Season-Changing Mental Health Activities

Posted: April 6, 2025

Season-Changing Mental Health Activities

The sun’s coming out, the temperature is rising, and… you’re feeling depressed. While people typically experience the effects of seasonal affective disorder (SAD) in the fall and winter months, this condition can also cause some individuals to feel depressed in the spring and summer. Whether you have SAD or you’re just feeling depressed for another reason, here are five activities you should consider to boost your mental health this spring or summer:

 Head outside to try a new outdoor exercise like walking, swimming, or playing tennis (even if you don’t feel up to exercising, relaxing outside while reading a book or picnicking with friends could improve your mood). Soaking up the sun should be done in moderation, but just a few minutes in the sun can help your body absorb vitamin D, which is known to help fight off depression.

 Create a summer playlist filled with upbeat, catchy tunes. Play it regularly while you clean the house, go for a drive, or just have a spur-of-the-moment dance party.

 Spruce up your home by planting some flowers (if you don’t have any outdoor space, try looking for a local community garden). You could also clean out that hall closet or maybe even paint a bedroom.

 Attend a local fair, watch an outdoor movie, or spend the day at a nearby amusement park. Even throwing a ball with a friend at the corner park can get your spirits up.

 Pick up some fruits and vegetables from a local farmer’s market (and maybe even use them to try a new recipe).

Still not feeling like your “old happy self”?

If you’ve tried these fun activities, or others that you were sure would have you feeling better in no time, but found that your mental health could still use some improvement, contact us today. We’ll be happy to schedule an appointment with one of the experienced therapists at our practice. Once we’ve learned about the issues you’ve been experiencing, we’ll be able to recommend some strategies that are customized to your unique needs.