It’s Okay to Lay Low During Summer

Summer is often the time of year when people go on vacations, hang out with friends, and do all of the fun things school and work prevent them from doing the rest of the year. In the weeks leading up to summer, people talk about nothing but their plans for their time off. Ads on TV and elsewhere try to sell the idea of big summer trips and plans. Social media overflows with photos of friends’ trips to the beach and other countries. If you don’t have big, extravagant plans, this can often leave you feeling left out and like you’re not using your time off correctly.

Don’t feel that way. If all you want to do during summer is watch Netflix or read books, it’s okay. This time off is yours, not anybody else’s. Don’t feel pressured to go out and do something every single day, and don’t stress about what other people are doing or what companies are trying to sell. Remember that your time off is a time to relax and do what you want to do. If you are stressed about what others are doing with their summer, here are a few things to help you take your mind off what others are doing and focus on yourself:

1. Stay off of social media. While social media is good for keeping in contact with friends, especially during summer, it can also be a huge source of stress and anxiety. If you limit the amount of time you allow yourself to be on social media, you won’t see everyone’s filtered photos of their summer trips. This will help you feel less like you’re doing nothing with your summer and can reduce your stress and anxiety.
2. Take up a new hobby. Whether it’s taking up baking or learning a new language, learning something new can make you feel more productive. You don’t even have to leave the house to learn a new hobby. There are tons of free recipes and baking tutorials online, and apps like Duolingo offer a way to learn languages for free.
3. Do something school or work kept you from doing. If you wanted to improve your make-up skills or read more books the rest of the year but couldn’t, now is your time to do so. Accomplishing something you’ve always wanted to do will make you feel productive. Plus, once you’ve completed it, you’ll feel better about yourself.
4. Start a journal. Journaling is a great way to express your feelings and clear your head. You don’t have to write in complete sentences, either. Just write down notes about how you’re feeling, doodle, write a poem, anything that comes to your mind.
5. Start meditating. Meditation is a great habit for mental and emotional health, and summer is the perfect time to start practicing. There are several free meditation apps and video tutorials available to introduce you to meditation.
6. Rest. You were most likely sleep-deprived all year, so now is a time to focus on getting well-deserved rest. Sleep and rest are imperative for good health. So, sleep, nap, and have down time as much as you can.