Overcoming Summer Stress with Self-Care

Summer is here! With summer comes more free time, warm weather and spending time with people you love. This year, summer may be a bit different and now more than ever is a great time to think about self-care.

What is self-care?

Self-care is taking care of your physical, mental, emotional, spiritual and social well-being. It means taking time out to look after yourself and putting yourself first.

Sometimes you might not notice that you are practising self-care. At times, self-care can look like tidying your room up after playing with your toys, it could be dressing up in your favourite top for school or playing a silly game with your siblings.

Self-care can build great habits for you as you grow up. They might influence you to develop regular routines so that you can carry on with your day-to-day activities.

Did you know that self-care can also include personal hygiene and diet? So brushing your teeth and hair in the morning before making your way to school counts as self-care. This is because you are making an effort to look after yourself and putting in the time to focus on what you need to start your day.

As summer comes around and school is ending, it might be a good time for you to learn new hobbies. That might include writing, learning a new sport, recording yourself doing a Tiktok dance or cooking with your parents or caregivers.

If you have any questions about self-care you can ask your parents or caregivers for more examples on how to practice self-care. You can always call 0800 What’s Up and talk to our trained counsellors about self-care and worries that you come across.

Summer stress

Summer can be lots of fun but it can also bring stress.

Some common summer worries might include…

  • Christmas stress

  • Missing out on seeing family from overseas/other parts of the country

  • Missing school friends

  • Worrying about a “summer body”

  • Boredom    

  • Feeling worried about school next year.

 

Summer self-care bingo

Here are some great ideas to help you with your self-care these summer holidays…

  • Make a summer bucket list

  • Go on an adventure

  • Soak up the sun

  • Drink water

  • Try something new

  • Dance party

  • Movie night

  • Practice meditation

  • Explore in nature

  • Talk to a friend

  • Name three cool things about you

What is on your mind this summer?

“I am feeling really worried about Christmas as my parents fight a lot and we can’t see the family we normally do!”

Christmas can be lots of fun but it can also feel pretty stressful at home for some.

It’s okay to talk. Talking it out can help manage your worries. 0800 What’s Up are here for you even on Christmas day.

Keep it simple. Christmas is about spending time with the people you love.

If you can’t see people you normally would, you can connect with them in a special way. Hand-make them a card, or give them a call. They would love to hear from you.

Take some time for yourself. Breathe in and feel your belly expand like a balloon, hold it for seven seconds and slowly breathe out.

“What can I do when I miss my friends from school?”

It’s normal to miss school friends when you’re on holiday.

This year things might be a little different.

If you are unable to see your friends in person you could try one of our suggestions?

  • Virtual hangouts, you can meet up online or play a game together

  • What about drawing pictures or writing to people you miss

  • Is it possible to meet up outdoors or if you’re able to, make a plan to see them?

“I don’t want to go back to school, I love holidays and school is scary!”

When you’ve enjoyed a relaxing time in the holidays with people you are the most comfortable with, going back to school can make you feel sad or annoyed.

This could be because you have to go back to a routine and do homework.

Once you are back at school, you’ll start to enjoy being with your schoolmates again, as well as your teachers and even learning new things.

If there’s a reason why you don’t like going back to school (for example someone is a bully to you, your teacher isn’t nice or you don’t like being around your schoolmates), you can call or chat online with a 0800 What’s Up counsellor and get advice on how to deal with your back to school nerves.

Summer Boredom Busters

Bored this summer? This is a great time to flex your creativity.

Here are boredom busting ideas:

Wendy Schollum