Summer has a way of whispering, “You deserve a break.” And it’s true—we all need space to rest. But too often, that whisper turns into a full mental health shutdown: skipped therapy sessions, postponed appointments, and a slow drift away from the routines that help us feel our best.
At the same time, summer can amplify emotional challenges. With fewer distractions and more downtime, things like anxiety, depression, comparison, and loneliness often bubble up—not fade away.
The good news? Summer is also a perfect time to reset. With fewer external demands, you can lean into what really matters: your emotional wellbeing and that of your family.
Here are 10 ways to proactively support your mental health this summer:
- Revisit Your Wish List: That neuropsych testing, medication evaluation, or therapy consult you’ve been putting off? Summer offers the time and space to get the ball rolling—and prioritize the care you’ve been meaning to pursue.
- Engage In A Bit Of Hard Core Exposure Exercises: Instead of coasting through sessions or hitting pause, use the openness of summer to dive deeper. This might be the season to work through that stuck spot you’ve been avoiding or start a new treatment goal with fresh energy.
- Consider Tweaking Your Medication Plan (If You Have One):Medication changes take time to stabilize. Summer’s slower pace makes it a great window to work with your prescriber on adjustments or revisit whether your current plan is still the best fit.
- Create a Bit of Structure to Allow for Consistent Rhythm: Summer doesn’t need to be rigid to be regulated. A gentle daily rhythm—sleep, meals, screen time, movement—can bring the nervous system much-needed consistency without crushing the spirit of the season.
- Plan Value-Based Activities: Instead of defaulting to doom-scrolling or vegging out (no judgment), plan small actions aligned with your values. Whether it’s creativity, connection, nature, or play, these are the activities that actually recharge you.
- Schedule Family Mental Health Check-Ins: Make emotional wellness part of the summer routine. Ask your partner or kids, “How’s your mental health lately?” or “What’s been feeling hard or good these days?” Normalize check-ins the same way you’d talk about sunscreen or dinner plans.
- Tackle Anxiety Head-On: With fewer distractions, summer is an ideal time to practice facing fears. Whether you’re working on tolerating uncertainty, resisting compulsions, or building distress tolerance—this is your moment to gently lean in.
- Get Curious About Challenges Your May Experience “Relaxing”:Does slowing down make you anxious? You’re not alone. Use this season to explore your relationship with stillness. Can you practice being present—even when there’s nothing to do?
- Mindfully Manage Social Media: If summer scrolls leave you feeling behind, disconnected, or not “enough,” take control. Unfollow. Log off. Or consciously shift your feed toward what inspires rather than drains you.
- Redefine “Summer Success”: Real life still happens in summer. Not every day will be carefree. That’s okay. Let go of the highlight reel and embrace a more honest, grounded version of summer success—one that makes room for growth, rest,
Taking care of your mental health doesn’t mean giving up on summer—it means choosing a version of summer that actually supports your nervous system, your values, and your long-term wellbeing.
This summer, don’t chase perfection. Show up for yourself, your healing, and the moments that matter most to you.
