Summer is seen as a time when we are supposed to feel happy and carefree. Despite this, our emotional health struggles do not simply disappear when the weather gets warmer. With summer here, it is still important that we take steps to maintain and care for our brain health.
Dr. Ileana Berman is a Cognitive Science Researcher who focuses on the connections between Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Schizophrenia. Her career has spanned 30+ years and her work has earned her great recognition, including the Young Investigator Award.
Today she shares advice for caring for yourself this summer.
- Sunlight will give you a great natural mood boost, so try to spend thirty minutes outside every day. Find an outdoor hobby that gets you outside and helps you unwind. Don’t forget the sunscreen!
- Actually use your vacation time. It can be so easy to feel pressure to be really productive. People may not even take the vacation time they have, or they will use it to catch up on their to-do lists. If it isn’t life or death, put the to-do list down. Take time for yourself to enjoy life and relax.
- Plan a getaway. This could be as simple as going on a short weekend getaway to somewhere new. A change of scenery always puts things into a fresh perspective.