6 ways to summer wellbeing
Groov’s 6 Pillars of Wellbeing can help you build some great healthy habits during the summer months.
If you're like us, you love the changes summer brings:
Warmer weather
Longer days
Fresh produce
Seeing friends more often
Extra time outside
But summer can also be a chaotic time of year. Between kids being out on summer break and covering for coworkers while they go out for vacation, as well as extra travel, late nights with friends, and disrupted routines – it might leave you feeling a bit frazzled.
Groov’s 6 Pillars of Wellbeing can help you keep your wellbeing on track. Here are some ways to weave our 6 Pillars into your daily life throughout summer.
Pillar One - Chill
Chill is all about reducing stress. It’s the things you do to calm your mind, relax your body, and switch off your fight or flight response.
Sometimes during the summer months, we may find schedules to be extra full. While this may be fun, it can take a toll on our bodies both mentally and physically. That’s why it is so important to find activities to help relieve stress and turn off your fight or flight response.
Some great options to try are:
Meditating during sunrise
Going for a relaxing walk
Swimming in the peace of the evening
Trying out an outdoor yoga class in a local park
Curling up with a new book
Pillar 2 - Do
Do is all about learning. It’s the things you do to keep your brain active and stay creative.
Summer is all about fun activities, but how can you keep your brain engaged as well? Think outside the box because this is the season to try something new.
Here are some fun ways to help keep your brain active and creative:
Learn something new in an online class or by watching a YouTube video
Try a new hobby like painting or pottery
Challenge yourself to make a new recipe one night per week
Learn a new language (for all of those fun trips you want to take)
Sign up for a dance class with your partner or a friend
Pillar 3 - Connect
Connect is all about connecting with and helping others. It’s the things you do to strengthen relationships, socialise, give back, and volunteer.
With warmer temperatures upon us, it's time to connect with your friends and lend a helping hand in your community. This will strengthen relationships and make an impact on the world around you. You'll feel better about yourself and the difference you're making in the world. It's also a great way to take your mind off your circumstances and solidify a feeling of gratitude for your own life.
Here are a few ideas to get you started:
Serve in your local food pantry
Throw a dinner party
Send encouraging hand-written notes to friends, family, or even strangers
Volunteer time at your local animal shelter
Donate gently used items to a local charity
Pillar 4 - Move
Move is all about keeping physically active. And this doesn’t have to mean spending hours at the gym or heading out for a long run. even just 30 minutes of movement a day can be hugely beneficial for your wellbeing.
Whether in an office or out exploring a new city, finding ways to stay physically active to help keep you feeling good all summer long is essential. Exercise helps to increase endorphins and other ‘feel-good’ chemicals in your brain to help counteract feelings of depression.
Here are some fun ways to keep moving and motivated:
Go on a hike at your local state or national park
Try a fun spin or yoga class
Go for a bicycle ride with friends or family
Head to your local bowling alley or skating rink for air-conditioned fun
Go for a quick walk on your lunch break to stretch your legs and fill your lungs with fresh air
Pillar 5 - Celebrate
Celebrate is all about taking time to celebrate and appreciate YOU. It’s the things you do to notice the positive, be kind to yourself, and to feel good about yourself.
So, while enjoying time with friends and family this summer, don't forget to take time to appreciate you. Acknowledging all of the awesome things you have accomplished, big or small, significantly impacts your wellbeing! You will find that being kind to yourself improves your self-esteem and self-confidence. It changes how you carry yourself and helps you shift your mindset toward positivity instead of self-criticism.
If you're not used to taking time to celebrate yourself, now is the time to start!
Make a list of all of your past accomplishments
Reflect on the first half of the year. What are you most proud of?
Set some future goals. What do you want to accomplish in the next half of the year?
Be sure to look at everything – even the smallest wins deserve recognition and appreciation
Plan small celebrations throughout the month to recognize your accomplishments. This could be a dinner out with friends, buying a new pair of sunglasses, or heading to the theater to see a good movie. Give yourself something to look forward to, and know that you earned it!
Pillar 6 - Enjoy
Enjoy is all about having things to look forward to. It’s the things you do for pleasure and fun, and to practice self-care.
Something as little as making time each evening to wind down with a favorite activity, like curling up with a good book, or trying out a new skincare routine, can help ground your day and incorporate the time you need to re-center.
This summer, make sure you give yourself plenty to look forward to. A few fun ideas to try this summer season are:
Try cooking a new recipe
See a comedy show or a funny movie
Plan a vacation, big or small – just get out of the house and into new scenery for a little while
Go on a road trip alone or with loved ones
Find a new book series to immerse yourself in
One important aspect to remember this summer is that wellbeing is all about avoiding feelings of overwhelm. Don't look at this article and think you must incorporate every single step to succeed! Choose one or two to start, and remember that mindfulness is key. If you make your goal each day to do just one thing here, you'll be well on your way to improving your wellbeing and having an incredible summer in the process.