10 Simple and Easy Ways to Relieve Stress This Summer

One of my favorite times of the year is coming up: Summer. School is ending and the days are getting longer. The sun is out more, walks and trips to the lake, grilling delicious meats, etc. All things that everyone loves to enjoy, yet summer can also bring more activities. You have ball games, practices, family reunions, and weddings out-of-town. The months that are meant to relax you end up giving you more stress.

You see, in my mind, I always think I’ll be more relaxed in the summer. I tell myself throughout the school year, just get through and when June comes you won’t be running with your head cut off. Yet, then June comes and that never seems to be the case. Anyone else? Or is that just me?

This year though I plan to be different and I hope you do too. I want my summer to be joyful and relaxing. Hence, this post and how I plan on making sure stress isn’t at the forefront of my summer.

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Ways to relieve stress

1. Walking: Find yourself a lake or a beautiful country road and go walk. Put on your headphones or listen to nature. If you’re looking for a playlist to help relax you even more check out my go to here! You’ll receive endorphins which will help relieve stress. Carve out a time a day or during the week to get this done! Invite a friend!
2. Girls’ Trip: Now, this doesn’t need to be a week away (Although, go for it if you can!) Plan an afternoon to a vineyard with the girls. Your husband or mother can watch the kids! Sip some wine and relax!
3. Join a league: While I have a newborn so for me this one will be out, in the past we’ve always done a sand volleyball league. We love it! It makes sure you take one night a week to enjoy fellowship and you get some excercise. It doesn’t have to be volleyball. You can do basketball, touch football, etc.
4. Bible Study: Get a group together, find a bible study you enjoy, and dive into the Word. There is no better way to relax than hanging with your creator. If you’re looking for recommendations my group did a study called Soul Spa all about relaxing and taking care of you. We loved it! It even had little spa things to do with your girlfriends to enhance the experience!
5. Lake/Pool Day: Water makes everything better, don’t you agree? Grab a towel, a cooler of goodness, and go lay out. Play football in the sand, make sand castles, just enjoy!

5 More Great Ways to Destress!

1. Read a book: If you love to read, find yourself a book! I love the app Goodreads. Add me if you’d like! You can add your friends and their book suggestions pop up and Goodreads gives you some too. Find a book, go the library or Amazon and grab it. Get a cup of coffee in the morning, sit outside, and read. Right now, I’m reading Rachel Hollis’s new book Girl, Stop Apologizing and Present Over Perfect by Shauna Niequist.
2. Go to the park: Almost all neighborhoods have a park, find yours and go hang out! Be a little kid and hit up the swings or play a game of tennis or basketball.
3. Retail Therapy: Certainly, every husband just had a slight heart attack. Ha! Seriously though, go alone or with some friends and hit up the farmer’s market or the outdoor malls. You don’t need to drop a pretty penny. Go window shop, try cute stuff on, and just relax. Hit up the chocolate store. That relaxes me right away. 😉
4. Fishing: Now, this may or may not be for you. Some lakes have where you can rent equipment, otherwise hit up Wal-Mart and grab a cheap rod and some bait. Sit on the side of the lake and cast away! Who knows you may just catch something and then you can have a fish fry! Hmmm…beer battered fish fry. My stomach is growling already! 🙂
5. Outdoor Movie Dates: First of all, if you’re blessed to be near a drive-in hit that bad boy up! If you don’t, you can make your own outside. Get a projector and cast it onto the side of your house. If that doesn’t work and the weather is beautiful just move your tv to your porch. Watching a movie, under the stars, and curled up in a blanket is a great way to get rid of stress and spend a summer evening!

There you have it!

All in all, these are great ways to get you stress-free and enjoying the summer. Whatever you decide to do just make sure you are enjoying yourself. Life is way too short to do anything less. Do you have a go-to summer activity? Let me know if the comments. Our household is always looking for fun things to do in the summer!

Although I’ve lived with mental illness my whole life, I am not a medical professional. You can find a therapist anywhere in the United States here. This post contains affiliate links. You can read my disclosure here.