Summer Self-Care and Staycation Ideas for Mental Health

Key takeaways

• Take a Staycation This Summer

• Ideas for a Stress-Less Vacation This Summer

• School’s Out for the Summer!

• Quit the Need For a Vacation From Your Vacation

• 3 Summer Self-Care Strategies

Take a Staycation This Summer

With many people considering the Fourth of July the halfway point of summer, this holiday can create a sense of urgency to get some family vacation time in the books. Summer calendars are usually filled to the max with as many events as can fit into the warm, sunny days of the season. Given how busy everyone is this time of year and the fact that we may often find ourselves with limited resources—like time, money, and more time—now is a perfect opportunity to consider taking a staycation this summer.

A staycation, what a clever idea. Few things are better than the ability to stay in your own community and enjoy the amazing sights and options for fun that exist all around you. You’ve likely seen lists that promote exploration or creative things to do in your hometown. However, have you stopped to also consider the value of what you can get from a staycation?

Ideas for a Stress-Less Vacation This Summer

Summertime means vacation, right? If you’re apprehensive about or reluctant to entertain the idea of taking a trip right now with family or friends, we get it. Considering the effects of the pandemic, it’s completely understandable that a relaxing trip might be anything but. For those who would like to get out and get away, MHCS is here to offer some ideas for a stress-less vacation this summer.

With things opening up after more than a year of social distancing and sticking close to home, many people are ready to get out and do… well, everything. Some precautions are still in place here and there to keep communities and visitors safe. But right now, we’re certainly able to venture farther and experience more than at this time last year. Taking a vacation can create its own set of stressors, however. And getting away for a weekend or longer can frazzle the mind with so much planning and execution. Your trip may not be completely void of stress but there are ways to lessen the effects.

School’s Out for the Summer!

If you’re a parent, summer break is likely to stir up two oppositional feelings for you. On one hand, there’s the nostalgia of summer vacation; memories of barbecues, pool parties, summer camps, or even iconic movie scenes from Grease or Stand by Me , leave us feeling excited. We can remember what it feels like to have the final bell of the school year ring.

On the other hand, there’s the reality of summer vacation. There are never enough vacation days to spend as a family, or enough time to get all the projects done we swore we would get to this summer, or enough money to do all the things we want.

Quit the Need For a Vacation From Your Vacation

Here we are, just past the middle of summer. Tis the time of year many of us go on vacation. Ahhhh, vacation. Something we look forward to, plan for and possibly lose sleep over as we excitedly anticipate what adventure may ensue or the mere idea of sitting back and letting go of our everyday lives. The whole purpose of vacation is to do something different. To relax. To rejuvenate.

Believe it or not, the time we take away from our everyday lives can create even more stress for people. Think about it…we are creatures of habit. We function at our best when get regular sleep, food and engage in a similar routine day-to-day and week-to-week. Whenever we disrupt this cycle, we throw our systems out of balance which can lead to feeling worn out, possibly a bit let down or even depressed…feeling like we need a vacation from our vacation! So how can we get the most out of our time away AND feel refreshed, ready to return to real life.

3 Summer Self-Care Strategies

Stay hydrated. Our bodies are 70% water. Besides oxygen, water is the most important thing our bodies need. Water is required for the digestion and absorption of food, regulating body temperature and blood circulation, moving nutrients and oxygen from our blood to our cells and helping our kidneys remove toxins and other wastes from our system.

Another health benefit of water is its role in fat metabolism. When we are dehydrated, our kidneys cannot eliminate waste as effectively and will turn some of its workload over to the liver. If the liver is doing the kidneys’ work, the kidneys are unable to break down fat. This is why we are encouraged to drink plenty of water when trying to lose weight.

When to reach out

If symptoms are affecting relationships, work, school, sleep, or daily routines, professional support can help you sort through what is happening and choose a realistic next step.

MHCS provides therapy and mental health support for individuals, couples, families, teens, and adults.