Nearly 1 in 5 US adults live with some form of mental illness. And the numbers are rising.

Mental illness is a common issue among Americans, but it’s something we can work on by practicing self-care all year round. And during the months of summer, there are a variety of self-care methods we can take part in to boost our mood while enjoying the warm weather.

In today’s article, we’ll be sharing 5 summer self-care tips to boost your mood and mind, all while embracing the sun. Keep reading to learn more. 

Get some sun

Many people struggle with what's known as seasonal depressive disorder (SAD). SAD relates to the change in seasons, many people experience symptoms in the fall and later in the winter months.

And most people affected by SAD live at latitudes far south and far north of the equator where there’s much less sunlight during the fall and winter months.

‍But why?

The reason for this could be that in the darker months of winter and fall people are exposed to less sunlight. The skin produces Vitamin D when it’s exposed to the sun, and Vitamin D can help increase serotonin activity.

‍What’s serotonin?

‍And what does serotonin have to do with our mood?

‍Serotonin is a neurotransmitter (a chemical messenger) that carries messages between your brain and throughout the body. It has several roles, including influencing our memory, learning, and happiness. 

‍Low levels of serotonin may cause depression.

Getting out in the sun may be a great way to not only get more Vitamin D, but it may also help increase the level of serotonin activity within us. Potentially improving our overall mood. 

While getting sun is important, it’s vital to protect yourself from getting a sunburn or heat stroke.

It’s best to protect your skin with sunscreen and reapply every so often throughout the day. Reflective clothing is another great way to keep your skin safe in the sun.

Keeping cool is also important, as spending long amounts of time exposed to the sun could result in heat stroke. Try taking breaks from the sun in the shade and do your best to not over-exert yourself. 

Exercise outdoors

In many places, one of the great things that summer has to offer is the ability to exercise outdoors.

‍Physical activity can:

• Help improve brain health - regular exercise may help improve cognitive function and sleep, and it may reduce depression and anxiety risk and overall improve our quality of life.
• Help manage weight - physical activity can help burn calories, build muscle, and decrease total body fat. This could result in better self-esteem and overall a more positive mood.
• Help improve our ability to do day-to-day tasks - when we improve our overall health, day-to-day tasks become easier. This can lead to a better quality of life and can greatly improve mood and well-being.

When compared to indoor activity, outdoor activity seems to have a greater impact on improving mental health. Studies suggest spending time in natural environments may have a positive impact on well-being.

The combination of mental health benefits from spending time outdoors as well as exercise is something worth taking advantage of.

So instead of going for a run at the gym, take a jog around your neighborhood. Or, try getting involved with some outdoor sports.

Relax outdoors

In one review of research, there’s evidence that spending time outdoors with nature can increase happiness and positive social interactions. It may even help bring a sense of purpose and meaning to our lives.

Combining your favorite way of relaxing with spending time outdoors might be an effective way to maximize your self-care this summer.

Different forms of relaxation may have different effects, but relaxation can help us:

• Reduce stress
• Improve sleep quality
• Improve mood and focus
• Reduce anger and frustration
• Reduce muscle tension and chronic pain 

So, what are some of the different ways we can relax outdoors?

It depends on what you like to do, but a few ideas might include:

• Yoga
• Reading
• Meditating
• Breathing techniques 

We encourage you to get outside and take some time to relax and unwind during the summer months!

Take some time off

The summer months are some of the best times to take a break from work.

Whether you decide to go on a vacation outside the country or enjoy the weather in your local area. It’s important to take time off to destress, and physically and mentally recharge.

Some benefits of taking a vacation from work might include:

• Lower stress
• Improved mental health
• Improvement in productivity

Overall, taking time off is important. And summer presents an opportunity for all of us to enjoy a break from work while embracing the warm weather.

Explore nature

As discussed earlier, spending time outdoors may help improve our well-being and happiness.

And exposure to sunlight could help increase the levels of serotonin in the body.

‍But how does exploring nature help?

Just as completing a workout can help us develop confidence, exploring nature may have the same effect. 

You can try taking on a difficult hiking trail, or exploring a new area while paddling. Spending time outdoors and conquering a challenging task can increase your confidence and overall self-belief. 

Closing thoughts - 5 Summer Self-Care Tips to Boost Your Mood 

With such a variety of options, summertime may be one of the best times to practice self-care and boost your mood. 

From getting your summer self-care essentials like sunscreen to relaxing outdoors by meditating or reading, there are many options when it comes to self-care in the summer.

And as more research comes to the forefront, we'll have a better understanding of how the sun and nature affect our moods.

Make sure to share this with a friend or family member who could use some self-care tips to boost their mood during the summer!

Don’t let summer pass you by this year! We chatted with our team and consolidated some of our favorite activities.

