Last call for Summer

-

Summertime in Vermont... ahhh, a magical time of green and blue: paddles on the lake, hikes in the green mountains, creemees, feeling the sun on your skin, swimming holes- the list goes on and on!


Since we live in a place with long and dark winters, the pressure is ON to make summer the ultimate time of FUN. However, all these high expectations can sometimes backfire, leading to negative feelings and low mood. At this point in the summer (autumn begins in 3 days!), these feelings may boil to a head, and you may feel disappointed that you didn't fit in ALL of the activities you thought you would. You might think along the lines of, "everyone else had a great summer, but during mine I didn't get to _______."

Especially after a summer like this year, with a muddy natural disaster, smoky air quality, and record-breaking heat sweeping the country, you might not be waving goodbye to Summer '23 with stars in your eyes. 

Here are a few strategies to reclaim the last bits of this summer: 

Review the best parts

Even if you didn't get to check every last item off your Summer 2023 Bucket List, you still probably did one or two fun things. Take a few minutes to savor the memory of the moments that you felt relaxed, connected, joyful, or carefree. Scroll through your photos, reminisce with friends/family, and turn up the summer jams playlist!

Take a social media break

Everyone's posting pictures of their awesome vacations and outdoor adventures, and it can make you feel like everyone is having more fun than you. When you're scrolling, it's hard to internalize that other people are curating the best parts of their life to post online  - even if you understand that to be logically true! Stepping back from social media for a pre-determined length of time can do wonders for your mental health.

Squeeze in one last hurrah -miniature style!

You might not have time to complete the last few items on your Summer List, but can you find ways to fit in miniature versions of some of the activities before the snow flies? It's easy to fall into an all-or-nothing mindset, but don't let perfection be the enemy of good!

  • Maybe you didn't get to hike Mt. Mansfield, but could you get out to hike some cool trails close to home?
  •  Maybe you didn't get to host an epic backyard BBQ, but could you invite 1-2 friends or another family over for dinner and dine outside? 
  • Maybe you didn't get to travel to another landscape, but could you take a day-trip to a cute nearby small town or to the beach? 
  • Maybe your float trip down the river never happened, but could you go for a paddle on a nearby pond?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Are You Health Smart Online & On Your Phone?

-
Image
It's hard to deny that more people than ever are turning to the Internet for instant access to information on any topic. From surfing the net to downloading an app, the opportunities are endless when it comes to finding out information about how to manage your health. According to recent research, approximately eighty percent of Americans have, at some point in their life, searched for health information online. This statistic makes it the 3rd most popular web-based activity of Internet users! The problem, however, is that only fifteen percent of those individuals actually check whether or not the information they are reading is from a credible source or if it is current, up-to-date information. Why is checking your source a big deal? Because anyone - even your next door neighbor who knows nothing about health and wellness - could post health information on the Internet. Just because you find health information on the Internet does NOT mean it's factual information. How
Read more

Developing a Workout Routine

-
Image
Developing a routine when working out is important for achieving fitness goals and protecting your body from injury. Below are some tips and tools on developing the perfect workout routine. Use these tips to customize a workout routine that works for you! Tip 1: Consistency Building a strong fitness routine does not happen overnight. You must develop a process and work at it regularly. Decide how many days you are going to work out each week and commit to fitting it into your schedule. Tip 2: Recover Your muscles need time to recover to completely benefit from your physical efforts. When creating your routine, make sure there are days for rest! You do not have to remain completely inactive on recovery days. Long walks, light yoga and casual swimming are all things that get your body moving while still allowing time for your muscles to recoup. Tip 3: Variety Consistency is important when you are thinking about duration and frequency of exercise. Variety is import
Read more

Tips from Mental Health America: Look Around, Look Within: Your surroundings say a lot about your mental health

