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7 | O akville B eaver | T hursday,July 25,2019 insidehalton.com 1200 Speers Rd., Unit 12, Oakville, Ont. L6L 2X4 (905) 845 - 1408 | Fax (905) 845 - 5931 | ricky@rickywong.ca Ricky Wong CPA, CA, MBA, B. Eng Ricky WongRicky Wong DIAMONDDIDIDIDIDIAMAMAMAMAMONONONDIAMONDONDIAMONDONDIAMONDONDIAMONDONDIAMONDONDIAMONDONONONONONDDD DIAMONDDIDIDIDIDIAMAMAMAMAMONONONONONONONDDD Voted Best Accountant by Oakville Beaver Readers for 11 Consecutive Years For more information please check our website www.rickywong.ca •Accounting •Auditing • Taxation AIRE ONE MADNEss sAlEAIRE ONE MADNEss sAlE $700 OFF HI-EFFICIENCY CENTRAL AIR *Call for Details $1990$1990 *Starting1990Starting1990199019901990Starting199019901990from 10 Year Factory Warranty $29 /MTH OAC* FURNACE OR CENTRAL AIR DIAGNOSTIC SPECIAL FaSt & Reliable SeRviCe $49$49 * *Call for details*Call for details HIgH EFFICIENCY FURNACE & CENTRAL AIR PACKAGE INCLUDES: • 95.5% High Efficiency Gas Furnace • High Efficiency Central Air R410A Refrigerant • 10 Year Factory Warranty $3990$3990 *StartingFrom Heating & Cooling Over 120,000 satisfied custOmers 9 Locations to serve you better www.aireonewest.ca OAKVILLE 905-849-4998 1-888-827-2665 95.5%EFF. ONLY OR /mth$59OAC* RECEIvE UP tO $2,765 IN mANUFACtURER & GAS COmPANY REbAtES* *Call for Details Pud bySteveNease All it takes is a few hot and humid days for it to sink in that we're in the heart of summer. And while we may focus on the signature summer rituals and activities, like visiting the beach or eating ice cream, it's also impor- tant to think about our mental health and well- ness and the unique con- siderations that summer can bring. Here are a few things to keep in mind to promote our best mental health dur- ing the dog days of this sea- son: Manage Expectations Just because the snow and ice are long gone, it doesn't mean that stresses, challenges, and our regu- lar moods take a summer break. Of course, beautiful weather, sunshine, and time outdoors can have a hugely positive impact on our feelings and moods, but we need to be careful about idealizing the season or coming down on our- selves if we don't always feel 100 per cent. Telling ourselves "it's summer - I have to be blissful" will just make us feel worse. We're human and will experience a range of feelings no mat- ter the season. Review Your Plans It can be tempting to put off a long to-do list for the summer when we expect that things will slow down a bit. But overscheduling can quickly turn an expec- ted quiet summer into a jam-packed calendar that can bring pressure and self-criticism. Absolutely, make the most of the sea- son - just do so within your own reasonable limits. There are, after all, nine more months of the year for that to-do list. Balance Your Social Time Summer can bring with it more opportunities for socializing. Get-togethers with friend and family and summer festivals can all be amazing, but they can also be exhausting and drain- ing, especially if you're one who needs and enjoys time to yourself. Really pay attention to your energy levels and moods and recognize when you could use a day at home or a quiet evening to relax. It's all about balance and making sure we have the right mix of activities that helps us feel our best. Maintain Important Routines One of the best parts of being a kid on summer va- cation was staying up late and sleeping in. The regu- lar routine went out the window, and the same can happen to us grown-ups in the summer. While variety is the spice of life and let- ting go of routine is fun, we also need to keep up with the things that feed our wellness all year round. Make the time to mediate, pray, get a massage, kick back with a book - whatev- er it takes to relax and re- charge. Wishing you a safe, hap- py, and healthy summer full of the things you enjoy most! Melanie McGregor is the communications and ad- vancement specialist at the Canadian Mental Health Association Halton Region Branch, which provides mental health/addiction community support and education. Visit www.hal- ton.cmha.ca for more in- formation and follow @cmhahalton on Twitter. MANAGING OUR MENTAL HEALTH IN THE DOG DAYS OF SUMMER OPINION HERE ARE SOME WAYS TO BEAT THE HEAT MENTALLY, WRITES MCGREGOR MELANIE MCGREGOR Column VISIT INSIDEHALTON.COM TO LEARN ABOUT LOCAL PEOPLE MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR COMMUNITY