Community Magazine June 2019

78 Community Magazine Have you thought about how you are going to make this summer special? Or how to make your free time meaningful? Let’s play free association. What word, feeling, or thought pops into your head when I say the word “summer”? Okay, I’ll go first. The words that come to my mind are: warmth, sun, freedom, carefree moments, bucket list, fun! Now it’s your turn! Need more help? Tools for Planning a Great Summer The first and foremost tool in planning a fabulous summer is to think about your three favorite aspects of this season. Do you enjoy being outdoors (think: long walks on the beach, bike riding, or swimming)? Do you have a lighter workload in the summer (such as summer hours at work, or no carpool)? Are your children in day camp or overnight camp? Are you free from homework duty? Do you enjoy leaving your office while it’s still light outside? Now that you have identified what you love about the summer, the next step is to ensure you carve out time to put those activities in your summer calendar! The Benefits of Sunshine Take advantage of the sunshine and warm weather and go outdoors! Get moving! Documented research shows that the warmer weather and sunlight of the summers in our part of the world can actually make us feel happier, more creative, and more focused. The reason for this is that the brain produces more serotonin on sunny days than it does on darker days. Serotonin is a mood-lifting chemical or what is often called a natural antidepressant. Many people develop seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in the dark days of winter, which causes symptoms of depression including moodiness, low energy, lack of interest in daily activities and more. Don’t let those long days of light go to waste! Sunlight is also a natural source of Vitamin D, which helps you fight various diseases. Soak up some sun in limited doses and don’t forget your sunscreen! Set your phone alarm and take a short brisk walk during lunch. When you get back to your desk, you will feel energized, and a solution to your earlier problemmay suddenly come to you. What about eating lunch at a picnic table with friends at a nearby park? Or take your lunch and eat it on a park bench while you listen to your favorite tunes? Or flex that green thumb, spend some time gardening, or start an early morning walking group with some like-minded friends. If your children are home, make sure to incorporate lots of outdoor time for them as well. With summer’s long days, you can even have a family outdoor outing (e.g. dinner at a park or beach) when you get home from work or when they are home from day camp. Get Creative! Another useful tool in planning your summer fun is your very own imagination! Close your eyes and dream. Is there something you have always wanted to do but never found the time? Summer is a perfect time to make it happen! Do you have a bucket list? Summer is the season to start checking off some of those entries! How to Make the Most of Your Free Time This Summer ELLEN GELLER KAMARAS