As I write this I am sitting in bed, my Covid support team (my dogs) are by my feet and outside, well it’s anything but summer. However, with school and college done for the year, work busy and the hope that the sun will come out again before Christmas, summer really is here, and it can be stressful. Fear not, the fantastic Eloise Skinner, a psychotherapist, is here to save the day with some ideas I think you are going to like and ones she has really got me thinking about as I swig my lemon and ginger tea!

Summer can be a particular time of comparison and anxiety - we want to be sure we’re making the most of precious days off (and even more precious good weather). Add to that a multitude of practical challenges - travel, heat, allergies, insect bites… - and we might be setting ourselves up for a stressful few months, but as a psychotherapist and author, I would love to help you reduce stress levels so you can the peaceful summer we all deserve.

Plan ahead; even if you think you don’t need to!
Having a backup plan, or a plan for when things go wrong - even if it’s just a rough idea - can reduce a significant amount of stress in the event that things (somewhat inevitably) don’t go to plan. For example, what happens if your travel plans are delayed or cancelled? What happens if it rains during your outdoor event? What if you get work emails coming in during your holiday? Having a general sense of what you’ll do in these circumstances can help you to take practical steps to alleviate stress - for example, bringing extra activities or snacks in the case of travel delays, or having a backup event space in case of rain, or setting your out-of-office intentionally before you leave work.

Try to focus on your own experience, rather than what others are up to
Summer can be a time when we’re particularly prone to comparison - we see others jetting off on international holidays or relaxing on beaches when we’re struggling through work tasks or trying to enjoy a staycation. Instead of focusing on what others are doing, try to bring your attention and awareness into the present moment, and into your own experience. Focus on the meaningful, fulfilling moments that you’re creating - connecting with family, for example, or being productive at work. And remember that you’ll only ever be seeing the highlights of other people’s summers - they’ll all be dealing with the everyday challenges of life as well.

Figure out your goals and ambitions for summer ahead of time
Before we head into the final summer weeks, work out if there are any personal goals or ambitions you’d like to fulfil. Is it important for you to get through your summer reading list, for example? Or is it a priority to take a trip to a particular place or try a specific experience? The clearer we can get about the things we want to achieve, the easier it is to feel a sense of satisfaction or fulfilment once our summer is over.

Don’t put too much pressure on the summer months to be perfect
Even though we might be enjoying time off, long evenings, or warmer temperatures, it doesn’t need to be the case that the whole of our year focuses on having a great summer experience. If we can find a feeling of appreciation and enjoyment in all of the seasons, we’re much more likely to feel a consistent sense of wellbeing throughout the year, rather than saving up our expectations for summer. As the months turn towards autumn, it can help to remind ourselves of the good things to come, and the things to be grateful for as the seasons change.

Don’t forget the basics
Summer can be a time of pleasure, enjoyment and adventure - but it helps to keep our general wellbeing foundations, regardless of the season. Although this will differ between individuals, it’s usually the case that sleeping well, eating or hydrating well, and moving regularly will make us feel good - so even on holiday, it’s worth making sure we’re still taking care of the basics. It might seem a little boring, but having strong wellbeing foundations can set us up to have an enjoyable, adventurous summer experience.

Find out more about Eloise’s work at www.eloiseskinner.com, and be sure to follow her on social media @eloiseallexi

Natalie