5 Ways to de-stress this summer
Ahh…summer.
Many of us have been waiting patiently for this season to arrive and for good reason.
Summer is a perfect time to reset and renew thanks to warm temps, long days, fresh produce, and oodles of outdoor activities.
But how do you do that when work, kids, and daily responsibilities still need to be tended to?
Here are 5 ways we like to intertwine stress management and our love for summer:
Seeking out magnesium-rich foods at the farmer’s market.
We love a good farmer’s market or any local, organic produce we can get our hands on and those fruits and vegetables that have high magnesium content are some of our most desired bounties.
Magnesium helps calm the nervous system while keeping energy stable so we like to reach for foods such as:
- avocados
- kale
- spinach
- blackberries
- raspberries
- cantaloupe
when we can.
Here are two recipes for inspiration!
Honey Blackberry Mint Mocktail
Summer Glow Chopped Kale Salad
Connecting with water.
A few of us in the office grew up on the water in which we crave the days spent in the lake or on the dock.
Now as adults, we aim to find those same carefree moments here in Colorado.
To do this, we love to:
- swim, paddle board or kayak after work in the evenings, packing a picnic for dinner
- put up a shade tent on reservoir beach shores and lounge on blow up rafts in the water
- tube a river such as Clear Creek, Boulder Creek, or the Yampa River
- take the family to a local waterpark (like Pirates Cove or Water World)
- relax in hot springs (Mt. Princeton Hot Springs, Strawberry Park Hot Springs, Pagosa Hot Springs)
Enjoying a guilty pleasure.
That drama-filled television show you love? The ridiculously juicy fiction novel you’ve wanted to read? The desire to sleep in on the weekends?
Go for it!
Not every minute of every day has to be productive. And if you don’t take time to enjoy life – even the seemingly silly parts of it – you may miss out on the fun!
Watching the sunrise or sunset.
The awe of watching a sunrise and/or sunset can force us to slow down, take a breath, and connect to nature – all great ways to manage stress.
We particularly love early morning hikes to watch the sunrise or after-dinner tea outside to witness the sunset.
Trying something new.
If there’s one thing that declutters our minds of daily stress, it’s trying something new. Our brains have to make space to focus on a new sport, activity, hobby, etc. and clearing out what’s bogging us down is one way it can do that!
Some things we have tried and enjoyed over the years have been:
- white water rafting
- zip lining
- gold panning
- learning an instrument
- camping
- visiting national parks
- mountain biking
- learning to golf
- hiking a fourteen foot mountain (or just a new trail!)
- stargazing in a dark sky community
Branch out and experience what the world has to offer.
What do you want your summer to be filled with?
Our advice? Ditch the stress and embrace the season.
For stress management support this summer or all year long, please call us at (303) 688-6698 or click here to schedule a free 15 minute phone consultation with Dr. Graves to discuss options such as acupuncture, holistic counseling, massage, and herbal supplements that may be able to help.
The CNMA office provides naturopathic care, acupuncture, testing, massage, and holistic counseling to those in Castle Rock, Castle Pines, Highlands Ranch, Lone Tree, Centennial, Parker, Larkspur, Monument, Colorado Springs, and the greater Denver metro area. For those outside of these areas, virtual appointments are available.
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