-
Image
  Take a moment to consider your surroundings. Do you feel safe? Do you have access to health care and grocery stores? Does your home support you, both physically and mentally? This Mental Health Month, challenge yourself to look at your world and how different factors can affect your mental health. Where a person is born, lives, learns, works, plays, and gathers, as well as their economic stability and social connections, are part of what is called “social determinants of health” (SDOH). The more these factors work in your favor means you are more likely to have better mental well-being. However, when it seems like the world is working against you, your mental health can suffer. While many parts of your environment can be out of your control, there are steps you can take to change your space and protect your well-being. • Work toward securing safe and stable housing: This can be challenging due to finances, age, and other reasons, but there are a few things you can try, such as reachi
Read more

How to Build a Low Cost Home Gym

-
Image
So many of us wish we could get more use out of our gym memberships, but with hectic lives and unpredictable schedules, it's not always so easy. If you find it too hard to get out of your house every day for a workout, why not bring the gym to you? Creating a gym in your home can save time and money -- there's no need to own the same heavy, expensive equipment found at a standard gym. You may be surprised at how easy it is to tailor a home gym to fit you personal needs. All you need are a few tangible pieces and a motivational vibe! Below are five necessities to start building your home gym. Atmosphere: Think about what you like most about the gym and figure out how to bring some of that atmosphere to your own space. If natural light is a must have for you, find a space upstairs with great windows to create the look you want. If you like to watch TV while you sweat, set up your gym in a room that has screen access. Need a little visual motivation? Try something simple like
Read more

Welcoa Well Balanced: How to Protect and Maintain Eye Health

-
Image
When it comes to eye health many adults mistakenly believe that as long as nothing is bothering their eyes, there’s no need to get them checked out. However, getting regular eye exams is very important, even if you think your vision is fine. Eye exams allow an eye care professional to monitor your eyes for common vision problems and signs of disease. There aren’t early warning signs for the most common eye diseases, so by identifying diseases early, you have the best treatment options and the best chance of preserving good vision. If you haven’t had an eye exam in more than a year or at all, schedule one now. A comprehensive exam will often include eye dilation. After checking your vision sharpness, your doctor will place drops in your eyes to dilate (widen) the dark center of your eyes, called the pupil. This allows more light into your eyes, just like opening a door lets light into a dark room. The doctor can then examine the inside of your eyes. Your eye doctor will tal
Read more

Join Us for the Corporate Cup 5K!

-
Image
  Run or walk with us on May 16th, 2024!  (Or complete the virtual option 5/16 - 5/31) Sign up at  https://www.vcccsar.org/  today! Race Fee Reimbursement LiveWell Vermont will reimburse the registration fee for employees/retirees who have insurance with Blue Cross Vermont through the State.  When you sign up, please select  "State of Vermont"  or  "State of Vermont Employee"  as your employer (not your specific agency or department). Your reimbursement will be automatically added to your paycheck  (minus a few dollars of tax). If you've selected the State as your employer, there are no additional steps necessary to receive the reimbursement.  Volunteer Volunteers needed before and on the race day.  Learn more . If interested,  register on their website.
Read more

Coping with Stress - Tips from CDC

-
Image
  Coping with Stress tips from CDC Many of us are facing challenges that can be stressful and overwhelming.  Learning to cope with stress in a healthy way will help you, the people you care about, and those around you become more resilient. Stress can cause the following: Feelings of fear, anger, sadness, worry, numbness, or frustration. Changes in appetite, energy, desires, and interests. Trouble concentrating and making decisions. Nightmares or problems sleeping. Physical reactions, such as headaches, body pains, stomach problems, or skin rashes. Worsening of chronic health problems and mental health conditions. Increased use of  alcohol , illegal drugs (like  heroin ,  cocaine , or  methamphetamine ), and misuse of prescription drugs (like opioids). Healthy Ways to Cope with Stress Here are some ways you can manage stress, anxiety, grief, or worry: Take breaks from news stories,  including those on social media. It’s good to be informed, but constant information about negative event
Read more