It’s summer – a busy season! Usually in summer can find ourselves surrounded by friends, family, and a plethora of activities to occupy every waking minute of the day! The days are longer, and the sun seems to never set some days. Especially given last summer and how we didn’t spend a lot of time with our loved ones of enjoying attractions and holidays in the same way due to Covid. This year everyone appears to try to do double the summer to make up for last summer! Therefore, it’s important to take a moment in the summer for self-care. Summer Activities are a wonderful way to also indulge in self-care, so be sure to check that post out as well.
Summer Self Care Ideas
Play Summer Feel Good Playlist
Summer is a great time to crank the tunes are really dancing like no one is watching. Whether you’re at home, at a vacation spot, at work, or hanging out with friends it always seems like the music is flowing in the summer! So, find a great playlist that really brightens your day and has it playing throughout your day. You can either listen to it all alone with headphones or in your own space or share the music with others around you.
Putting on music that has an upbeat rhythm, or positive lyrics has been proven to help reduce stress within our bodies and minds, as well as is a natural mood booster! Regardless if you’re stuck in your office, or out with friends have those tunes going!
Sleep in!
In the summer the sun rises earlier, the activity gets going earlier and everyone wants to make the most out of their day! I often find in the summer months days are longer and more active (which is also great self-care). This also means we need to ensure we’re taking the time to recharge our batteries properly by getting enough sleep.
Getting up early is exciting in the summer, the sun is out and there’s so much to do. I’m not suggesting sleeping in every single day but making time and space in your schedule to occasionally sleep in to ensure your body is getting the proper rest and sleep.
There’s also something oh-so relaxing about taking a slow morning. I love some more mornings to wake, up and remain in bed, maybe reading a good book or catching up on social media. Then I slowly get up make a nice big breakfast and enjoy a cup of tea in my PJ’s. It’s so refreshing and relaxing to plan out that morning once in a while. So, spoil yourself, set the alarm a little later (or not at all), and have a sleep-in.
A good night’s sleep can help reduce stress, depression, and irritability and can help improve your mental and emotional health!
Spending some time in or near the water
Water is so relaxing to be in, or be near. Spending a beach or lake day is a great way to indulge in some self-care. Being near or in water can help with lowering stress and anxiety, it can also help increase happiness and well-being. In regards to our health, it helps lower our heart and breathing rate as well.
I grew up with a pool in my backyard as well as being a camp counselor so I was in the water most summers. Since leaving University I haven’t spent as much time in the water as being full-time employed in the summer months. So while I don’t go into the water as much these days, I do spend a bit of time near or around water. Around our city, there are several rivers and I enjoy spending time with friends near them for a picnic or spending the day by the lake at the cottage.
So take a day and plan out spending some time near water, or being in the water. Make sure you have some waterproof sunscreen and some water activities!
Spend some time in the sun
Get outdoors and spend some time in the sun! One of the best things about summer is how much the sun is out. The sun brings out so many great benefits that help promote self-care and our own health. The sun helps to improve your sleep, reduces your stress, strengthens your immune system, fights off depression, and provides Vitamin D which helps improve our mood naturally. Those are just a few of the many benefits!
So find a day and go for a bike ride, walk around downtown, have a picnic, fly a kite, visit a beach, host a BBQ for family and friends, do yoga outside, garden, go on a nature walk/hike, go swimming, play badminton, read a book in a park, go camping, give your car a wash, blow some bubbles, or go geocaching. There are so many different ways to spend some time outside, so whatever works best for you – do it!
For myself, I’m a big fan of walking around local downtown shops, going for nature walks, and reading outdoors!
Summer Self Care Ideas Continued
Make time to be alone
We often spend a lot of time each summer surrounded by others, our family, our friends, or just simply strangers at the same place we are. Summer is the time for people everywhere! It’s important for self-care to also take some alone time as well.
Being alone allows you to make your interests your priority, reduces anxiety and stress, can improve your concentration and memory, and improve your creativity and confidence. It’s also beneficial to social and emotional relationships as it allows time apart to process and reflects on those relationships.
Being around others all the time can lead to an increased sense of being overwhelmed, and anxious about social interactions. Now, I’m certainly not saying don’t spend time with people, please do as that’s important for our health. What I’m outlining is there is a balance. We need to spend our time with those who matter to us but also need to make sure we are seeking out time for us to prioritize ourselves.
So next time you have a jam-packed week with tons of social events, or interactions make sure to prioritize taking some time by yourself to just be with your own thoughts and allowing your system a bit of social interaction rest.
Shop at a local market and eat some fresh produce
I love fruit, I don’t dislike any fruit really. One of my favourite things about summer is how much fresh produce is available! I love to go to the local farmers’ market, or a local farm and get fresh fruit and vegetables! In the summer I find I eat a lot more fresh fruit and veggies than any other time of year because it’s so readily available and takes delicious in the summer!
Now how does food connect to self-care? Well, when we fuel our bodies with the proper food it helps us to strengthen our immune system, improves our mood, and boost the vitamins and minerals in our bodies! Reaching for the chocolate bar, or bag of chips is simple. But in fact, that will not help provide the nutritional benefits to help your body handle and deal with stress.
So, when we eat more fresh produce we’re helping fuel our body to help fight stress and anxiety throughout the day. Head to a local shop and pick up some fresh produce and enjoy!
Positive Self Affirmations for your body
Summer is often a time of small pieces of clothing and bathing suits. For many women, this brings up a variety of emotions about their bodies and the complex relationships we have with them. I remember even when I was at my smallest size, going to the gym 5 days a week I still was insecure about my body in the summer.
For some individuals, no matter their shape or size it will always bring on anxiety.
