Routine Interrupted: Summer Transition Stress
Guest Written by: Moriah O’Barr, PsyD- Clinical Director at Cultivating Courage Psychological Services, PLLC
I'm excited to welcome Moriah O'Barr, PsyD, a licensed psychologist and Clinical Director at Cultivating Courage Psychological Services, PLLC, as a guest contributor to the blog. I invited Moriah to share her expertise on navigating the transition to summer and the changes in routine that can impact mental health. I hope you find her insights and practical tips helpful!
Summer transition stress is rarely talked about and often present around this time of year. It is a time of year many look forward to. But with that can also come pressure. Needing to make the summer perfect. Making the most of your time. Navigating competing demands with vacations, plans with friends and family, and access to preferred activities or hobbies.
You may be thinking to yourself, but this is such a fun time of year! The answer is yes, it can be. Also, let's talk about ways to navigate the stressors so that you can enjoy your summer to the fullest. Any break in routine increases our mental load. We are suddenly needing to navigate new terrain while fitting in all of our obligations. To do so takes effort and planning. It's pretty natural in this disruption to not always get the balance right.
One of the routines that I hear being impacted the most during summer months is a person's relationship with food. This can be further complicated if you also have ADHD or another diagnosis that makes time management and organization difficult. You may notice that your schedule gets tighter because of plans you made, time off, or all of the fun things that you want to do. As a result, some things might fall to the wayside. It's important that food not become one of those things.
Regular eating patterns of three meals a day plus snacks help regulate our nervous system. Giving our body a variety of food and consistently meeting our needs helps our brain and body stay calm. Your body is good at paying attention to its needs and letting you know how to proceed. When we engage in ignoring the signals, such as hunger, it puts the body on alert. This can show up as an increase in anxiety, shakiness, or getting hangry. And this can all happen after just missing one meal. Overtime, these symptoms become less transient and harder to overcome. Thankfully, our body is forgiving and a good teacher. If you're noticing the symptoms, get curious about how to make food a higher priority in your day.
The goal is to have a stress-free summer! Let's not add potential stressors and instead make small, intentional changes to behavior. This summer pay attention to making sure you don't miss a meal or a snack and stay hydrated. Your body will thank you in more ways than one and it’s a great step in setting yourself up for success!
If this post resonated with you, know that you don't have to figure it all out on your own.
Whether you're looking for support with your relationship with food and nutrition or you're interested in working with a therapist, we're here to help. You can schedule a complimentary discovery call with me to learn more about nutrition counseling, or connect with Moriah to explore whether therapy feels like the right next step.