Summer slump or summer vibes - Taking care of yourself this summer
Is summer really fun? According to all of the advertisements, marketing, images and stories we hear, summer should be the most fun of all the seasons. But for many of us, summer is never as fun as we think it should be.
The start of summer is a massive transition.
Changes in routines, schedules, finances, visitors in your home, and more can be super stressful! We think we should be having fun, but our heads are spinning with questions and problems to solve:
How will we afford summer camp?
Where will Aunt Mildred sleep while she's visiting, and when will she actually leave?
What are the kids going to do all day?
What am I going to do all day??
Am I still going to get up for 5:15am gym class even though I don't have to, or will I sleep in and risk not going at all?
How am I going to stay consistent with my health, nutrition and fitness when everything else is changing?
Ok ok, those last few questions are my actual questions, but maybe they apply to you too! Now that we have established that summer isn't always as carefree and fun as we tell ourselves it should be, let's look at some tips and tricks that can make summer just a little bit closer to the dream summer vacation of our childhoods ;)
First: VALIDATE! Stop should-ing on yourself. Summer should be this or that? No! Summer is _______. Be honest with yourself, and with your buddies at the GLP and in life. Summer is ______ .... so much more than a day at the beach.
Then: Follow these tips and tricks from Psychology Today (they have a bunch of articles on summer stress, these are just a few of their suggestions).
Set up a routine: Even if it is nowhere near your school year routine, having something consistent to plan your life around gives you a sense of direction and control that can ease aimlessness and anxiety. Maybe it's continuing to come to the GLP at a certain time of day or days per week. Or always waking up before 9am and having coffee in your garden. Maybe it's a weekly event, club or activity that gets you out of the house and around friends. You decide!
Set small achievable goals: Mine include putting real pants on every day this summer and tackling my TBR (to be read booklist). You can hold me to it! What's something you felt like you didn't have time to do this year? Maybe summer is your chance! Set a small goal, a fitness goal, a silly goal. It doesn't matter as long as it motivates your brain and your body to activate and stay engaged in something!
Self-care: For parents and teachers, now is your chance to rest, truly rest. Even though your nervous system probably won't like it at first, take a chance to practice mindfulness, meditation, quiet time, naps, rotting on the couch (without your phone!). Give your brain and body an opportunity to come out of fight or flight mode, lower your stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, and genuinely feel a little bit lighter!
Stay connected: For kids and adults, summer can be lonely. We miss our friends and colleagues that we used to see every day. People go on vacation and we don't see them for a while, or we go on vacation and miss our people! We see this happen all the time at the GLP. You all love each other and ask about each other when someone isn't at their usual class. It truly warms my heart how much our community cares about each other. So, if you work out with someone all the time and don't have their number, now is the time to get it! Go for coffee, send each other vacation pictures, plan to sign up for GLP classes together, have a puppy play date! Don't let the summer slump pull you away from your people.
Get outside: We live in one of the most beautiful places on Earth. Go for a walk. Enough said.
What are you doing to keep yourself grounded, sane and joyful this summer? Reach out to your coach to talk about your summer routines and goals. Better yet, schedule a check-in with your coach today!
Good summer vibes from me to you!