How to slow things down in the summer

Things have cooled down a lot this week, but with hot weather forecast to be returning, I explore in this blog post how we might remain centred and mindful when we are experiencing extremely hot weather conditions.

I don’t know how you found the heat last week, but for me it was a struggle to enjoy it. That can feel quite tricky when a lot of people appear to revel in the hot conditions and of course a lot of people actively seek temperatures in the 30’s when they go on holiday but they may not be such a fan of it when their normal lives are continuing to run and our houses here in the UK are not built for hotter weather.

For me, that level of heat is the opposite of what I want or need in order to be introspective and mindful. When I visualise taking time for myself, it normally involves a candle and a blanket. But I want neither of these things right now.

Maybe it’s also the time of year, work, school, child-related activities feel like they all ramp up to fever pitch before the inevitable crash out for the summer.

But even then, for a lot of people, the summer holidays can be less than relaxing as it’s a case of managing work and childcare. How do we stay present with ourselves and enjoy time with our families with so many competing demands?

We might be really looking forward to a break from the usual Groundhog Day routines we have through term-time and those never-ending school emails. But when we’re out of our routine for longer than a few days we might be yearning for some structure to return, for everybody.

Autumn and winter can feel like naturally more reflective months so how do we make space for reflection and presence when we’re basically hot and bothered?

Actually slow down

My suggestion is that you consciously take things that little bit slower. Slow your movements down completely to conserve your energy and keep your nervous system from getting overwhelmed. Give yourself a bit longer to get to where you need to be so that you can walk a little slower.

If you’re making dinner, try to ease off from giving yourself as much to do. I am 100% on board with picky teas when it’s hot. The idea of turning on the oven when it’s roaring hot already isn’t appealing. Embrace eating fresh fruit and vegetables. And, if you’re cutting up fruit for your kids…why aren’t you doing it for yourself as well?!

Take a birds-eye view of how you are doing - regularly

Sometimes, just taking a moment to take a look at how you are doing can really help. Are you starting to feel touched out? That is a very real thing especially if you have young children. Everyone’s hot and sticky but they still want to be attached to you. It’s okay – if they are old enough to understand – to say that you need to just have some personal space and that you are feeling hot and sticky right now. You’re still here and close by but can’t do big, long hugs just at the moment. 

If the heat has taken it out of you all day and you can’t face meeting up with your friend, let them know and don’t feel guilty about putting your needs first. Ask them if there is another time you can meet or - if you have the capacity - switch to a phone call so that you stay in the clothes that make you feel comfortable and enjoy your place next to your fan.

Mornings and Evenings are your friend

The cooler hours of the mornings and evenings may be your time! That’s when you can take the time to be a bit more mindful. Getting outside when things have just cooled down a bit, maybe watering your plants or just sitting still can help to calm your nervous system when the day has felt full on.

If your sleep is not good during the hot weather, taking a bit of time to sit outside in the evening with a book when the air feels cooler can be a good way to get some rest time in. 

Take a leaf out of Coco’s book 

Coco is my gorgeous rescue cat. She has long black fur and I can only imagine how hot she must be in the summer. Sometimes she seeks out the sun and lies in it and sometimes she can be found on a cooler spot of tiled flooring just trying to cool down.

What I also notice is how well attuned she is with what she needs. She rests when she needs to rest. She sleeps when she needs to sleep. Her body is led by her strong intuition. Her inner knowing.

Clearly that approach isn’t always possible for us when we have work deadlines, or we need to pick up the kids etc but there is definitely something to be said for trying – however hard that might be – to listen to our bodies, our inner cues that tell us what we need.

Therapy work in the heat

Finally, a little note about my work with you when the weather is hot. My summerhouse can just be too hot at times and I am extremely lucky to have the flexibility to move face-to-face sessions to a much cooler room in those circumstances. If you would prefer, we can also look to move sessions online temporarily. Whatever works best for you. And for my clients who I work with online, there is no need to change how we work from my side but I will be checking that you are comfortable to continue.