Take Care of Your Health This Summer

For many people, summer means exciting outdoor activities and fun with friends and family; for others, summer can be a difficult time to manage all of their responsibilities. There are usually high expectations of fun in the sun, but the summer months can also leave many feeling burnt out or overwhelmed. With school out during the summer, many working parents face additional pressures as they juggle their work and home responsibilities. Add these factors up, and it is evident why managing and supporting your mental health and your employee’s mental health in the summer can be difficult.

Share These Tips to Support Everyone’s Mental Health and Wellbeing This Summer:

• Use vacation time. Vacations give us something to look forward to, naturally releasing dopamine to fight summertime blues. Vacations don’t have to be expensive or last several days. A quick getaway, road trip or staycation can help boost your mood and recharge your mind. Be sure to read our article on best practices and requirements for vacation and PTO use in California in this month’s newsletter.
• Plan your day. By having a plan and when needed, a backup plan, you can feel more in control of the day and be ready for unexpected summertime business interruptions like the weather or customer demand changes.
• Get outside and stay physically active. The good thing about summer is it is often easier to get outside and soak in vitamin D. Spending time in nature can help improve your mood by reducing stress, combating anxiety and depression, and enhancing cognitive function. Remind your employees about your rest and meal break policy and audit your timecards to ensure employees are getting the breaks they are entitled to take.
• Be realistic. It is important to control—and potentially lower—your expectations and be realistic about what you will be able to do during the summer. Business needs can shift rapidly during the summer months, so being flexible is key. It’s OK to readjust your outlook, embrace downtime, and schedule time for self-care, vacation, or “me time.”

Taking care of yourself, and encouraging your employees to take care of themselves, can help everyone have a more enjoyable summer season.