1. Connect with brainy folks all around the world with Atlas Obscura’s Trivia Night! Rally together a virtual team and participate for $7.
2. Celebrate Blues Artist Mavis Staples and listen to other folk artists including Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, Ben Harper, and Phoebe Bridgers for a Livestream concert. Tickets cost $12. Tune in this Friday, July 31st at 8:30pm EST.
3. Join host Saleem Reshamwala as he goes on global expeditions and learns from people around the world who are creatively working to make their communities better. Tune into this Ted podcast to transport to another world virtually in the absence of travel.
4. Host a virtual book club with friends. The benefit of talking about your latest read via Zoom or video chat is that you can connect with friends across time zones.
5. Jump on the geocaching bandwagon. We recently heard from some Achievers that they’ve been geocaching with their family members for an active, outdoor treasure hunt.
6. Make a box fort/cat castle for your cat children if you’re a cat mom or dad. :)
7. Set up a socially distanced front yard hang! Dust off your lawn chairs and pick up some of your favorite snacks and head outdoors.
8. Choose a road trip and safely travel to a closeby spot! Know you’re not alone in opting for a road trip as a staycation during these unusual times. Read up on some of the best road trips in America.
9. Host your very own hot sauce competition with your “quaranteam.” Find some new hot sauces you’ve always wanted to try online and order them in to have a mini hot sauce competition. Pro tip: the Heatonist has some of our favorites.
10. Channel your inner artist with a paint by number kit. Tune into a favorite playlist and enjoy a leisurely weekend art hour.

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This week, we celebrated Earth Day on April 22nd. While this year brought a fresh perspective on the day, we still found some great ideas on how to be involved even if some swaps to celebrations meant staying indoors.

We hope that these tips will help you lead a more climate-friendly lifestyle all while safely sheltering in place!

1. NASA created all kinds of resources online to give Earth Day the proper 50th year celebration it deserved. Check out everything from satellite views of the planet to global archives of photos capturing hurricanes, wildfires, icebergs and more!
2. Try planting something and create a little garden. For simple tips, read more in this USA Today Article.
3. Experiment with a plant based meal. If you have a sweet tooth, check out these quick, easy swaps.
4. Make a grocery list via any of these apps (AnyList, Mealime, Bring! to name a few) to more easily keep track of home food needs.
5. Small actions can have a big impact! Switch to paperless bank statements where you can and make sure to unplug electronic devices and appliances when you aren’t using them around your home.

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We know that together we can always achieve more. That’s why we were glad to hear from so many members when we sent out a poll about self-care tips during coronavirus.

We received over 75,000 responses and decided to consolidate some of the top themes we saw across our community to gauge how Evidation Members were practicing self-care during this time.

Here’s a list of the top 20 activities and suggestions that we saw!

1. Make sure to eat and drink immune boosting food and beverages. For a list of suggestions, check out this article from CNN Health.
   Teaser: Carrots, kale, and apricot are good sources of beta carotene and oranges, strawberries, and broccoli are good sources of Vitamin C.
2. Take the time that you need when possible to squeeze in a nap to get enough rest.
3. Make a morning and evening routine to help create some structure during your day.
4. Watch a comedy show to make sure to create laughter during your day. Check out some of the top stand up comedy shows on Netflix.
5. Create a gratitude list or even download a Gratitude Journal app to document positive things that happen throughout your day.
6. Take out your favorite board game to play with friends or family. Check out a few ideas here!
7. Plant some seeds or work on a gardening project. Watch this YouTube video from Epic Gardening for ideas (including how to use a water bottle to make a container garden)
8. Take a long bath and grab a face mask or two! If you’re feeling adventurous, you can make a natural face mask with ingredients at home.
9. Check out one of these online resources to print out coloring books to take a mini break in the middle of your day.
10. Spend time catching up on reading. If you’re a parent, check out some free content and stories that Audible has made available here.
11. Stretch daily! Here’s a quick yoga video for when you need a mid work-day break.
12. Work towards a goal even if you’re stuck indoors. For example, try a new recipe every week or make it a point to connect via video chat with a friend or family member every few days.
13. Up your podcast game! Check out this list from Esquire on top 2020 podcasts to listen to.
14. Find a class that you can take online! Here’s a list of popular classes from Coursera that are available for free online.
15. For parents — rally kids together to write chalk messages on the sidewalk! We’ve heard about neighborhoods spreading positivity to others through sidewalk chalk messages, and we’re inspired by trending #chalkwalks.
16. Try a crafting project like knitting or crocheting to calm your nerves. Check out this tutorial on how to learn how to knit.
17. Limit your news intake. Try and stay updated, but not inundated with new stories.
18. Be sure to drink lots of water!
19. Have a dance party at home or virtually with co-workers! Our team has a weekly 5-minute dance party.
20. Jump on the jigsaw puzzle bandwagon. Grab a puzzle from your local bookstore.

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