Creating a Slow Summer: 6 Simple Ways to Enjoy the Season More Mindfully
- Mrs. Ladybug
- 3 hours ago
- 4 min read
Morning walks, reading outdoors, digital boundaries, and seasonal wellness habits.
Summer Solstice marks the official start of the summer season. Some of us are planning a summer vacation while others are looking forward to a relaxing staycation. Now with school-break, whether you're a student or a parent, how do you plan on spending these hot summer months? Allow yourself to enjoy it slowly, intentionally, and mindfully. Life can feel so stressful and fast paced at times - we need to take a moment to slow down and enjoy life. This summer let's try new ways to enjoy the warmer days with a few simple adjustments.
Slow mornings are one of those intangible luxuries that many of us don't enjoy frequently enough. The best way to beat the heat of the day is to start your day as the sun is rising. You'll be surprised at how much more you can accomplish by just getting up an hour earlier. Watch the sunrise while listening to the sounds of the surrounding nature with a heart full of gratitude and a hot cup of tea/coffee. Get dressed and go outside for a peaceful morning stroll (weather and environment permitting). There's no rush - just enjoy and gently move onto your next task.
If you have nowhere to be, then you can just take it easy. Get up early to stretch out your day, or catchup on some much-needed extra sleep. Make yourself a nutritious breakfast and sit down with a book. Don't have a physical book that you're interested in? If you're on the hunt for a good summer-read, checkout this summer's latest craze called Yesteryear by Caro Clarie Burke. Audiobooks are fun to listen to, but reading a book helps to disconnect completely. Leave your phone nearby but not next to you to fully appreciate a tech-free morning.
In this day and age, we are so dependent on technology, it's almost strange. Does technology hold us in its grasp rather than the other way around? Of course not. So, let's reflect on this by taking a little tech-detox this summer. Some technology is understandably required, such as our phone, our smart watch, our Oura ring. But one thing is using your phone for a quick call and then putting it down. It's another thing to use your phone for a call, then send out text messages, then jump on social media for endless scrolling, then record a video and take pictures. Gosh! Just reading that can feel suffocating. Our phones can be a little trap that we willingly fall into. Reclaim your power and freedom over technology. Remember the wise words of Gandolf the Grey from The Hobbit: "the world is not in your books and maps (or phone); it's out there."
Ready for a little outdoor adventure? Attend your local outdoor events such as the pop-up fresh markets, open air concerts, food trucks, art fairs. Even if you're not traveling anywhere exotic, exploring your local town or your neighboring city can be fun too. However, if you would rather avoid the crowds that gather at such events, it would be best to do a little solo venturing instead. Visit a secluded beach, soak in your pool, go for a walk at your nearest nature trail, or have a picknick under a shady tree. It is summer after all - and spending time outside is kind of a seasonal staple.
There is no doubt that the heat and humidity can be an outdoor deterrent during these months. So, on those extra steamy days, keeping yourself and your family [including pets] indoors is preferable. Being indoors doesn't have to be boring though. Spend quality time with your loved ones huddled under a bed sheet fortress, and have an indoor picknick in the living room, then watch a classic summer film on the couch with a tasty seasonal delight. If you need some "you" time, schedule an R&R Day. Do some grounding, stretch, do a workout, massage your fascia, apply your skincare, apply your favorite fragrance, write in your journal. If you really want to treat yourself, visit your nearest Day Spa for a relaxing massage, a facial, a mani-pedi - just get spoiled in all the best ways. You deserve it.
Touching back on tasty seasonal delights, summer is definitely the time of year when you want to eat and drink something refreshing. Nourish yourself with food that shouts summer - that are colorful, zesty, and fresh. For instance, start your day with an acai bowl topped with pumpkin seeds, sliced almonds, shaved coconut, and fresh fruits. For lunch, make yourself a colorful salad topped with cucumber, strawberry, and a zesty dressing. Is there anything more summer-forward than drinking coconut water right out of the coconut, or having a slice of watermelon? For dinner, a delicious Gazpacho soup joined by a few easily prepped lettuce wraps... yum! You're not just feeding your body, your feeding your summer spirit.
In the end, summer can be enjoyed in a variety of ways. Jetting off to a tropical island, taking the family to a theme park, hosting a backyard BBQ, splashing around at a pool party, dancing to island vibe music at a summer festival... or just relaxing on a hammock with an icy cold passionfruit popsicle and a book on a quiet beach with nothing but the waves to distract you. Just remember to slow down, enjoy the season mindfully, and embrace that warm summer breeze.
Share how you plan to spend your summer in the comments below.
Sending you a warm tropical hug,
Mrs. Ladybug
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