What is the kindest self-care you can offer yourself this summer? Pause for a moment and wonder what does your soul want, really deep down need right now? This is a great time of year to refresh your spirit. Take some time for refuel. You are worth it!
“The time to relax is when you don’t have time for it.” Sydney J. Harris
Here are some ideas:
- Journal, yes but also try simply to doodle your emotions. Let go with colored pencils and see what appears as you sketch.
- Sign up for the 31 days of Ignatius readings in July -click here for the link.
- Read something totally different. Go to the library or a bookstore and wander the bookshelves. I am reading a biography of Julia of Norwich. I am also revisiting my own bookshelves taking one book at a time, reading one chapter at a time, finding one sentence at time that stirs my soul. Then I will copy that into my journal and pray about those words this summer.
- Get outside, slow down, take deep breaths, look up and watch the clouds. Go out on a warm clear night and stargaze. Watch the sunset.
- Fast from social media or maybe the opposite – binge a movie. I rewatched Miss Potter the other day, the delightful story of Beatrix Potter. I wonder what other older movie I might rewatch this summer.
- Reread your journal and revisit your calendar, reviewing from January 1st up until the present. Half of 2025 has past by. What do you notice? What have you learned? What are you most thankful for? What yet do you want to do?
- Go for a walk. Check out that park or botanical garden you have wanted to visit. Visually inhale all the colors of the flowers.
- Set up a visit or make that phone call with a friend you haven’t talk with for a long while. Spend time with people you enjoy.
- Attend an outdoor concert.
- Plan a cookout with all the fresh summer fruits and vegetables. Make s’mores and homemade lemonade. Visit a summer farmer’s market. What foods remind you of summertime? For one night savor them. Enjoy their taste. Hold that memory.
“Self-care is giving the world the best of you, instead of what’s left of you.” Katie Reed
What else would you add to this list?
I just read a post by Corinne that June 24-July 24 is self-care month. I didn’t know! One of the things I’ve been doing is putting my phone further away from me at bedtime instead of leaving it on my nightstand. I wake up often in the night, and I had gotten in the habit of putting in my earbuds and listening to a podcast to put me back to sleep. But I’ve wanted to break that habit. So I’m 39 nights in and counting without picking up my phone during the night. 🙂
I missed that this was self care month so guess I had good timing right? I need to follow you with moving my phone so temping to pick it up in the middle of the night….
Dear Jean, so many lovely ideas here. Some of them make me smile right out loud! Just about all of them come at no cost and allow us to break out of our well worn comfort zones just a bit. Thank you for this nudge to enjoy summertime in a more life-giving way.
Yes no cost and just the thought to savor summer time and enjoy the season – so lovely isn’t it?