By Matthew Haviland, Therapist and Maine Guide
For those of us lucky enough to reside in Maine, we know about the ups-and-downs of living with the seasons. The summer’s warmer weather can bring both a hectic hustle as well as a leisurely sense of relaxation with the warmer weather in those rare moments of calm. We’ve all just about made it through the winter when most Mainers tend to slow down and spend more time at home with family with some might even going into hibernation mode during the colder months. All the seasons of Maine have their pros and cons, and everyone has their personal favorite time of year to dream of.
I’ve noticed that for many of us, the transition between the colder and warmer seasons can become a unique challenge. The light creeps back in, the ground thaws out, green shoots are sprouting up everywhere, and all of a sudden, we are running around like a headless chicken, frantically getting things ready for summer. For small business owners in Maine, emerging from winter hibernation often means an even greater acceleration into a hectic pace. In order to keep ourselves (and our businesses) going at the required speed, it’s important to remain mindful of our health and take care of ourselves. I’d like to share three suggestions from the perspective of a licensed therapist and certified nature enthusiast for making the transition into the busy season a little more intentional.
The first tip I have is something I’ve noticed in people I work with, but also in myself with the blooming of spring: taking on too much too soon. Sometimes the warmer weather brings a sense of euphoria and surging energy where we feel like we could do anything and everything; we have infinite energy. We find ourselves saying ‘yes’ to every project and dive headlong into that new business idea or that third tourist season side hustle. My tip here is to recognize that even though we may feel that spring surge now, by mid-summer we might realize that we bit off more than we can chew. Being mindful of the time you need for yourself and setting realistic goals for your summer work is crucial for preventing burnout and frustration in the coming months.
My second tip is to make sure you actively take time away from your phone while the season ramps up. Running a small business means we are constantly communicating with others to keep things running. There are employees to manage, new orders coming in, demanding customers to satisfy. All of this is only amplified by all the additional needs that come from the incoming summer craziness here in Maine. My suggestion is to take regular breaks from all screens (including phones, computers, and TVs), content, emails, and messaging. Take some time for micro-vacations, whether it’s five minutes or five days. Give yourself the gift of being unreachable for a moment by truly stepping away from the needs of others that inevitably arise and the constant distractions that the internet and social media cheaply offer to fill our downtime.
An alternative to screentime could be spending more time in nature with others, or even by yourself if possible. The published research about the positive relationship between mental health and time in nature is overwhelming, which most people can feel intuitively. This doesn’t necessarily mean planning a long camping trip or a challenging hike. Simply getting out in the backyard or to a nearby park is enough to help you connect with nature: notice what the birds are up to, check out the daffodils peeking through the leaves to emerge into spring, feel the warmth of the sun on your skin just sitting on a bench. Spring is a great opportunity to begin the practice of intentionally making time for a breath and engaging with the natural world as we head into the busy season.
I encourage you to go enjoy the beauty of spring when you get a chance between all the other things you have to do whether that’s on a local trail or your backyard. Leave the phone behind and notice what’s around you in nature. Do your best to be aware of how much work you’re taking on for the summer because we might fill our time with the busyness of business and miss out on the best part about living in Maine: its natural beauty.
Matthew Haviland Counselor, LCPC
Therapist and Maine Guide
Matt is a cognitive-behavioral therapist, with extensive training and experience in using Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and motivational interviewing. His therapy practice, Wilderness Mind Counseling is at the Union River Center and is grounded in a person-centered, strength based and skill building approach.
His clients seek his expertise for a wide range of challenges including anxiety, anger, life transitions, grief, substance use and depression. Matt works with adults of all ages in person or via telehealth and with pre-teens and teens in person only.
As a lifelong naturalist and registered Maine Guide, Matt understands that connection with nature can be a powerful ally for healing and often uses elements of the natural world as part of his therapeutic process.