SUmmer & Self-care sunscreen
It feels strange to write about surviving summer. Most of the time, summer is great! We have longer days with more time to be in the sun. We may take vacations or engage in more travel to see loved ones who may also be off. However, someone else might say that summer is not so great. Maybe they lost someone in the summer. Perhaps they can’t take the summer off and may not have the money to travel.
The truth of the matter is, summer, just like any other season, can bring a variety of feelings based on personality and experiences. Here’s a fun quiz to learn about your seasonal personality type: season quiz
Since we're in summer, it's only fitting to start with summer personalities (though those of you who don't identify as such shouldn't worry; we'll also discuss ways to benefit from summer, regardless of your personality type). Here are a couple of traits that typically describe a summer personality:
Confident. Bright. Individuals who closely identify with summer can be individuals who like to stand out. They may crave the spotlight and may thrive in larger group events, often seeking festivals or concerts (big crowd, don’t care).
May go with the flow. Summer isn’t really known for being a time of needing a tight schedule. Summer personalities may be the ones who call you randomly to hang out at the beach, but probably won’t confirm plans too early.
May be a bit feisty. There is a correlation between heat and aggression (and sexual activity). /as the days become longer and hotter, sometimes our fuses can become a bit shorter.
Even if you don’t identify with any of these traits in the summer, there are still things that you can do to shine in the summer:
Soak up the sun. Spending time in the sun can increase your intake of vitamin D which can help energize you and improve your mood. Just make sure you wear sunscreen 🙂
Stay hydrated. For those of you who follow me on TikTok, you know that in the summer, I’m always plugging water like I have a sponsorship with a water company. I don’t (but I’m open to it ;), but water truly is life. It helps us think, move, and exist. Did you know that drinking a cup of water can even cool you off emotionally? So before you go yelling at that guy who cut you off, take a sip.
Find activities that fit your style. Not a fan of large crowds? You’re not alone, and usually in the summer most social activities are happening in diverse spaces. Meetup and Eventbrite can be great spaces to find your physical space for fun.
If you like your schedules, make sure you give yourself some scheduled, unplanned free time.
The moral of this story is to make sure you know what works for you in the summer (what brings you joy) and have your “self-care sunscreen available and applied liberally as needed. Let us know how it’s going in the comments!