Summer heat slows us down. And you may be feeling less productive than usual. But slowing down is your body’s way of making sure you replenish and rejuvenate.

In Volume 18 of this guest series, Psychotherapist, Dr. Francis L. Battisti and Nutritionist, Dr. Helen Battisti remind us that it’s okay to take a break, and that rest is essential if we’re going to strengthen our resolve for whatever lies ahead.

For over 10 years, they have worked closely with us on aging concerns and have presented many webinars and in-person workshops. Their newsletter, The Zone, is a weekly mental health and nutrition tip sheet during times of change.

Being in the “dog days of summer”, a period marked by lethargy, inactivity, or indolence, some of our feelings of being overwhelmed and discouraged may be in part due to the time of year. Rather than berating and questioning yourself, this can be a time of rest and rejuvenation. A time to take a break so that you can be better prepared for the next set of challenges that are offered to us.

Taking breaks helps us re-evaluate our goals, helps us retain information and make connections, and keeps us from getting bored, fatigued and unfocused. We can experience this down time to enhance our sense of self-control. While we’ll never have total control of our environment or world, we can develop a higher level of control by understanding how our actions influence outcomes.

Knowing that we can have a positive impact on our future by further building our personal resources and strengths, enhances our resolve to move forward in purposeful ways.