Taking care of summer self-care
Summer can be a hugely active and expansive season with a full calendar, bucket lists to tick off, city breaks, beach escapes and island hopping.
Amongst all of this, how can we make time for all of life’s other responsibilities, plus time for ourselves, prioritizing our wellbeing and everything that may include? Meditation, mindfulness, eating healthily, or just rest. Remember it’s ok to ask for help when things get too much and you cant find just 30 minutes for some alone time per day.
Find someone who is happy to hold space for you or take care of certain tasks while you slow-down, be present and fully enjoy the season. Here are some ways you can re-center:
Rest is our birth right | it does not mean resting so we can come back and do more.
Stargazing in silence | want to feel small? Just take a blanket and a pillow and find a quiet spot on the beach to gaze up at the open sky to bring everything back into perspective.
Picnic | organize a solo picnic at the beach or at a local park alone or with some friends. Make some soulful and colourful salads and smoothies to nourish and feel fulfilled. Take some headphones and listen to your favourite playlist or podcast.
Drawing and creating | journaling and writing is an incredibly powerful tool for our mental health and giving clarity to our thoughts and feelings. Find a colouring book or create your own drawings, or try a new craft class.
Sunbathing at sunrise | getting morning light in first couple of hours after sunrise regulates your circadian rhythm. Sunlight is 42% infrared which stimulates collagen production, increasing bone and wound healing.
Take a walk | discover a new route, out in your town or city or somewhere more remote. Or, do the same route but at a different time of the day. Walk slowly and intentionally without rushing. Notice the surroundings, flowers, birds and the feeling of the sun (or rain) on your skin.
Clean out | clean your space, check for expired skincare and products you never use and and invest in new, greener, organic options. Remove unnecessary products and keep it simple, for you and for the environment.
Learn to garden or tend to indoor plants | get your hands in some dirt and watch a plant grow— such a fulfilling item to add to your self-care list. Why not visit the local garden center and bring a new plant baby into your space?
Go on one-on-one friend dates | spend some time connecting on a deeper level with one friend, building a stronger bond than when you hang out in a group.
Plan a solo trip | solo travel is one of the best ways to learn about yourself, different cultures and grow in all areas of life. It’s a huge step towards self growth.
Do a digital detox | take time to disconnect to reconnect with the present and those who mean the most to you. Life is only one, and we may only see certain people a handful of times in our lives. We aren’t all here forever.
Book a holistic massage or facial | ok, I will admit, this is the most obvious choice on this list! But, putting aside time every week or month to prioritize feeling good, relaxing and releasing muscle tension or caring for our skin has huge benefits for you physically and mentally. Unwind while a qualified, experienced professional takes care for you for an hour or more. Come away feeling refreshed and renewed.
Take a dip | just being around water is calming for our minds. So go for a dip to cool off, refresh and float.
Breathe | listen to guided breathing meditations to centre yourself and bring about self awareness, drawing attention to erratic or shallow breathing.
Try a few of these ideas this season to feel more grounded, rejuvenated and inspired by the time the next season comes along.
Happy summer!
