How to Maintain Mental Well-being During the Summer Months
By Michelle Payton
If you’ve ever heard of seasonal depression, you know that the cold months can be hard for people and their mental health. But summer is not always easy either. One of the biggest challenges with summer that I see in my practice has to do with staying healthy and feeling confident in your body.
Understanding Body Image Concerns
Body image issues often become more pronounced during the summer months. With the season comes the pressure to look a certain way in swimsuits, shorts, and other revealing clothing. This societal pressure can lead to anxiety, stress, and even depression.
Strategies to Stay Mentally Healthy
1. Focus on Health, Not Appearance: Shift your mindset from how your body looks to how your body FEELS. Emphasize health over aesthetics and engage in physical activities that you enjoy and make you feel good, whether it’s swimming, hiking, or yoga.
2. Change your Algorithm: While social media may connect us, it can also amplify body image issues through comparison. Unfollow accounts that make you feel bad about yourself and follow those that promote body positivity and self-love.
3. Practice Self-Compassion: Be kind to yourself. Understand that everyone has insecurities and that it’s okay to feel them. Practicing self-compassion means treating yourself with the same kindness and understanding that you would give a friend.
4. Mindful Eating: Summer often brings social gatherings centered around food. Practice mindful eating by listening to your body’s hunger and fullness cues, and avoid restrictive diets that can lead to unhealthy eating patterns. Focus on eating foods that "Love you back" and make you feel good inside and out.
5. Set Realistic Goals: If you’re aiming to get more active or eat healthier, set realistic and achievable goals. Goals that are unrealistic and impossible to reach only make you frustrate and engage in negative self-talk. Whatever goals you set, celebrate your progress, no matter how small.
6. Find Balance: Add in activities to your summer schedule that promote mental well-being, like meditation, journaling, or going out in nature. This can help reduce stress and improve your overall mood.
Seeking Professional Help
If body image issues are significantly impacting your mental health, consider seeking help from a mental health professional. Therapy can provide you with tools to manage your thoughts and feelings about your body, and support you in developing a healthier self-image.
Summer should be a time of joy and relaxation, not stress and self-criticism. By focusing on your mental well-being and adopting healthy habits, you can navigate the summer months with confidence and ease. Remember, your worth is not determined by your appearance, and taking care of your mental health is the most important thing you can do this summer!
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