Summer: A season under the sun, vitality... and exhaustion
- chloe67523
- Aug 20
- 5 min read
Summer is often synonymous with happiness
The days are getting longer, the sun is giving us pleasant temperatures, and the schedule is filling up with friendly moments: outings with friends, family, trips, long evenings...
It’s a time when one feels alive, seeking to enjoy every moment. But behind this summer effervescence often lies a fast pace that can quickly lead to underestimated physical and mental exhaustion.
The impact of summer on our sleep and mood
Less sleep, more fatigue
Sleep is one of the pillars of our health. It helps with physical recovery, emotionnal balance, memory, and concentration. Yet in the summer, many people notice that their sleep quality gets worse.
Why do we sleep less well in summer ?
First, the heat makes it harder to fall asleep and to reach deep sleep.
When the bedroom temperature goes above 24°C, the body struggles to cool down. But cooling is necessary to fall asleep and enter deep sleep? If it’s too hot🌡️, sleep becomes lighter, it takes longer to fall asleep, and night awakenings increase.
To deal with the heat, many people open the window. But then noise and mosquitos can distrub sleep even more.
Another factor is the long daylight hours, which confuse our biological clock. 🕔 In summer, the days are longer, which delays the production of melatonin, the hormone that tells the brain it’s time to sleep. 😴
Screens 🤳make this problem worse, pushing our circadian rhythm later and making it harder to fall asleep.
Summer is also a time of irregular schedules (holidays, late nights, unusual meals, different routines). These changes directly affect our sleep. This is called “social jet lag”. Even if we sleep for many hours, the quality is poor, leaving us tired. 🥱
Finally, the time change in spring also plays a role !
Moving the clock (typically French) one hour forward affects sleep for weeks. A study shared by Le Parisien showed that it lowers a “sleep score” which measures sleep phases and recovery. This score has been at its lowest in the weeks following the change.
Young adults 20-30 years are the most affected, taking longer to recover. But even three weeks later, people of all ages still show a lower score, proving the negative effects of the time change on sleep quality. 💤
The most common summer sleep problems are:
Trouble falling asleep despite being tired 🐑
Waking up many times during the night⚡
Light, non-restorative sleep 🥱
Worsening of existing conditions (insmonia, sleep apena, reflux, chronic pain) 😵💫
👉 In short, summer affects all phases of sleep: falling asleep, sleep cycles, deep rest.
Stress arrives sooner that expected
When we think of summer, we imagine a relaxing season, perfect to take time for ourselves and recharge. But summer is not always a break, it can also bring mental overload.
People prepare holidays in a rush, face unexpected problems and manage higher expenses. Organizing everything can be more complex than usual, especially when balancing work and personal life. Even on vacation, many feel the pressure to make the most of their time, plan everything and not “waste” a single moment.
This invisible pressure is often linked to perfectionism and the need to control everything, which prevents people from letting go and truly enjoying the present moment.
And we already think about what comes next: back to school, returning to work...
According to a study published by the American Psychological Association, the positive effects of vacations fade within a few days and stress levels often return to their original state within two weeks. This silent but real stress adds to fatigue and affects well-being.
Did you know that summer vacations can even trigger burnout?
For some people who are used to working a lot or living under constant pressure, psychological collapse happens as soon as vacations start. This is called the “warrior phenomenon”🥷: as long as the pressure is there, the body and mine keep going but once everything stops, they crash. This doesn’t always lead to burnout, but it often causes intense stress that explodes when the fast rhythm suddenly ends.
For those who needs a little reminder, here it is a small recap of the different stress' stages.
How to enjoy summer while protecting your well-being?
First, if you want to truly enjoy this season, you need quality sleep!
The bedroom temperature 🛏️ should be between 16°C and 20°C. To achieve this, use a fan, air conditioning, or light bedding. You can also ventilate your room early in the morning or in the evening but closed during the day when it’s hot.
Once the room is cool enough, you should avoid blue light at night. This means limiting screen 📱 use and choosing activities like reading and meditation which helps you fall asleep faster. 📖
Hydratation is also important🚰: drink enough water during the day but less in the evening to avoid waking up at night because of thirst or bathroom trips.
Having a night routine can also helps: eat at regular times, keep meals light, avoid alcohol and coffee, take a lukewarm shower, and choose calming activities before bed. 🧘
⚠️Warning: sleeping less than 6 hours per night weakens your immune system and increases irritability. To stay bright and positive, take care of your sleep!
Managing summer stress and excitement
As we saw, summer can be stressful when trying to balance work, personal life, and social activities, while also making the most of sunny days. That’s why it is essential to stay grounded in the present moment.
Here are a few tips to reduce stress:
Plan calm moments in your schedule (reading, self-care, napping) 📚
Practice deep breathing or meditation for a few minutes a day 🧘
Keep gentle physical activities (walking, yoga, swimming) 🏊♂️
Accept that not everything has to be perfect. Summer bring suprises, learn to let go and enjoy every moment! 🥰
Peptidyss®, a natural solution to support sleep and reduce stress
Peptidyss® is a marine ingredient with proven efficacy to help manage stress ⚡ and improve sleep 💤. Developed by Abyss Ingredients, it contains a unique composition of marine peptides from local natural bioresources.
Backed by research, its scientific foundation includes preclinical, clinical, transcriptomic and proteomic studies, all confirming its beneficial effects.
In times of changing routines, heat and emotional overload, Peptidyss® is a natural ally to regain restorative sleep and better balance.
Why Peptidyss®?
Scientific and clinical studies show that Peptidyss®:
Significantly improves sleep quality and efficiency. 😴
Reduces daytime sleepiness and increase physical energy. 🥱
Regulates the secretion of the stress hormone, preventing long-term negative effects ⚡ such as poor sleep, irritability, or high blood pressure.
Modulates the expression of genes and proteins linked to stress management, circadian rhythm ⏰ and aging processes.
Get ready for a calmer summer !
Yes, summer is a wonderful season. But we must not underestimate the combined effects of fatigue and stress. By adopting the right habits and listening to your body, you can fully enjoy this beautiful period without putting your well-being at risk.
References
Et si le passage à l’heure d’été mettait notre santé en danger ? - Futura
Passage à l’heure d’été : comment le sommeil des Français s’en retrouve perturbé pendant plusieurs semaines - Le Parisien
Les impacts de l'été sur notre sommeil : bien se préparer pour l'été - Hypnia
Troubles du sommeil en été : pourquoi et comment mieux dormir quand il fait chaud ? - Carenity
Pourquoi les gens dorment moins pendant l’été | Sleep.com
Comment bien dormir en été ? - Bien-être
Passage à l’heure d’été : comment bien s’y préparer pour limiter les effets sur le sommeil ? - INSV Institut National du Sommeil et de la Vigilance
Sommeil perturbé en été : que faire pour mieux dormir | Mollyflex
Les effets de l'été sur le sommeil : conseils pour mieux dormir - Comment mieux dormir
Accumulation de stress : pourquoi le burn-out peut survenir pendant l’été ? - Santé sur le Net
Pourquoi les vacances d’été peuvent déclencher un burn-out ? - Medisite
