5 ways to bring self care into your life this season: Spring/Summer
I love the feeling of possibility that comes from this time of year, it is almost electric…can you feel it? Spring is synonymous with starting afresh, new beginnings and there is such energy in this season of rebirth. For me, this is the ultimate time to rethink ways to bring self care into your life as we shift seasons. We “wake up” at this time of year, nature around us blooms and we emerge out of winter with a sense of renewal. I’m ready for it, are you?
Bring self care into your life this season: Spring/Summer
Now is the time to re-energise your self care routine and revamp how you take time to recharge. It’s the perfect moment for getting in touch with your senses; opening your eyes to all the newness emerging, listening to bird song, taking in fresh scents, soft light and longer days.
Take time to live well this season but take care not to do too much. There is a tendency to cram everything into our lives in the long summer days, as once we hit autumn we retreat and hibernate. Go steadily in spring and move with the season as the environment around you starts to blossom.
The results of your efforts when it comes to self care and building tiny, daily habits might not be seen immediately. Let's compare it to gardening, an apt spring metaphor. You need to prepare the soil, plant the seeds, water them and patiently wait for your garden to grow. Therefore take your time to practice your self care habits daily, try to do them to the best of your ability and you will see growth and feel nourishment.
Often at this time of year, we are drawn to spending more time in nature. Fully embrace this by taking moments in your day to notice what is around you. The tips in this blog post encourage you to tap into the beauty that exists around you and also to contribute to your environment in your own way. This will raise your energy levels and help you to enjoy the life you live.
Today, I am sharing some of my favourite tips from my book Self Care for the Seasons, so take some time to read it through and think about how you want to nourish your body, mind and soul.
Here are my top five self care tips to embrace during spring and summer:
Tend to something
Watching something grow that you have tended to, whilst enjoying the sunshine on a summery day can be a great mood booster. I’m not talking about planting out anything too massive, a simple window box will do; especially if you don't have a garden or outside space. Growing hardy plants, chillies, herbs or strawberries in a window box can reap rewards for your mind, body and spirit.
Studies have found that the mental health benefits of gardening are extensive. Not only can regular gardening reduce mental health problems like depression and anxiety, but it can also reduce stress and combat high blood pressure, as well as improving overall physical fitness if you are tending to a big space.
A simple act of tending for your plants can help you reconnect with nature and feel grounded which can have a huge impact on mental health. It's also about taking responsibility for something and giving you something to focus on which can be great when you have a stressful life.
So think about what you might be able to start growing, tending to or looking after this season…
Let your mind wander
If you fill every single moment to the brim, you'll never get anything of importance accomplished. Why? Because you need the spaces in between the things that you do, in order to consider what to work on next.
This tip is all about pausing and noticing where your mind goes if you let it wander. We all need more mind-wandering episodes in order to come up with new ideas. Focus is great but it is over-rated in so many ways. Let your mind wander when you do something fun, simple and that is a habit to you - such as walking the dog, enjoying a long hot bath, or even the drive home from the office. You don’t need to think of anything specific but see where your thoughts take you. By doing this activity and letting the mind wander, it allows us to pull in all the unresolved loops and tasks to the front of our mind.
Ever get a brain wave when driving about where you put that thing you've been looking for? Or maybe you remember someone you want to call whilst walking the dog?... it's all about refreshing the mind and renewing - the perfect moment of self care for you.
So if you're listening to an audio book - press pause. If you're reading a book or a magazine, fold over the page. If you're doing the washing up, put the plates to one side. Pause and let your mind wander.
Release your inner child
One of my go-to weekend outings is to visit a National Trust property (in the UK these are usually lovely old houses and gardens and have a good cafe and amazing cake!). In the summer months, we often end up watching young kids rolling down the hills in the middle of the garden, commenting on how much fun we used to have doing that as children.
Well, guess what the fun doesn't have to stop now that we are adults. Releasing your inner child can be a great way to get out of a funk, relax the mind, break a cycle of self-doubt and bring back a positive mindset. So what do I mean? No, you don't have to roll down a hill if you don't want to! How about listening to some music loudly in the kitchen and dancing around to your favourite song?
Maybe it’s going out for ice cream and choosing a super big scoop of your favourite flavours and savouring the moment as if it was the first treat you've ever had? Perhaps you can head to the local swimming pool and splash around, jump in, dive bomb with the rest of them? Next time you're near a park, take your shoes and socks off and run barefoot on the grass - have fun and dance like no one is watching!
Don't take life so seriously, it’s fun to do now and again and will leave you feeling young at heart.
Take 10 to cloud watch
I have a phrase whenever I am travelling, "always look up". That is because there is so much we miss when our eyes are on the pavement, on our phones and not paying any attention to what is around us.
Take ten minutes this weekend to watch the clouds. If it’s a lovely day lie down on some grass, or take a seat on a park bench and gaze at the clouds. Lie there, look up and just watch. There is nothing to do, we are just being. See the clouds move, see if you can spot any unusual shapes, maybe some bunny ears or a dog's face.
This is great to do with children. Let your mind wander and you will feel instantly calmer. Breathe into it, relax and have no expectations - a new kind of bliss.
Get grounded outside
Now is the time to embrace the outdoors and getting grounded is wonderful for your body, mind and soul. This is a really simple technique to bring you into a state of mindfulness and spending some time focusing on YOU quickly and easily.
Find a nice quiet space outside, somewhere you won't be disturbed for a while and if you feel comfortable, close your eyes.
Imagine a triangle in front of you. Visualise a wide base, coming up to a point. This is the shape of the breathing technique.
Take a nice deep breath in and visualise travelling up the side of the triangle
When you reach the top, hold your breath for a second
Then release the breath slowly as you travel down the other side of the triangle and get to the wide base; feeling grounded where you are sitting now
Repeat this ten times to feel grounded. It will calm you and open up your senses
Connect to this breathing technique and sense of grounding by tapping into your senses.
On the other side of the world? Check out the Autumn/Winter version of this blog.
Bring self care into your life this season: Spring/Summer
You can find out more ways to bring self care into your life this season with my ebook Self Care for the Seasons (it has a free workbook too!)
Just as the earth experiences each of the four seasons, we have our own life cycle with its own seasons.
Feeling the need for more self care in your life, but don’t know where to start? Are you needing some inspiration to guide your way?
Self Care for the Seasons is THE self care book to see you through any season of life. Featuring practical advice, heartfelt stories and tips to help you bring new self care behaviours into your life.
Create a sustainable self care routine that works for YOU at any time of the year.
“A wonderful and highly practical tool for developing a more mindful and nourishing life.” Rebecca Marks Founder The Wellness Society
Have you seen the Self Care Survival Kit Shop? It’s THE place to build your own self care kit, take a look by clicking on the image below
