There’s social pressure to make the summer months as fun and exciting as possible. The harsh reality, however, is that summer travel can be stressful, crowded, and expensive. Why not delay those holidays until the fall instead? You’ll likely have better weather and pay much less for the same experience.

The process of putting off something you want to do now until a later time is known as delayed gratification, and it’s a good technique for being grateful in the now while still planning future dreams and goals.

Try not to be so consumed by what others are doing that you forget to appreciate the life you’re living. Social comparison is not a useful mental exercise; there will always be people who seem to be living better lives than you, while simultaneously there are others living much more difficult lives.

When you feel pressure to “make the most” of summer and see everyone else enjoying themselves living the “high life,” just remember that your time will come- but it may not be here yet. In this between-time, make the most of what you have; you might find more than you think. 

So, to enjoy the summer months without the social pressure to make them as amazing as possible, practice the above techniques until they become automatic. You’ll feel a sense of relief and also be better able to appreciate the life you’re living now without comparing it to the lives of others. 

Dr. Michael Eason is a psychologist and US licensed therapist practising at MindnLife in Central, Hong Kong. 

See also: 3 Mindful Ways To Overcome Procrastination