Mental Refresh for Summer
By Alyssa Markowitz
While spring cleaning gets all the attention, it can be just as fulfilling to see summertime as a season for a mental and physical refresh.
As the weather heats up and we look forward to the season ahead, it’s a good time to take a moment (or a few) to slow ourselves down and prepare for everything great the summer has to offer.
After all, school’s out, vacations lie ahead, and the sun’s shining longer than it does during the whole year. Why not take advantage of the time to reorganize and reconnect?
Here are some ideas to settle yourself into a new perspective, and it all begins with a bit of intentionality.
Physically Declutter
First, it’s a good idea to find out what’s taking up space in your life, both physically and mentally. Material clutter can make us feel anxious and overwhelmed, especially since a lot of us are spending more time in our spaces than ever before. To start, try decluttering in stages– a room, a zone, even one cabinet. Doing a little bit a day can be easier than trying to clean your whole home at once.
Other tips to make organizing more enjoyable:
Organizing with a friend or others in your household. Get accountable with a buddy! Or, assign tasks to the members of your household and make it into an activity, with a possible reward afterwards. (Ice cream, anyone?)
Listening to music while you clean.
Store seasonal items.
Mentally Declutter
Next, it’s beneficial to find the mental excess in your life. Start with your priorities: what’s important to you? Your family and relationships? Your alone time? What do you feel is getting in the way of those priorities? Taking time with these questions can help reduce decision fatigue and refocus you for the summer ahead. Give these strategies a try:
Reduce information overload. There has been so much global noise recently, and it can be so overwhelming. Maybe it’s time to overhaul your news consumption. Pick one or two trusted sources and a time of day to attend to them, say, over breakfast. Then, maybe try a 30 minute break from all technology and social media to tamp down on that information overload even more.
Make a short term and long term goals list. Think of this rejuvenation time as an opportunity to gain clarity on what you want. Think micro and macro: what’re your goals this week, this month, this year?
Try journaling. Writing down thoughts– in any way meaningful to you– can help reduce anxiety and stress. Set aside a time for yourself to just be, and see what comes up.
Drop Old Habits, Create New Ones
It’s also a good time to look at the habits that are harming your overall health and establish new, healthier ones. See what area in your life might need readjusting. Try refocusing one bad habit for a week, and document your progress. Remember: consistency is key. Maybe look at your habits surrounding the following:
Exercise. Summer is a perfect time to start a new fitness routine! A surefire way to add more movement to your day: Start your morning with a ten minute walk in the sunshine, or incorporate a walk into your lunch break.
Sleep schedule. See how much better you feel when you make an effort to go to bed and wake up at the same time all week long.
Diet/Nutrition. Room for improvement? Maybe try a new simple, healthy recipe to add to your rotation, or commit to ordering in less often.
Spending. Maybe this is the time to cancel some streaming service subscriptions you’re not using often.
As the days grow brighter and warmer, we’re reminded to open ourselves up to the world, and take it all in with gratitude. Things have remained pretty tough for several seasons now, so find yourself that much needed time for care, compassion, and rejuvenation. Then extend it to your family, neighbors, and community; we could all use a little more these days. So go ahead and enjoy your summer– you’ve earned it.
