This summer, put some thought into what you can do to achieve better mental health. Here are some ways you can make the most of the season while supporting your well-being.
Set Fitness Goals
Having a whole summer to get out and be active gets a lot of people thinking about their fitness goals. Of course, everybody wants to show off a tight and toned physique when they want to look good hanging out at the beach or lounging around poolside. Nevertheless, the benefits of getting in shape are more than just aesthetic. Taking steps to improve your physique can make an amazing difference in how you feel.
Shedding excess body weight and building up lean muscle mass will likely give you better energy. Believe it or not, hitting your fitness goals may help you sleep better too.
Consider what your most important fitness goals are. You may find that they align closely with some of your most important mental health goals. Next, create a game plan about what you need to do to achieve them. Write out a minimum of three goals but no more than five. Under each goal, write out at least five things that you can do to accomplish it.
Make Time in Your Mornings to Be Active
It’s hard to make time to be active, so carving out that time at the beginning of your day is a good way For more get-up-and-go in your summer, try to start your mornings with a moderate amount of physical activity.
Instead of focusing on hard-hitting high-impact cardio that makes you want to stay under the covers, start your day with simple strength-training using your own body weight. Be careful not to overdo it first thing in the mornings, though. Try waiting until later in the day to take on a more challenging strength training routine using equipment or weights. You should be fully hydrated before an intense workout, and you should fuel your muscles with a whey isolate protein supplement to optimize the results that you get from your hard work.
Give yourself the chance to rest when you’re working hard towards hitting new milestones in your regimen. Pushing yourself too much could lead to a strain or setback that could be uncomfortable or frustrating. Settle on a morning routine that doesn’t feel too grueling and pumps you up for the day ahead.
Take a Trip
Summer is one of the best times of the year to get out and explore the world. Even if you’ve never had much of a travel bug, going places where you’ve never been can be good for you. Stepping out of your comfort zone may be a medium to advance your personal development goals. Also, processing new information and experiences engages you intellectually. The stimulation you get from traveling makes you reimagine the world with more excitement and possibilities.
Moreover, taking a vacation can put some healthy distance between you and the stressors in your day-to-day work life. Chronic stress usually carries serious health concerns involving people’s physical and mental well-being.
Don’t let a strong work ethic make you feel guilty about wanting to take some time off. You’ve earned it, and you need it to stay sharp while you’re working hard. Try to coordinate with your colleagues well in advance of your scheduled time off so you’ll feel comfortable about taking your mind off of work and staying off the grid as well as your job allows for. The time that you take away from a demanding job can prevent burnout, raise job satisfaction, and support your overall wellness.
Ultimately, just taking the initiative to do things for yourself is good for your mental well-being. Taking stock of how you’re doing and what you need is always good, even if you aren’t doing great and you’re feeling like you’re needing a lot. Decisive action to make positive change is an awesome first step in the right direction to take good care of your mental wellness.
