Mental Health Tips For Staying Balanced During Summer Travel, From Beaches To Hiking
It's common for people to travel during the summer months. School is out in the US, the weather is warm, and many individuals, couples, friend groups, and families take advantage by planning a trip. While there are many joys to be had and memories to be made on a summer vacation, travel can also lead to stress, anxiety, and other mental health impacts. Here, we will explore both the joys and the challenges of taking a summer trip as well as a few mental health tips that may help you stay balanced while you’re away.
National park hiking, beaches, and more: where and why people travel in the summer
For families with school-aged children, summer vacation can be a time to travel for leisure or visit relatives while the kids don't have classes to attend. For those without children, summer may still represent warm weather and the opportunity to enjoy beautiful beaches, hiking, a new city’s food scene, or other activities.
Summer trips can take many forms. Some people travel to explore a new city (like Las Vegas or Paris), whether it's within the country or abroad. Others prefer a nature trip—to Myrtle Beach, Florida, or Costa Rica to relax, do water sports, or visit the sea turtles—or going camping and hiking in a national park, Rhode Island, San Diego, South Dakota, or upstate New York. Still others might travel to visit friends or relatives in another location. A summer vacation could be to the next town over, across the country, or abroad, and it could be for a weekend, a month, or more. A person might fly, take the train, or make it a road trip.
The joys of summer travel to New York, Los Angeles, abroad, or elsewhere
In general, most travelers take summer vacations for enjoyment. There are many potential joys that travelers may experience during a summer trip, whether it's to a big city, a small town, pristine beaches, a national park, or elsewhere. For example, summer travel can give people the opportunity to:
- Slow down and relax
- Take time away from their job
- Spend time with friends and/or family, or get quality time with themselves
- Explore a new place and meet new people
- Shake up their routine
- Connect with nature
Being present for the many pleasures of an enjoyable trip may promote a positive mood and a sense of overall well-being.
Common emotional challenges of taking a summer vacation
While a summer trip can bring many joys, it also has the potential to be stressful, anxiety-producing, or exhausting. From financial stress to planning stress to cognitive overwhelm, the potential challenges of travel can sometimes be tricky to manage—especially for someone with a high trip frequency during the summer months. Here are some common elements of traveling that may affect emotional and mental health.
Changes in routine during summer travel
Being in a new place and having a different schedule than you normally do can be exciting, but it also has the potential to impact your well-being. You might eat at unusual times, or not eat enough, and you may get less sleep or exercise than usual. You could also be in warmer or cooler climates than you’re used to. These changes in healthy routines or familiar conditions can affect how you feel. For instance, even mild dehydration can negatively affect mood and cognitive performance.
Changes in routine could also exacerbate symptoms of existing mental health conditions. For example, someone with generalized anxiety disorder may notice their anxiety symptoms increasing when they’re in an unfamiliar place and haven’t been eating enough.
Overstimulation on a summer vacation
The very thing that makes many summer vacations fun and exciting can also make them seem overwhelming at times. Being in a new place or around a lot of people can be exhausting or overstimulating, particularly during peak season. This can be especially true for people who may be prone to overstimulation, such as those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), autism spectrum disorder, or other sensitivities.
Challenging friend group or family dynamics
If you’re traveling with friends or family or to visit loved ones, the social dynamics at play can sometimes lead to stress. Interpersonal conflict, differences in political views, or differing opinions on how to spend time or money on the trip may contribute to stress, anxiety, or frustration.
Tips for staying balanced during your beach, nature, or city trip
There are several simple strategies that may help you stay balanced and preserve your emotional well-being as much as possible during a summer vacation. Consider the techniques below.
Plan ahead for alone time or down time, even on trips to beaches or parks
If you’re traveling with or visiting friends or family, it might be helpful to schedule some time for yourself. Taking a walk alone or going to bed early to read a book are examples of ways to take a break from activities, socialization, and other forms of stimulation so you can check in with yourself and recharge. Even if you don’t find yourself needing much alone time, you may still find it helpful to schedule blocks of time where you have no plans and can just relax.
Pack snacks and stay hydrated, especially on a beach, hiking, or national park trip
The food in the place you’re traveling to may be different from what you’re used to, or you may be too busy to remember to eat regular meals. Packing some nutritious, portable snacks to keep with you may help you get the nutrients and energy you need. Research suggests that the drop in glucose that occurs when you’re hungry can affect mood, so bringing protein bars, fruit, nuts, or other snacks and a bottle of water with you each day could help you avoid this and other effects.
