Mental Health: Giving Yourself Permission to Slow Down in the Midst of Summer

Summer often arrives fast and furiously with a long list of expectations and plans. We are planning for vacations, family gatherings, camps, pool days, weekend adventures, and making all the memories. While all these plans can be wonderful to look forward to, they can also leave us feeling exhausted, overwhelmed, and stretched super thin.

Many people enter summer hoping life will feel a little easier…only to discover that your schedules become even busier. Parents are trying to juggle childcare, managing all the kids' activities, all while trying to coordinate their own work responsibilities. Teens are trying to navigate changing routines, with continued social pressures and sometimes more downtime on their hands. Even those without children often feel the pressure to make the most of every sunny day and free weekend at your fingertips.

In the midst of all this activity, it is important to remember that rest is not something you have to earn…you must listen to your body and rest when you need to rest. Slowing down does not mean you are lazy, unmotivated, or missing out. It means you're recognizing your need for much needed balance.

Our minds and bodies were not designed to run at full speed all day, every day. When we ignore our need for rest, stress can build, patience can wear thin, and subsequently our mental health can suffer. Sometimes the most productive thing we can do is take a pause. 

Our physical health is equally important as our mental health. If our mental health is off, it can affect our physical health. If our mental health is off, it affects our physical well-being.

This summer remember to allow yourself permission to say “no” to a few commitments. It’s okay to leave some space on your calendar. Make sure you are spending time doing things that genuinely restore your energy…rather than deplete it. Take time to take a walk, read a book, enjoy a quiet morning, or simply sit and be present in the moment.

The memories that will matter most are not always the big events. They are often found in the small moments of connection, peace, and presence. This summer, allow yourself the gift of slowing down. 

Your mental health is worth it!!

by Leah Strittmatter, LSCW-S

Owner & Counselor, Strittmatter Counseling, PLLC