Taking a break from work in the summer, even if just for a long weekend, can be such a blessing. Many of us take the idea of “vacations” for granted – not all of our neighbors are afforded such a luxury.
When we do get the chance to travel or even just to turn off the noise for a few restful days at home, it can do wonders for our mental health. You may notice your heart rate being a little lower, your breaths being a little deeper, and your mind racing a little less.
It can be tempting to take these improvements as a sign that whatever issues we may have been working through before the time off are “fixed” or we’re simply “all better” – at which point many of us lose our discipline. We stop taking good care of ourselves. The positive, healthy routines we had established start to slip into the back of our minds.
Then, our first Monday back in the grind hits us like a Mack truck! Even during vacations or staycations, our mental health needs do not take a break. It’s vitally important to continue caring for yourself during the summer stretches.
If you were practicing sobriety prior to vacation, don’t quit now. Keep the practice going. If you were participating in a support group prior to the long weekend, don’t miss the next meeting just because you feel some relief. Keep the practice going. Maybe your kiddo was seeing a therapist each week during the school year, but stopped at semester’s end. Reach out to a local counseling agency like The Willow Center and keep the practice going for them, too.
The fact is that our brains need routines to deepen positive change. The healthier those routines, and the more discipline in which we practice them, the more improved our health outcomes will be long-term. Though progress deserves to be celebrated, short-term relief does not prove that all our issues are gone.
If you or someone you know needs help in continuing care for mental health or other life challenges, The Willow Center is here for you. Please give us a call.
Written by Chase Cotten, Operations Director at The Willow Center
Reviewed by Ashley English, LAC.
