2. Nurture Yourself in Nature

Many healthcare professionals welcome green social prescribing to help with physical and mental wellbeing.

Take a trip to the woods for some forest bathing. This concept is about immersing yourself in nature rather than in a bathtub. It originated in Japan as an antidote to fast-paced city living. Forest bathing encourages you to ease off the gas and tune in to the natural surroundings. 

I sometimes visit the woods by my mum's house, and there's something calming about being under its green canopy. I love how the volume from beyond the trees is turned down and replaced by rustling leaves, birds chirping and the crunch of my footsteps over the stony path. 

Trees also release a chemical called phytoncide, which may benefit our immune systems, making forest bathing good for our physical and mental health.

3. Home-Grown Seasonal Favourites

Summer has an abundance of fresh seasonal goodies which haven’t flown hundreds of miles to reach us. Not only is this a less impactful carbon footprint, but we enjoy fruit and veg more tasty and nutritious for not being stored as long. 

Support businesses in your community by shopping locally and opting for home-grown produce. Look for farm shops selling their latest harvests. You could even turn your shopping trip into a fun family activity and visit a pick-your-own farm. It might inspire you to try growing fruit and veg yourself next year.

4. Relax by the Water

Whether it's the expanse of the ocean, or a gently trickling stream, many of us will agree—being near water is relaxing. A growing body of research supports the wellness aspect of being close to blue spaces.

If you want to do more than admire the view, wild swimming is growing in popularity. There are now designated spots across the country where you can bathe safely. 

Thinking about taking up a new summer activity? How about something water-based, like paddleboarding? I love the idea of serenely gliding across the water, but my iffy sense of balance makes me wonder how tranquil my experience might be. If you're also on my wonky wavelength, apparently, it's easier than it looks and is supposed to be great for your core. 

5. Keep Hydrated

The advice is to drink around six to eight glasses of water daily, maybe more in hotter weather. Top up your liquid intake regularly rather than waiting until you feel thirsty.

Not to be a killjoy, but try to drink water in addition to your favourite summer tipple. Those ice-cold pints or glasses of Pimm's might feel refreshing, but alcohol is a diuretic and will dehydrate you. OK, lecture over, but worth keeping in mind, especially if you enjoy suggestion number six! 

6. Festival Season

Listening to our favourite music benefits our mental health. It triggers our brains to release dopamine, making us feel good. 

We might not always be guaranteed good weather, but that doesn't stop the UK from holding some iconic summer festivals. Live music events spring up across the country in the summertime, from the big names of Glastonbury to local boutique gigs. 

If you prefer home comforts to wellies and portaloos, create the festival vibe at home. Set up a Bluetooth speaker and transform your garden into an invite-only VIP zone. Go festival chic with glitter make-up and flower hair garlands, or keep the sun off with the obligatory bucket hat. Use candles and strings of fairy lights to create a festive glow as the sun goes down. Scatter around cushions and beanbags for relaxed comfort. Make a centrepiece with a firepit if it gets chilly. 

If the weather lets you down, swap the barbecue for a takeaway indoors, and enjoy the music free from the rain and the mud.

7. What's on Near You?

We’re often so keen to explore further afield that we don’t always appreciate what we have on our doorstep. Do you find you only visit local attractions when you have visitors from out of town?

Be a tourist in your home town and view your local patch with fresh eyes. Look up events happening near you. If you're a foodie, there's likely to be a festival or farmer's market nearby to tempt your tastebuds. For the green-fingered, visit gardens open to the public, or check out the National Trust for outing ideas.

8. Get Active

If you're not thrilled at the prospect of a sweaty gym, take your workout outside. Try a yoga class in a beautiful natural setting. Get your cardio fix at a boot camp or a park run. 

If you're not a fan of exercise, use the sunshine as an incentive to get out for a walk. Summer is a great time to embark on a new fitness regime. By the time the weather deteriorates, you’re relying less on motivation and more on habit. 

9. Create a Summer Reading List

Lazy summer afternoons are the perfect time to catch up on that blockbuster you bought months ago but haven’t gotten around to reading.

Reading is one of my favourite ways to take my mind off my worries and reduce stress. Relaxing in the sun and immersing myself in another world for a while is bliss.

Build a reading list by noting titles you'd like to read or swap recommendations with your friends. If you're missing out on a summer holiday this year, choose books featuring places you'd like to visit. You can get a preview of these destinations before you plan the trip for real. 

10. Outdoor Meditation

Connect with the natural world in a mindfulness meditation practice. The summertime sights, sounds and smells can help ground you. When you join the therapeutic benefits of meditation and nature, you get a double whammy of stress relief. 

You can practice it anywhere, even sitting on a park bench. If you prefer to shut your eyes while meditating and feel self-conscious, pop on some sunglasses, and who's to know? 

If you're worrying about tomorrow or ruminating about what happened yesterday, break the cycle with a walking meditation. Focus on your surroundings—what you can see, hear and feel. If your mind wanders, bring your attention back to the present by focusing on your footsteps. 

11. Light Summer Evenings

Take advantage of the extra daylight if you've been cooped up at work all day. Those balmy evenings when you don't need a jacket are rare in the UK, so enjoy them when they happen. Save the TV box sets for the winter and soak up some evening sunshine to boost your mood. 

If there is a nip in the air, keep a jumper to hand rather than retreating indoors. Enjoy some alfresco dining, or find a spot to chill out and enjoy a beautiful sunset. 

12. Star Gazing

When you need some perspective of your place in the universe, star gazing will do it. Those warmer evenings make it more appealing to stay outside, even if you have to wait a little later in the evening for the stars to appear. Have some blankets or throws to snuggle under if it gets chilly. 

The Perseids meteor shower is visible on clear nights in the UK in August. It’s one of the best times of the year to spot a shooting star, so have your wish ready. 

If you live in a town or city, light pollution might affect what you can see. Concerns about light pollution have caused the creation of dark sky places. The UK and Ireland currently have twelve of these areas. If you can escape the city lights on a clear night, prepare for an awe-inspiring celestial spectacle. 

13. Summer Sleeping

Expectations are that our summers will get warmer, which means more stifling temperatures disturbing our sleep. We know the effect lack of sleep has on us, so we need to prepare our bedrooms to sleep better when it gets hot. 

Swap your cosy winter bedding for something lighter. Ventilation is essential at night, but keep your windows and curtains closed during the day. It sounds counterintuitive, but it helps reduce the heat coming into the room. 

Spritz the room with a water spray before bedtime and invest in a fan. If it feels like the fan's just blowing warm air around, place a bowl of iced water nearby. The fan will pick up and distribute the cooler air from the bowl. This trick won't work for long, but it might be enough to get you off to sleep.

If sleep still eludes you, try a lavender pillow spray. Lavender essential oil is known for its therapeutic properties and for aiding sleep.

Enjoy Summer

Whatever you do, make the most of these light-filled months. We can’t control what the weather does, but we can control what we choose to do with our summers. Whatever way you decide to spend it, have a great summer.

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