The weather is blistering hot, the vacation (or lack there of) is

causing conflict among friends or family and your lack of

interest in work has only doubled your workload. Are you

experiencing summer stress?

Well you're not alone. Right now there are millions of people

just like you who are dealing with the reality of summer stress,

except you have an advantage over them; you're reading this

article and when you're done reading, you'll take the next steps

needed to beat the summer blues.

These are the times when the kids are at home and are looking for

something to do. These are the times when seemingly everyone

talks about their vacation plans leaving you resentful. These are

the times when you're teetering on burnout because you quite

simply need a break.

Give Yourself A Break!

So, why don't you take a break? What's stopping you? In these

times, you need to seek some comfort. That might be at the pool,

inside with the air conditioning, outside reading a good book, or

away on a vacation.

If money's the stressor (and often it is), that's no excuse. No

one said you had to go to an exotic place to relieve stress. Last

I checked, taking a stroll through a park, watching a youth

baseball game or participating in one of the many community

events and activities is a healthy and free way to get your mind

off the routine and often that's all you'll need.

Short of that, taking up a new hobby or reviving an old one will

certainly ease your stress. If you're looking for ideas, just

think of things you're passionate about ­ a sport, game, activity

or otherwise ­ then make it happen and ensure that it is embedded

into your routine. It's been suggested that scheduling a weekly

family games night will give you something to look forward to

during the week and lets you and your family unwind together.

Don't Overbook Yourself.

The summer months can be full of activities, parties and

barbecues. It's easy to lose track of your health and overexert

yourself when you really shouldn't. This means you need to watch

your diet, be cautious outside in the excessive heat, and leave

extra time so you can unwind and catch up on household errands.

If you go on a vacation, strive to find the right balance between

enjoyment and the creation of additional stress. We tend to

organize our trips with lots of sightseeing activities and early

mornings coupled with late nights. While it may be fun to

experience as many sights and sounds as possible, try doing one

or two fewer so you can enjoy each activity even more without

feeling rushed or stressed. You shouldn't have to take a vacation

from a vacation!

The key to resolving summer stress is to be aware of your

physical and emotional needs. Don't neglect yourself, otherwise

you'll be tacking on another load of unnecessary stress. Always

remember that taking a few hours a week to relax should not cause

guilt!