Anxiety in the Sunshine: When Summer Isn’t Relaxing

When people talk about summer, it’s often with a sense of lightness — beach days, vacations, backyard barbecues, kids laughing in sprinklers. But for many of us, especially those living with anxiety, summer doesn’t always feel so carefree.

In fact, the season’s unstructured nature can feel destabilizing. Routines change, especially for parents — school ends, childcare may be unpredictable, and daily rhythms become looser or disappear altogether. For someone who relies on structure to manage anxiety, this can feel like standing on shifting sand.

Then there’s the increase in social plans. Invitations to gatherings, trips, and outings can bring pressure to say yes, even when your nervous system is quietly (or loudly) saying no. You might find yourself overcommitting out of guilt or fear of missing out, only to feel drained and resentful later.

Even travel, while exciting for some, can bring on anticipatory anxiety, sensory overload, and a sense of being unmoored from the routines that keep you grounded.

And let’s not forget the subtle message that summer is supposed to feel good. That pressure — the internal “I should be enjoying this” — often only worsens the discomfort when you’re not.

If this is you, take a breath. You’re not doing summer wrong.

Anxiety doesn’t take a vacation just because the sun is out. It’s okay to need rest, boundaries, or even structure in a season that’s often glorified for spontaneity.

🌿 Try this: Make yourself a “summer nervous system menu” — a list of things that help you feel calm, safe, and steady. These can be small rituals: quiet mornings, regular meals, short walks, journaling, saying no without over-explaining. Bring them into your summer on purpose.