If you are in the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice was June 21. We have more hours of light than darkness, for now. Embrace the summer slow down as the temperature rises, schools are out, and corporate business goes on vacation.
Take time to recharge. A good self-care plan is an asset in this world when sometimes the unpredictable can happen. What is a good self-care plan? If you are used to being on the go day to day, this might be hard to figure out. But it can be fun to discover.
Think about activities that bring a smile to your face. Think about past situations when you felt a sense of calm. Remember environments where you were in the moment and the past and future did not matter.
Write down these good memories. Take steps to recreate the experience. This is your self-care plan. To give you a jump start, here are some simple self-care recommendations:
- Mindful eating. Cooking a favorite meal without needing a special occasion. Sit down and savor every bite.
- Go to a local café. Sit outside under an umbrella shade. Have a cool drink. Plug in some earbuds and listen to your favorite music on your phone.
- If you have a backyard, relax in a lawn chair at sunrise before the heat hits. Listen to your favorite podcast for 30-45 minutes. Maybe you choose the broadcast that makes you laugh out loud, and the squirrels freeze in their tracks.
- Try curb side pick-up at your local library. Stock up on new releases from your favorite authors.
- If there is a neighborhood pool, grab your swimsuit, and take a dip…social distancing of course.
There are many options large and small that may be used to build a self-care plan. It all depends on your preferences and what is do-able in your community. The main goal is to take advantage of the summer slow down to recharge and refocus. When summer ends and life speeds up, you want to be ready to dive in.
NEXT STEPS: Grab a piece of paper and jot down some ideas for fun self-care.