The Mental Health Boost of Summer Bliss

Summer isn't just a season for sunshine and ice cream; it's the opportunity to slow down and recalibrate our mental wellness. With longer and warmer days, our bodies and minds respond in extraordinary ways, elevating our mood and promoting a sense of calmness. Whether it be solo walks in nature or lakeside gatherings that double as "sea therapy," summer offers a blend of light, movement, and mindfulness that fuels emotional resilience.

Through my research, I'm sharing eight ways that summer can support mental health. Whether you're seeking mental clarity, emotional balance, or just a brighter state of mind, this season delivers. Let's explore how to make your summer truly mental-health bliss.

1. Sunlight boosts vitamin D, essential for bone and immune health, and stimulates serotonin production, which helps regulate mood. This natural mood boost is especially beneficial for teens and adults.

2. Longer daylight hours promote outdoor activities, such as walking, biking, and swimming, which boost mood and reduce anxiety and stress more effectively than indoor exercise.

3. The Attention Restoration Theory (Attention Restoration Theory (ART) (Kaplan, 1989, 1995) suggests that even brief walks in nature can boost focus, memory, and creativity. Research indicates that time spent in green or blue spaces can reduce stress, improve mood, and offer cognitive benefits across all age groups.

4. Blue space & sea therapy—also known as thalassotherapy—captures how simply being near water can profoundly calm and uplift the mind.  Spending time by the ocean, known as "sea therapy," has a calming effect that enhances mindfulness, reduces stress, and promotes a sense of peacefulness. The negative ions in sea air may also help alleviate depressive symptoms, making it beneficial for mental well-being.

5. Summer promotes relaxation with shorter workweeks and vacations, enhancing social interactions at barbecues, parks, and beaches. These laid-back settings promote a sense of belonging and reduce feelings of loneliness.

6. Mindful outdoor activities such as journaling in parks, forest walks, and beach meditations can help lower stress hormone levels. Establishing summer habits, such as maintaining regular sleep-wake cycles and engaging in enjoyable routines, promotes long-term mental wellness.

7. Organized summer camps and holiday programs can significantly boost the social-emotional health, self-esteem, and cognitive skills of disadvantaged youth. However, it's important to remember that some students lose access to school-based mental health support during the summer, highlighting the need for accessible and structured programs to maintain their well-being.

8. Summer heat can disrupt sleep and elevate stress, so it's crucial to stay hydrated, find shade, and take regular breaks. Prioritize your mental health by being mindful of the heat's effects.

Tips to Maximize Summer's Mental Health Boost

Get 20-50?minutes outdoors daily. Even short exposure to parks or nature significantly enhances mood, attention, and well-being.

Mix social and solo time. Balance family BBQs with solo walks to recharge and foster connection.

Try "forest bathing". Shinrin-yoku, and nature therapy lower cortisol and improve mental clarity.

Embrace water near you. Local pools and lakes bring community connection and low-cost coolness.

Stick to sleep & routine. Keep your sleep cycle regular to counter long days and improve nightly rest.

Protect yourself in the heat. Hydrate, avoid midday sun, and slow down to mitigate heat stress.

Final Thoughts

Summer has a positive impact on mental health through exposure to sunlight, physical activity, nature, and social connections. When approached mindfully, balancing enjoyment with self-care and avoiding excessive heat, summer can be one of the most effective seasons for boosting well-being.

Recommended Resources:

• “That Summer Feeling - How Summer Impacts Our Mental Health” for an easy overview?(peacheycounselling.ca)

• “Sea therapy” article for a deep dive into blue-space benefits?(en.wikipedia.org)

• “Take Care of Your Mental Health During Summer Break” upsilonclinic.com, mentalhealthcommission.ca).

• “Not Feeling so Hot? Mental Health Awareness for Summer” (hcmdialogue.ca).