| Have you felt that familiar feeling when you come | | | | make sure you build in time during the day to get |
| back from vacation or see those first | | | | that natural light that we usually get in abundance |
| back-to-school sale ads, Oh no! It can't be over | | | | in the summer, when there is more light, and |
| yet!? Most of us look forward to the longer days | | | | we're outside more to enjoy it. Eat your lunch |
| and slower pace of summer all year long only to | | | | outside, or take a twenty or thirty minute walk |
| find it flies by all too fast leaving us feeling wistful | | | | outside at lunch in order to make sure you get |
| and longing to feel the ease that we feel during | | | | your daily dose of light. (It does not have to be |
| those short sweet months. Here are some of my | | | | sunny for you to benefit). Keep comfortable |
| favorite ideas to prolong the sense of relaxation, | | | | walking shoes, and socks if you need them, |
| less stress, and greater pleasure and fun that we | | | | handy under your desk. Consider inviting people |
| experience during the summer months: | | | | who want to talk to you to do a walking meeting |
| Tip Number 1: | | | | during daylight hours and get a little work |
| Plan another vacation! As soon as you come back | | | | accomplished and your daylight at the same time! |
| from your last vacation of the summer, sit down | | | | Tip Number 5: |
| with you spouse, partner, or family and plan | | | | Return to the Moment. Bring back a small object, |
| another vacation, even if it's only a short | | | | the more tactile the better, such as a smooth |
| weekend getaway in September or October. | | | | stone, a small shell from the beach, or a found |
| There's nothing like having something else planned | | | | feather that reminds you of your vacation.( In |
| to erase that Call the fun is over feeling and | | | | coaching we call this a structure.) Keep this object |
| often, fall is an even better time to go on | | | | readily available and in plain sight on your desk. |
| vacation than the summer months. Beautiful and | | | | Several times a day pick up the object, hold it in |
| relaxing locations can be even more beautiful and | | | | you hands, (this is where the tactile part comes |
| relaxing, when the crowds are gone and serenity | | | | in), close your eyes and visualize yourself in the |
| and greater privacy are yours. | | | | most relaxed and peaceful place of your vacation. |
| Tip Number 2: | | | | With your eyes still closed, breathe deeply, |
| Keep up that summer activity level. Most of us | | | | visualize all the details: the colors, the textures, |
| are much more active during the summer months | | | | the quality of the light sparkling on the water, or |
| and often this leads to being (literally) lighter, | | | | creating dark silhouettes against rich pastels at |
| having more energy, and sleeping better. All of | | | | sunset. Hear the sounds of the birds or the |
| these equal less stress. Consider ways to make | | | | water, the laughter of the children chasing the |
| small modifications in your day which will allow you | | | | lightning bugs. Smell the scents, whether the |
| to continue at this level of physical activity. For | | | | distinctive ocean tang of the wharf, the deep |
| instance, if you were swimming almost every day | | | | green woodsy scents of the forest, or the aroma |
| on vacation, research locations where you can | | | | of the fresh local foods from the grill. Give |
| swim regularly, and figure out how to build this | | | | yourself a full 2-3 minutes to take yourself back |
| into your week. Or, if you were walking on the | | | | to this place, and to allow yourself to feel the |
| beach every morning, or at sunset every | | | | same sense of peace, abundance, and deep |
| evening, keep walking daily in your neighborhood, | | | | relaxation of the best part of your vacation. |
| and, (very important), plan an alternate activity | | | | Finally, acknowledge your gratitude for being here, |
| for days when it is too cold, too wet, etc. to do | | | | having had such a wonderful experience, and |
| this. This substitute activity could be time on an | | | | being able to take it with you wherever you go. |
| elliptical machine in your basement, a stationary | | | | Take a couple more slow breaths and open your |
| bike in your bedroom, or dancing to your favorite | | | | eyes, return to your current location, but not |
| dance video in your living room. Be creative, think | | | | without carrying the feeling of this moment back |
| about any option that is physical, vigorous and fun | | | | with you to access as needed as you go about |
| and is not dependent on the weather, otherwise | | | | your day. Retrieve this micro-vacation as-needed |
| as the weather changes your good habit will be | | | | as a part of each day, particularly those days |
| likely to fade away. | | | | when you may be feeling especially stressed or |
| Tip Number 3: | | | | frazzled. |
| Revel in Summer Produce. Produce is wonderful | | | | Tip Number 6: |
| and abundant at the end of summer. Revel in the | | | | Play every day. According to Chris Peterson, Ph.D. |
| colors, textures, and tastes of a large variety of | | | | a professor at the University of Michigan School |
| fruits and vegetables, preferably locally grown and | | | | of Psychology and one of the foremost experts |
| as close to fresh-picked as possible. Current | | | | on positive psychology, There is a direct |
| experts in nutrition and disease prevention now | | | | relationship between how happy people are, and |
| recommend that the ideal level of consumption of | | | | how much play is in their lives: Think about what |
| fruits and vegetables is 5-9 servings a day, even | | | | is play for you, whether time for reading for |
| more than was previously thought. If there was | | | | pleasure, riding a horse, listening to music, singing, |
| ever a time to try out new recipes for fruits and | | | | or playing your instrument, poking around in your |
| vegetables, it would be now. With produce more | | | | garden, or playing with your child or grandchild, |
| available, fresher, and more delicious than at any | | | | and figure out how to increase the amount of |
| other time of year, even non-vegetable lovers | | | | play in your life. Just like when you are on |
| may be pleasantly surprised at how good they | | | | vacation, make it a habit to have more fun and |
| are, and how good they make them feel. And, | | | | play in your life every day. |
| preventing cancer is a nice bonus! | | | | Try incorporating as many of these tips into your |
| Tip Number 4: | | | | life as possible now, in order to savor the last |
| Get Outside During Daylight Hours. Many people, | | | | sweet drops of the summer long into the coming |
| even those who do not meet criteria for | | | | year. With practice, they will make you happier, |
| Seasonal Affective Disorder (S.A.D.), find their | | | | and help you to carry forward the beauty and |
| mood is negatively affected by lack of natural | | | | benefits of those wonderful summer months. |
| light. As the days get shorter, and you are back | | | | Remember, you deserve it, and, it's good for |
| to spending most of your day at the office, | | | | your health! |