There’s no greater joy in the world than feeling the busyness of life simmer to a stop. As the end of the school year draws near, you can finally take a deep breath, let your mind unwind, and relax as those long, sunny days approach. After the year we’ve had, it’s more important now than ever to take care of your mental health. Here are five of our favourite ways to recharge and refresh over your summer vacation.
Start a New Hobby
As a student, the majority of your time is taken up by learning new material, running around to extracurriculars, and hustling through an often overwhelming schedule. Now, as all of that settles down, find time to think about what brings you joy. Maybe you’ve always wanted to learn how to cook or dabble in music and learn the guitar. Perhaps you’ve had your sights set on picking up a paintbrush and seeing where your mind takes you or learning a new language. Whatever it is, have fun and enjoy. Who knows, you might be the next Gordon Ramsay or Emily Carr!
Unplug from Technology
We’re all guilty of spending a little too much time on technology. It’s hard not to when our phones and computers are the main links to friends, family, schoolwork, and even virtual activities! That being said, there are numerous studies to show that taking a break from the non-stop screen time greatly strengthens our well-being. Rather than scrolling through another endless social media feed, take some time to journal, read a book, see your friends, or go for a hike!
Meditate
Although it can feel strange for first-timers to sit in silence and focus on their own thoughts, meditation wields incredibly positive results on both the mind and the body. Mindful meditation is the process of bringing your awareness to your thoughts without judgment or interpretation – just simply noticing what you’re feeling. Take a few minutes every day this summer to zone in and focus on what goes on inside your head!
Get Out in Nature
Getting outside benefits your mental and physical health in more ways than one. Firstly, it gives you perspective. Changing up your surroundings can be a great way for you to see your own unique and individual challenges in a different light. A change of scenery can sometimes be exactly what you need to process and navigate any issues you may be facing. Secondly, moving your body and getting some fresh air can help boost your energy levels and release endorphins (the “feel-good” chemical in our brains) – all while taking in the beautiful sights that our world has to offer!
Have a Re-Entry Strategy
There’s nothing worse than enjoying the most relaxing vacation only to feel completely and utterly overwhelmed when everything starts back up in September. Ditch the back-to-school stress by taking some time to create a game plan for the fall. Whether that’s by shopping for school supplies before the last minute, creating an organized, colour-coded weekly schedule, or staying at the top of your game by registering for one of our summer programs – do what you can to spread out the workload and make sure your re-entry into the school year is as smooth and stress-free as possible!
Now its time to sit back, relax, and enjoy the summer sun – you deserve it! For more on our summer programs, click here: https://www.optionssolutionsed.com/workshops/workshops-groups/
