If you’re thinking about taking a trip to Virginia Beach, but tend to struggle with things like stress and anxiety while traveling, you’re in the right place. Virginia Beach is a fantastic place to relax and unwind, but that doesn’t mean people with neurodiverse needs (like ADHD) won’t benefit from some mental wellness tips.
In this article, we’ll be discussing five mental wellness strategies that you can use to help yourself relax during your Virginia Beach getaway. We want you to be able to enjoy all of the wonderful things about Virginia Beach, after all – from exploring Cape Henry Lighthouse to chilling at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront Boardwalk. Let’s get started!
Set Achievable Goals for the Day
Vacations can be somewhat overwhelming for neurodiverse people. You might feel like you have a long list of places you want to visit and things you want to do. To avoid getting overwhelmed, you should set small, achievable goals for yourself each day that you’ll be in Virginia Beach.
For example, instead of trying to cram a bunch of activities into one day, you might choose one or two main activities for each day (this depends on the activity, of course – visiting the Virginia Aquarium & Marine Science Center might be an all-day affair).
This could be a great way to address challenges related to ADHD and object permanence (where you might lose track of your plans or ideas if they’re not immediately in front of you). You might find keeping a daily planner helpful when it comes to this strategy!
Take Your Journal With You
Try to set aside some time each day to write about your experiences in Virginia Beach. Writing is a great way to reflect on your thoughts and feelings. If you have ADHD, journaling can also be a really helpful way to organize your thoughts.
Practice Mindfulness at Sandbridge Beach
Sandbridge Beach is a secluded beach that’s located just a short drive away from the Oceanfront District. Since this beach is nice and quiet, it’s the perfect place to enjoy the ocean while also practicing mindfulness.
To practice mindfulness, focus on what’s happening around you (e.g. how the breeze feels against your skin, or the sounds of the waves crashing on the shore). Simply bring yourself back to the present moment if you find yourself getting distracted.
Unplug From Technology
You might feel like you want to keep up with social media or answer emails while on vacation, but this really isn’t a great way to relax and enjoy what Virginia Beach has to offer. We’d recommend turning off your devices and living in the moment. Taking a break from social media could be a great way to relieve your anxiety, anyway.
Explore and Enjoy Nature
Thankfully, Virginia Beach is chock-full of hiking trails. Physical exercise and being out in nature are both great ways to destress, so we’d definitely recommend checking a few of these trails out. Some of the most popular hiking trails include False Cape State Park and First Landing State Park.
Conclusion
It’s extremely important to take care of your mental health, even while you’re on vacation. In fact, taking a vacation to Virginia Beach might be the perfect way to clear your mind if you’ve been stressed out due to work or personal issues.
There’s lots to do in Virginia Beach, from hiking to relaxing at the beach to visiting the city’s museums. By using the mental wellness strategies we talked about above, you’ll be able to make the most of your Virginia Beach getaway.