Sun’s Out, The Florida Temperature Is Rising, And… You’re Feeling Depressed
While people typically experience the effects of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in the fall and winter months, this condition can also cause some individuals to feel depressed in the spring and summer. Whether you have SAD or there are other causes for your depression, here are five activities you should consider to boost your mental health this summer:
- Head outside to try a new outdoor exercise like walking, swimming, or playing tennis (even if you don’t feel up to exercising, relaxing outside while reading a book or picnicking with friends could improve your mood). Of course, we want to be mindful of the impact of the heat on our plans. Make sure you are planning ahead for timing and heat for your activity so you can set yourself up for success...and less sweating away the enjoyment.
- Create a summer playlist filled with upbeat, catchy tunes. Maybe you choose past summer songs that bring back happy memories and bring a smile to your face!
- Spruce up your home by planting some flowers (if you don’t have any outdoor space, try looking for a local community garden). You can head to the local green market or even the clearance section of your local home improvement store to save those indoor plants that need a little love.
- Attend a local fair, watch an outdoor movie, or spend the day at a nearby amusement park. Check out your local resources for novel experiences you haven't thought of doing before or low-cost to free activities to spice things up!
- Pick up some fruits and vegetables from a local farmer’s market (and maybe even use them to try a new recipe). Maybe, evening inviting some friends over for a pot luck or everyone helps to cook the meal (depending on their strengths.)
Does Your Mental Health Still Need a Boost?
If you’ve tried the summer activities listed above but found that your mental health could still use some improvement, contact us today. We’ll be happy to schedule an appointment with one of the experienced therapists at our practice. We will work with you to see what you have tried, what you have liked, what you haven't liked and support you in finding solutions to the barriers that are holding you back from living your best summer life. We look forward to connecting with you!