In today’s fast paced world, we have so much technology at our fingertips.
It’s stimulating. It’s exciting. It’s so engaging. It’s
also keeping us from spending time outside.
For most, summer is a time to be outside playing. You can soak up the sun,
your daily dose of
Vitamin D, and create memories that last a lifetime. Generally speaking, this all
impacts your mental health in a positive manner. However, for some people
the warm weather has a negative impact on them. For some, the warm weather
causes them to feel more depression and/or anxiety. Research offers several
ways to help alleviate this problem, and I've chosen to highlight
three below:
-
You can exercise to
improve mood. If you do this with a friend, not only are you being physically active,
you are bonding with a friend. This decreases feelings of isolation and
loneliness.
- Volunteering is another great way to connect with people and feel connected.
The summer time has many opportunities for volunteering.
- Gardening is something that helps give you a sense of accomplishment and
can be done with flowers or food.
Overall, being outside in the summer can be a benefit to your general
mental health. Make sure you stay hydrated and wear
sunscreen, too!
Brianne Wooldridge is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the Campbell
County Medical Group
Kid Clinic. The Kid Clinic is a school-based pediatric clinic in Gillette, Wyoming.
The medical clinic serves children ages 2 weeks to 18 years old; and counseling
services for children 4 years old to 21 years old. It is located at 800
Butler Spaeth Rd., across from St. Matthew’s Catholic Church in
Gillette, Wyoming. The Kid Clinic is open Monday-Friday from 8 am-5 pm.
For more information, call 307-688-8700 or visit
www.cchwyo.org/kidclinic. The Kid Clinic is a collaborative effort between Campbell County Health and
Campbell County School District.