Many people travel in the summer, but a health expert in Dallas County reminds individuals to take some time for themselves on vacation.

According to Dallas County Community Health Educator Natalie Peters, summer is a busy time and she emphasizes that it’s important to remember to monitor your mental health. She notes that if you’re taking a vacation, then start by setting an intention for the purpose of your vacation, whether that’s relaxation, reconnection, fun or something else. Peters explains that a lot of people will try to cram their vacation time with as many activities as possible, but stresses to leave time to decompress.

“Leave some space for you to relax and do some spontaneous things. A vacation doesn’t necessarily need to be productive to be meaningful. And then my last tip if you’re going on a little trip is to just go offline, even just for a little while. Set boundaries with your phone, try digital curfews or just device-free hours daily.”

Peters recognizes that not everyone can afford to travel, so she recommends that people do a “stay-cation” in their home where they can put out candles, make a lounge set up, or even have fun cooking up brand new recipes. She adds that if you’re doing a stay-cation, then don’t just work from home in your pajamas, but take off personal days like you would if you were traveling out of town. Peters describes a fun incentive to try is to do something nonproductive to help trigger your brain that you don’t want to think about work.