time together engaging in activities that create lasting memories. Meaningful interactions and shared experiences can bring joy, laughter and appreciation, leading to increased happiness and reduced feelings of loneliness or isolation. Additionally, reigniting your passion for hobbies that may have taken a backseat during the busyness of everyday life can provide a therapeutic escape from daily stresses and responsibilities. Engaging in activities that bring you pleasure releases endorphins and promotes positive emotions which, in turn, can reduce the presence of anxiety and depression.
Create a structure and routine
While the holidays offer you a break from your usual daily routine, establishing a newfound summer routine can provide a sense of structure and help maintain a healthy mental balance. Create a flexible schedule that allows for relaxation, self-care and participating in activities you love whilst incorporating a small routine to regulate your mental health and give you a feeling of achievement each day. This could be as simple as setting your alarm to wake up at the same time each morning or putting aside time every week to complete the household jobs that you would usually push aside when you are working or studying. It’s essential to keep your routine varied in order to avoid burnout and nurture your mental health by feeling productive. Try and keep away from overworking without taking time to relax and also over-indulging in watching box sets for your full break as you may feel you have not accomplished anything by the time September comes around.
Setting goals
September may seem like a long way off, but your break will be over before you know it! Setting goals can provide a sense of purpose, direction and motivation. They can assist in maintaining positive mental health, help us stay focused and create a great sense of accomplishment when achieved. When setting your goals, reflect on what you want to achieve or experience during your break. It could be learning a new skill, improving fitness, or completing a creative project. Setting goals will also help you create a sense of structure and can be implemented into your daily routine. Achieving the goals you can set will boost your self-esteem, increase your motivation and enhance your overall mental wellbeing.
Learn emotional self-regulation
Implementing self-regulation techniques into your summer break can profoundly impact your overall wellbeing, making your time off more enjoyable and giving you life skills to take back to the classroom. As you engage in various activities during the summer, be aware of your emotions and begin to understand their influence on your thoughts and actions. For example, if you find yourself feeling overwhelmed or stressed, take intentional breaks to focus on your breathing or engage in mindfulness exercises to calm your mind and restore emotional balance. Applying self-regulation techniques will help regulate your emotions, manage stress and cultivate a positive mindset, creating a great foundation for your mental health beyond your summer break.
You're all set to maintain your mental health this summer
Your summer break presents you with a valuable opportunity to prioritise and nurture your mental health. Following these tips for maintaining a positive mindset during the summer can significantly improve your overall wellbeing, not only in the present but also allowing you to enter the new school year with improved mental health and feeling better equipped to handle any academic pressures.
If you need an extra hand to improve your mental health simply by using your smartphone, tablet or laptop, we are here to help! Contact our team to discover the world of eQuoo, an interactive mental health game curated by psychologists designed to build your resilience and reduce anxiety and depression, all within the comfort of your digital device.
We wish you a happy, relaxed and fulfilling summer break!