8 Self-Care Practices That Are Perfect for Summer

What do you most look forward to each summer? Warmer temperatures? Barbecues? Beach days? Travel?

While summer festivities offer an often much-desired break in our day-to-day routines, the busy schedules we create for ourselves can also become somewhat taxing, says Naomi Yano, a registered psychotherapist based in Mississauga, Canada. “We may have a lot of things we want to get done, places to go, and people to see,” she says.

And if they get in the way of routines that help you take care of your health and well-being during the rest of the year, it’s important to find other ways of meeting your personal needs this season. Remember, deciding when a self-care practice is no longer working or needs adjusting is an essential part of self-care. Plus, looking after yourself can help you enjoy the fun stuff even more, Yao says.

Here are some summer self-care practices to try.

1. Get Outside

Step one for making the most of the warmer-weather season is getting out into it. “My advice for summer self-care is to try to go for daily walks,” says Risa Williams, a licensed marriage and family therapist based in Los Angeles, and author of The Ultimate Anxiety Toolkit. Being surrounded by nature, plants, and greenery can lower stress levels, as can physical activity, she says.

“Keep track of your daily walks on a calendar,” Williams suggests. Seeing that streak on paper (or a digital calendar) may help you stick to the habit.

2. Leave Time for Rest

“It can be very easy to overextend ourselves,” says Hope Weiss, LCSW, a therapist based in Longmont, Colorado. That’s true any time of year, but especially in summer, when friendlier weather inspires many to do more, she says.

Do have summer adventures and connect with friends and family, Weiss says. But don’t forget to take time to slow down when you need it, so you don’t exhaust yourself. “Sometimes that may mean reading a book in a hammock,” she says. And remember: It’s okay to say no to invitations or other plans if that’s what’s best for you.

3. Socialize IRL Rather Than Online

Try being more present in the moment by reducing social media use and socializing more in person, suggests LaWanda Hill, PhD, a psychologist based in San Jose, California. “Schedule pool parties, barbecues, or time together at the beach for rejuvenation and restoration,” Dr. Hill says.

4. Buy Summer Clothes That Fit

A lot of people who struggle with body image experience more distress during the summer when we tend to wear clothing (like swimwear) that exposes more of our bodies, says Brianna Campos, a licensed professional counselor, body image coach, and educator based in Waldwick, New Jersey. If this is you, show yourself some self-compassion.

“Finding comfortable clothing is a good place to start,” Campos says. You don’t have to break the bank; consider shopping sales or secondhand options, like Poshmark or Depop.

And remember, it’s okay if you don’t love the way your body looks. Many experts suggest working toward body neutrality — that is, living your life without strong feelings (good or bad) about your appearance — to have a healthier body image. “Regardless of body size, it's important to find clothes that fit your here-and-now body rather than trying to fit into clothes from summers past,” Campo says.

5. Hydrate, Hydrate, Hydrate

Summer heat and humidity can cause dehydration, which can lead to a host of problems (like heat exhaustion), says Mia Finkelston, MD, a family medicine physician and the senior medical director of Amwell Medical Group, based in Leonardtown, Maryland. And even low levels of chronic dehydration can make you feel tired and dizzy.

The amount of water you should drink each day varies from person to person based on factors like activity level and age. A hydration calculator can give you a good idea of how much you need. Once you know that, Dr. Finkelston suggests establishing a routine that will eventually become a habit.

Finkelston says she likes to keep a water bottle on her bedside table, so that she can drink about 16 ounces as soon as she wakes up. She refills the water bottle throughout the day, aiming to drink another 16 ounces before noon and the same amount again between noon and 5 p.m. She also drinks tea and flavored seltzer water throughout the day.

“And remember, you can get water from food too, especially fruits and vegetables,” Finkelston says. Try including water-rich produce like cucumber and watermelon in your daily meals and snacks.

6. Be Sun Savvy

When outside, be sure to apply sunscreen liberally and regularly. You’ll be helping protect yourself from certain cancers, as well as slowing signs of skin aging (like wrinkles and hyperpigmentation).

7. Find Your Summer Schedule (But Make It a Relaxed One)

If your usual routine is disrupted in the summer — maybe you’re a full-time parent or teacher and school is out, or maybe you work for a company that has more flexible summer hours — getting into a new one (even a loose one) can help you feel less overwhelmed and keep up with healthy habits.

“Stay on a regular sleep schedule and socialize regularly,” says Dana Colthart, LCSW, a therapist based in Mahwah, New Jersey. She recommends planning activities that you can consistently fit into your day, like getting in some movement, reading, writing, and meditation. Your summer schedule doesn’t have to be strict or rigid, but daily habits can make you feel more grounded.

8. Move in Ways You Find Fun

Summer yields a lot of opportunities to exercise outdoors and indoors, so don’t force yourself to move in a way that you hate. If you’re unmotivated to hit the gym when the sun is shining, find an outdoor workout you enjoy, like hiking, walking, running, a pickup game of basketball in the park, or an al fresco yoga session.

Annie Poirier, CSCS, a body confidence coach and the author of The Body Joyful, based in Portland, Maine, recommends asking yourself: “What did you do when you were a kid during the summer that you loved?” Maybe you enjoyed jumping rope, riding your bike, or swimming at the local pool — all things you could still do as an adult.