5 Self Care Practices for Summer
Summer is a time of vibrancy, warm weather, and lots of sunshine. With the longer days, it can be the ideal time to add in a handful of new self-care activities. There are a lot of misconceptions about self-care and the need to buy yourself expensive pampering. My take is that often self-care is just about setting aside intentional time to give yourself what you need.
Spend 5 minutes each morning in the sunshine.
A great way to adjust your circadian rhythm to the longer days is spend a little bit of time each morning in the sun. It can also be a helpful way to set your intention at the beginning of each day. As early as you can, set aside at least 5 minutes to just sit or stand in the morning sunlight. You could do so with your morning cup of coffee or water. You could even just take a long walk from the parking lot to your office door in the morning. Try to be mindful of the way your face and body feels in the sun, warm, comforting, maybe even happier.
2. Make sun tea.
I have fond summer memories making sun tea in my neighbors' backyard growing up. For those who may be unfamiliar, sun tea is utilizing the sun's heat to brew tea leaves or herbs in water. It is such a happy, simple, and slow way to enjoy a delicious beverage. If you already have a favorite tea blend, submerge those tea leaves, bags, or fresh herbs in a container of water, cover, then place in the sunniest place, and wait. Check on your concoction throughout the day, enjoy watching the color deepen. Once your tea is steeped to your liking, add some ice, and enjoy! Even better when sipped at the end of a long day on a front porch.
3. Float in water.
I grew up going to public pools during the summer. This was usually not a calming environment but once filled with splashing, screaming, whistling, and unapproved running. Now, I love finding a body of water where I have the space and the quiet to just float. I close by eyes, filled my lungs with water and lean back. I feel the water gently move against my forearms, lifting my knees up, holding the weight of my neck and head. It calms me deeply. Next time you're at the ocean, a lake, pool, or even a bathtub, take time to float as best as you can. If there's noise or busyness, do you best to acknowledge the disturbances, and let them go.
4. Try earthing or grounding.
At its most basic level, earthing or grounding is the act of standing or walking outside on your bare feet. It is a way to connect with the earth and its energy. According to FitBit, earthing is way to connect with the naturally occurring negative ions found on the earth's surface (Maloney, 2023). Many attribute earthing to decreasing health conditions, especially those associated with stress. Most of us unknowingly participated in earthing as kids, running across grass, dirt or sand without shoes on. Reconnnect to your inner child, take off those shoes, and spend 30 minutes reconnecting to the earth.
5. Practice alternate nostril breathing or nadi shodhan.
To me, summer has always felt like a time of livelihood and activity. Summer makes me want to swim, sing at the top of my lungs with the car windows rolled down, and to breathe in deeply the salty ocean air. Because of this, I believe summer is a great time to work on increasing lung capacity and intentional breathing. I love the book Breath by James Nestor and it reminds me to practice alternate nostril breathing. This practice has been known to soothe your nervous system and can be a great mindfulness practice. Try this video as a guide!