It’s Saturday morning, the sun’s shining and I hear my phone ding. Swim? Nobby’s Beach…10am?
I throw the kids’ rash vests, water bottles and tubs of cut up watermelon into my enormous calico beach bag that sits permanently near the front door during these long, luxurious sunny months of summer, and head off, smile on dial, to meet my pal and her crew. The day rolls on and we join more friends under the beach shelter to share cones of chips and ice blocks. The afternoon is spent under the fan with a pile of books or lazily watching a movie, before we throw our bodies back in the water… the pool this time, either ours or a neighbour’s. As the sun finally sets, the BBQ fires up like clockwork, the smell of citronella fills the air and cold drinks are passed around. Summer certainly feels good.
I’m reminded that there’s no other season but summer that really gives us the chance to embrace our inner kid. We get to be silly on a boogie board in the waves, shamelessly eat Bubble O’Bills beachside or show up for spontaneous ‘play dates’ that consist of a hit of pickleball, a game of French cricket or to throw a line in at the lake. The longer days and warmer temps also mean the chance to move every meal of the day outside, under the trees, on a picnic rug or at a waterside table with sunset views.
But what’s really behind that collective feeling of joy that’s a little contagious during the summer months? And why is it easy to find so many moments of delight during the warmer days? Let’s take a closer look at why summer really can soothe our senses, and our soul.
Brain changer
You wake up in the morning, throw the curtains back, the sunlight hits your face, and you just know it’s going to be a good day… right? Well, that’s because light has the power to change our brains on a psychological level. Clinical Psychologist and Director of Life Matters in Hamilton, Lynn Jenkins, says that when it comes to summer and our mood, there can be a biological and a psychological component. “The biological part usually comes down to our improved circadian rhythms during the warmer months which influences our hormone release, amongst other things,” says Lynn. “That means when it comes to sleep, melatonin is affected and with mood, it’s serotonin. Both can be naturally increased with sunlight.”
Lynn also explains that leading more active, outdoorsy lives during summer, as well as socialising with the people we love more often, fills our psychological buckets with all the good stuff – especially that core human need for connection. “Our ways of thinking lead to how we feel, so in the warmer months the things we think about or how we think of ourselves might lead to a lighter mood or us having happier feelings,” says Lynn. Interestingly, past experiences, memories and associations are triggered by certain weather as well. “Most people say cold weather makes them feel like ‘shrinking’ or other negative feelings whereas, warmer weather is typically associated with positive descriptions such as freedom, joy, relaxation, ice cream and eating watermelon! These different associations send messages to the brain, where it releases happy or less happy hormones accordingly,” says Lynn.
Vitamin hit
Most of us know by now that working inside at our desks all day long and not getting some healthy, safe, sun exposure can have negative side effects when it comes to our health. Vitamin D has been nicknamed the ‘Sunshine Vitamin’ and for good reason – most of us find it tricky to get enough vitamin D from the foods we eat, but when sunlight hits our skin, our bodies do an amazing job at making vitamin D for us. Getting our daily dose during the summer months tends to be easier as our lifestyles are more aligned with the outdoors. Vitamin D has a visible flow on effect as it stimulates serotonin synthesis which promotes a positive mood and wellbeing. So just as we thought, summer sun = happy!
Newcastle Clinical Naturopath Sarah Hunter from Blackwood Apothecary explains that vitamin D is a fat-soluble hormone with receptor sites in all cells and tissues within our body. “Many of these receptor sites exist in the brain and we utilise vitamin D for cognition, memory and decision making with low levels of the vitamin associated with anxiety, depression, PMS, cognitive decline and Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD),” says Sarah. “Beyond this, vitamin D plays a lot of other crucial roles in our bodies including calcium regulation, supporting sleep, fertility, immune system function, glucose metabolism, skin health and reducing inflammation.”
Sarah suggests the best way to get enough vitamin D naturally is with a healthy measure of sunshine and by eating wholefoods such as small oily fish, cod liver oil, butter, egg yolk, mushrooms, nuts, and seeds. “Eating breakfast or lunch outside and setting a reminder to go outside, take a walk and see the sunlight if you’re working indoors all day, are simple ways to increase safe sun exposure.”
Let’s take this outside
Longer days and warmer weather mean we tend to spend a good portion of our time outside as summer takes hold. We swim in any body of water we can, take late walks on dusk through the park, pack the family up and head to a bush campsite for a weekend or just sit out on the veranda watching the birds in the trees. There’s been plenty of hype around ‘forest bathing’ and how being in nature can lower our stress levels, and now there’s scientific literature to confirm that most of us feel much better when we are near ‘blue spaces,’ too. Whether it be the sea or coastline, rivers, lakes, dams, creeks or even fountains, it turns out there are a bunch of therapeutic advantages to being by the water. Basically, being near blue spaces is good for your mind and body.
One of the most extensive studies to measure happiness in natural environments was undertaken in the UK in 2013 by George MacKerron, where over twenty thousand smartphone users recorded their sense of wellbeing and their immediate environment randomly, at varying times throughout the day. We’re guessing you may have experienced that almost physical sense of ‘exhale’ and joy when looking out to the horizon over a beautiful beach, and guess what? The study results confirmed that coastal and marine locations were found to be the happiest locations recorded, and not just marginally but by some distance. It’s no wonder surfers are so chill – they are quite literally immersing themselves in a blue space. Thanks to summer, we all tend to increase the time we spend in nature and whether the space is blue or green, this habit is well worth holding on to for better mental health, all year round.
Leading more active, outdoorsy lives during summer, as well as socialising with the people we love more often, fills our psychological buckets with all the good stuff – especialy that core human need for connection.
Friends zone
Summer tends to make it easier to say yes to socialising with our pals, and the good news is that these positive relationships keep us healthier and happier. Bonus! Whether it’s catching up for long lunches, sporadic sundowners with all the chips and dip, or the never-ending Christmas parties that merge into New Year’s get-togethers that blend into Hottest 100 BBQs, there’s never been a better time to leave the housework for another day and hang with your mates.
The Good Life, by Robert Waldinger and Marc Schulz, is the recently released New York best-selling book based on the longest scientific study of happiness ever conducted and guess what? A quick read confirms that we now have evidence that it’s within our best interest to say yes to those Friday arvo drinks with friends! The Harvard Study of Adult Development tracked 724 men since 1938, asking thousands of questions, doing brain scans and blood tests in the hope of discovering what really makes a good, happy life. After eight decades of study and analysis, it turns out one thing could be measured to have more effect on mental and physical health and longevity than anything else. You guessed it! Strong, fulfilling relationships. So that’s two thumbs up for summer socialising!
Before we crack another coldie
It’s important to take a minute and acknowledge that summertime isn’t all rainbows and sunshine for everyone, all the time. Amid an evolving climate crisis where weather patterns can be erratic and the consequences catastrophic, Clinical psychologist Lynn Jenkins reminds us that summer can be a nerve-wracking time with the possibility of looming bushfires and drought. “Not everyone experiences the warmer months ‛positively’ or comfortably, from a psychological perspective,” says Lynn. “Also, not everyone feels amazing in summer. I’m thinking of those with non-sun-friendly skin, and those who perceive they have non-swimwear-worthy bodies. For these people, summer can be a bit torturous. In these circumstances, understanding and kindness go a long way.”
As seen in Swell Issue 19. Grab your copy here
