Australian Association of Psychologists Inc
By Stefa Jarema
As the year winds down and the festive gatherings crank up, it’s the perfect time to reflect on the year just gone – and your hopes for the next one. Making the most of each day of your summer break can help set you up for improved mental health, less stress and a positive start to the new year.
Putting that attitude into practice, however, is often easier said than done. With the kids home from school and your typical routines disrupted, it’s easy for parents to forsake their time of reflection for one of stress, mess, and one too many glasses of mulled wine.
So if you’re keen to head into 2023 a more grounded and reflective you, here are some top tips for improving your mental health and finding some clarity throughout the silly season and beyond.
Joyful movement
Physical activity is one of the most important contributors to positive mental health, and summer is the perfect time to insert some joyful movement into your routine.
It doesn’t need to be a sport or an intense gym session – in fact, gentle exercise like walking, swimming, or yoga can be just as beneficial for both your mind and body. The key is to find something that you genuinely enjoy, rather than something that feels too much like hard work. The more enjoyable you can make it, the more likely you are to continue with it.
Whether it’s your own private dance party or kicking a ball or shooting hoops with their children, find something that brings you joy. If you can link the exercise to an activity that you already routinely do, it’s far more likely to stick and develop into a habit when the summer break comes to an end.
Nurturing the body
There is a strong link between what we put in our bodies and how we feel. Making choices about alcohol and food consumption ahead of time allows us to plan how to manage this during our events and make the most of each day.
Most of us have been tempted to overindulge at times and paid the price the next day, and this is especially true at a time when alcohol and sugary foods are around us in abundance. Writing off precious days, especially during our summer break, leaves us with less quality time that could be better spent nourishing both our minds and bodies. It’s not about cutting out indulgences completely, but finding a way to maintain a healthy balance.
Keeping well hydrated is especially important over our warm summers, so if you do choose to drink, make sure you’ve got a refreshing glass of water on hand. Mocktails, flavoured waters and
non-alcoholic beer and wines have come a long way since they were first on the market and non-alcoholic bars are popping up in most capital cities.
By including some of these on the menu and or by bringing your own drinks to functions, you can get to enjoy some tasty drinks and avoid the hangover, allowing you to enjoy the following day without writing it off. Your future self will thank you.
Developing the habit of self-praise
After a hard year and a great job done, it’s easy to feel resentment if our co-workers or managers don’t give us the feedback we need. All too often, that acknowledgement does not happen – or atleast, not in the way we’d hoped. Sometimes our minds can set off questioning the quality of our work, our efforts, and whether we are appreciated.
This is when it’s important to notice what our mind is doing, and not to believe everything we think. Remember: your thoughts are not facts. It’s possible to receive the acknowledgement that we deserve to ourselves through our own self-talk. Yes, we all talk to ourselves, and we are the only ones who get to hear this. Regardless of what we say, our brains believe it, so it pays to be nice.
If you can develop the habit of self-praise then you become less reliant on the validation of others, or external validation. Developing a positive coaching style of self-talk can contribute to improved
self-esteem and positive mental health outcomes.
By adopting some of these simple strategies, it’s possible to take control of your own wellbeing and make the most of your summer break. If you need more support, don’t be afraid to ask for help.
There are lots of good psychologists out there who are more than willing to help you.