Avoid overscheduling, especially on trips to cities like New York or Los Angeles
Whether you're exploring a new place or visiting several friends or relatives at once, it's easy to overextend oneself on a summer vacation. When planning your itinerary, it may help to set aside a block of time each day where you have nothing planned. You might use it to exercise, eat, nap, or do something relaxing. These breaks can help you avoid becoming overwhelmed from constantly being on the go. In many cases, a trip may be more enjoyable if you see less but maintain balance rather than trying to cram in too much.
How mindfulness can support a positive travel experience
Leading up to and during your trip, it may also be helpful to regularly practice mindfulness. Even five to 10 minutes of meditation per day could help you cultivate this useful skill.
Mindfulness can help you recognize when you're feeling hungry, tired, or overstimulated before it escalates, so you can take care of your needs sooner. A sense of mindfulness could also help you notice and appreciate the joys and pleasures of a new place, be more present, and enjoy your trip more.
Reaching out for online mental health support
Whether you're feeling anxious before leaving on a summer trip or overwhelmed during your vacation, support is available. If you're looking for a convenient and flexible way to speak to a therapist from wherever you are, you might consider exploring a platform like BetterHelp.
This online therapy service allows you to be matched and meet with a licensed therapist remotely, via video, audio, or live chat. It also allows you to message your therapist at any time between sessions, and they will respond as soon as they're able. You can share your feelings with or receive support from your provider even if you're not at home, which can be helpful whether you’re feeling stressed or are struggling to manage symptoms of a mental health condition while you’re away.
What the research says about online therapy’s effectiveness
People who are seeking virtual mental health support for the first time may wonder about the effectiveness of this form of care. It can be empowering to know that a growing body of research suggests that online therapy is as effective as traditional in-person support for treating a variety of common mental health concerns.
Takeaway
A summer trip can bring feelings of joy, connectedness, curiosity, and relaxation, whether you go to a beach, a national park, the West Coast, a big city, or to visit family or friends. However, travel can be stressful too due to overstimulation, interpersonal conflict, financial stressors, and other factors. Using a few simple strategies may help you stay balanced on your trip, such as scheduling time to relax or be on your own, eating nutritiously and drinking enough water, and practicing mindfulness. If you find yourself needing mental health support, platforms like BetterHelp can offer remote care.
What is the best place to visit in summer in the USA?
There are many enjoyable places to visit in the United States during the summer time. You might look at flight deals in order to plan your next trip to Santa Barbara to go horseback riding on the beach, to some national parks to enjoy their natural wonders, to the Eastern Seaboard to visit New York and Boston, or to New Orleans or San Antonio to enjoy a historic city.
Which country is best to go in summer?
If you're looking for a city visit for your next vacation in the summertime, you might explore London or Rome. If you prefer outdoor activities, you might explore a place like Costa Rica.
How does traveling affect your mental health?
Traveling can affect mental health in both positive and negative ways. It can bring a sense of joy and excitement and expand your perspective, but local and international travel are rarely stress-free, so it may also cause anxiety or overstimulation.
Is summer break good for mental health?
Whether summer break positively impacts a person's mental health or not depends on their unique circumstances. For people who have been stressed during the rest of the year, summer break can represent a much-needed time to unwind, relax, and spend time in the great outdoors. However, some people may feel more anxious during a summer break if it lacks structure or presents new stressors.
How to take care of your mental health in the summer?
Whether you're working, going to school, or taking international trips, caring for your mental health during the summer can be important. Taking advantage of sunny days but without putting pressure on yourself can be helpful for many people. Taking time to yourself to relax can be beneficial as well.
Which season is best for mental health?
Each person will have a different experience in terms of what time of year benefits their mental health the most. That said, many people find themselves experiencing mental health challenges during the winter months, when the days are short and dark, the weather is colder, and opportunities for activities may not be as plentiful.
Why is travelling so healing?
Some people find traveling healing, whether they spend time in the Grand Canyon, Southern California, elsewhere, or abroad. Many people find that travel expands their perspective, boosts their self-esteem, and shakes up their routines. It's one reason that many people have a bucket list, to remind them to enjoy travel as often as possible.
Does traveling increase dopamine?
For some people and in some circumstances, certain activities engaged in while traveling might increase dopamine and/or its associated pleasurable feelings. Some people feel this when they book hotels and get the best deals, while others feel it when they travel with a friend to be a co-founder of a new adventure through a forest or an inside passage. Still others may thrive on visiting locations from movies or other pop culture media.
What are the disadvantages of summer vacation?
There are many potential disadvantages of summer vacation depending on your circumstances. For some people, the lack of structure can be stressful, and loneliness may set in if a person's friends are all traveling to summer destinations.
Why summer vacations are important?
Summer vacations can be an important opportunity to unwind and de-stress. They can represent a break from hectic routines and the opportunity to refresh one's perspective and recharge energy levels.
- Next Article