Survive and Thrive this Summer
Here are some ways on how to deal, this summer.
Most of us look forward to summer year long. Sunshine. HOLIDAYS! Summer is the BEST! Some of us are lucky to sail through summer in a haze of happiness, but the rest of us might not be so lucky – it isn’t quite as great as we imagined it, or we have to deal with sh*tty things.
Here are our tips on dealing this summer – no, we’re not going to tell you to wear sunblock or swim between the flags (although do those things!)
Dealing with FOMO – Sometimes it can feel like all of your friends are out there doing amazing things, while you’re stuck at home, feeling lonely and left out. The fear of missing out is REAL and can make you feel really bad. Just remember that Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat is everyone's HIGHLIGHT REEL - no one's having as much fun as it looks!
Dealing with BOREDOM - a little known secret: between our Instagram posts, so many of us are SO bored.
When you’re bored, it’s easy to spend your whole summer inside clicking from one page to another on the internet because you don’t know what else to do. But that can make you lonely and depressed very quickly!
Going and relaxing in the sun is good for the soul AND your body! Grab a book, a magazine, an iPad, or just unplug and chill out. Here are some awesome creative projects you can channel your boredom into over the summer If you try any out, we’d love to see the results to share on our Insta!
And if all of your friends have gone away, or you’re just feeling a bit down, that’s OK. Lots of us have survived a lonely summer. If you’re feeling really alone and need someone to talk to, there are lots of places you can contact.
Dealing with FAMILY – with more time at home, it’s pretty much a given that you’re going to have more fights with your family.
- If things are getting crabby at your place, take time outs by going to your room to calm down if you need to.
- If you’re disagreeing with your mum, dad, sister or someone else try to avoid reacting emotionally: (“You NEVER listen to me!” - take time to calm down and then address it directly using "I FEEL…when you…” statements,
e.g. “I feel like I have no personal space when you come into my room without knocking”
“I feel like you don’t trust me when you won’t let me go out with those friends”
It doesn’t mean you are going to change their mind, but it does give everyone a better chance of understanding one another. A lot of fighting comes from people reacting instantly and emotionally without stopping to think (hello anger!,) and not communicating well.
Dealing with people who might take advantage of you– Sometimes the grownups in your life have to work or just aren’t around, so you’re left to make your own decisions about what to do, and with who. It sucks, but sometimes people will take make the most of that and might try to make you do things you normally wouldn’t - like meeting up to party with a group of guys you’ve never met.
We’re not saying it’s not OK to party – it is! Hanging out with your friends and meeting new people is AWESOME! We just want to make sure that you and your mates have a great summer, and that you’re treating yourself with the respect you deserve.
Here are some things you can do to keep you and your friends happy and safe:
- Trust your intuition! If someone seems like they might be a bit dodgy – they probably are! Better to be safe than sorry. Just don’t go, or leave if it starts to feel weird, and have an awesome time somewhere else.
- Always go somewhere with friends you trust, and if you’re drinking, make sure you’re not going too crazy with it. Things like keeping food in your handbag and having water in between drinks will mean that you’re more likely to stay in control, and can look out for your mates.
- Don’t be afraid to speak up if you see someone trying to get with your friend or anyone else when they’re too wasted. Grab a mate and tell them they need back off– we all need to have each other’s backs!
- Take turns with your friends being the superhero who will look out for everyone when you’re drinking. Be the awesome person who looks after someone when they’re too wasted, need to go home, or who needs an Embassador to have their back.
- Make sure you tell someone where you’re going, and when you’ll be back. It doesn’t need to be your parents if you don’t want to tell them (although ask yourself why you don’t want to tell them if not!) – tell your sister or brother so they know where you’re at.
- Who hasn’t felt the pain of their phone dying when they need it most? Avoid that by charging your phone before you go out, and keep it on you.