Over the past couple of years, I’ve been focusing more on how proud of my body I am. My body has several chronic illnesses, and it fights hard for me! It has survived a global pandemic and deals with everyday stress and anxiety well. I’m still working on positive body affirmations every day, but I’m proud of what my body can do!
Positive self-affirmations help us to believe in the words were saying as we repeat them and help overcome negative or sabotaging thoughts.
Positive Self-Affirmation Ideas:
- I am perfect and complete just the way I am
- I deserve to be treated with love and respect.
- It’s not about working on myself; it’s about being okay with who I already am.
- Body, if you can love me for who I am, I promise to love you for who you are.
- Accepting myself as I am right now is the first step in growing and evolving.
- I love and respect myself.
- All magazine photos are airbrushed, photoshopped, and distorted.
- My opinion of myself is the only one that counts.
- Being skinny or fat is not my identity. I am identified by who I am on the inside, a loving, wonderful person.
- Thighs, thank you for carrying me to where I want to go.
Be sure to check out these other wonderful posts about Summer Self Care from these awesome bloggers!
| Examine This Moment | |
| Headphones Thoughts | |
| Riyah Speaks Blog | |
| Sophia Patel | |
| Enviroline Blog | |
| This Brits Life | |
| Jessica Lasa | |
| Faërie Lifestyle | |
| The Nutmeg Diaries |
What are you doing for summer self-care this year?
Talk soon!
Summer playlist are so great. I usually great a playlist just for summer time. It was great getting to collaborate. Hopefully we can again soon.
Loved this list! A summer playlist is perfect, I love having good jams for long car rides to the beach.
Such fun self care ideas. Absolutely love when I can be at the beach in the sun and near the water. Definitely love listening to some fun music in the summer too. It was fun collaborating with each of you this summer. I look forward to doing so again in the future.
Pastor Natalie
letstakeamoment.com
Thank you for your self-care suggestions. Excellent post.
I adore this post so much and all of your tips!! Your tip about being alone is so important and I love all the body affirmations you’ve included x
Great summer tips! Summer to me is the season that I allow myself to be a bit more free to do whatever I need most. Finding time to sleep as much as I need, being able to see all the people I love but also being able to be lone with myself is so important.
Thank you for sharing <3
No matter how I am feeling, I always feel better after spending some time in the sun. It just puts me in a good mood! I agree that sleeping in every so often is a great self-care step as your body needs to recharge properly. It’s tempting to always get up early to make the most of the sun, but sometimes your body needs more rest. Thanks for all the tips.
Eve
http://www.evemorganinteriors.com
I love spending time in the sun when it’s bright outside- although it’s important to look after yourself too and staying hydrated is a must! Thank you for sharing x
These are all great ideas! I especially love buying local produce from a local market. When we travel in the summer, we try to visit the farmer’s market in the area and have a “local” night where we eat dinner made from the local veggies, fruits, and meats. It is really fun and we get to discover some new things. Self-care is so important!
Love all these but really love a summer playlist. I don’t live by the sea but I’m going away to the sea very soon and I can’t wait to hear those waves!
They’re so wonderful, a quick mood pick me up! I enjoyed collaborating as well – thanks for reading.
Wonderful, thanks B! Playlists are definitely an essential for long car rides and beach days!
Thank you! Yes, beach days are always so lovely and it’s so refreshing to be so connected to nature! I’m glad you enjoyed this post and I also enjoyed this collaboration post 🙂
Thanks – so glad you enjoyed this list!
Thanks Della – I’m glad you enjoyed it. Happy Summer!
Thanks so much – yes a good sleep in is essential to help you recharge for even more adventures. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Yes, soak in that Vitamin D! Sleeping in every so often is a great to make sure you take the time you need to be ready for even more adventures and activities in the upcoming days after! Thanks for reading and commenting.
YES – definitely a must to stay well hydrated in the summer and especially those sunny hot days! Thanks for reading and commenting.
Thanks Heidi! That sounds awesome to buy local when you’re exploring different areas for a local meal you can create yourself! Happy Summer!
Summer playlists are wonderful – so energizing! I hope you can have a day near the water soon. Happy Summer!
These are great summer self care ideas! This collaboration was so much fun.
I love this! Self care is a must! These are fab ways to practice self care. I especially love the one about practicing positive affirmations, visiting the beach, a self care playlist and the farmers market . I love affirmations so much. You’ve inspired me to do some self care. Thank you for sharing
Love all of these ideas! Wish to be near the seaside or anywhere to enjoy some water, but for now, I must wait! Sleeping in and having a great summer playlist with some happy songs to dance to are the best x
Such a good point about making time to be alone too!
Wonderful post Alex! I love the idea of a summer playlist! Music has such a powerful effect on me and my mood, having an upbeat summer playlist is just what I need. I love the affirmations as well! Thanks for sharing these amazing self-care suggestions!
These are all great tips! We love going to the beach on a hot day and having a paddle in the sea, thanks for sharing.
Thanks Riyah! It was so much fun to do this collaboration 🙂
Thanks Ruth – I’m glad you enjoyed this post. Enjoy your summer self care time, it’s so important to take it and enjoy yourself! Happy Summer.
Thanks Cristina – hopefully you can find some water soon and enjoy a beach day maybe? Sleeping in and dancing to a summer playlist sound heavenly in the meantime – enjoy summer!
Thanks Tiffany, music really is so powerful! Putting on a good song can really change your mood 🙂 I’m glad you enjoyed the post – happy summer!
Thanks – I’m glad you enjoyed this post and happy summer!
I understand the benefits of eating fresh food from local markets. My family sometimes has small gardens in the back yard in which they raise some vegetables. It is healthy and quite satisfying.
Love this post! Dancing around to a great playlist is one of the best ways to give yourself a little pick me up.
Amazing! I know nothing about traveling all over the country, what a wonderful looking place to explore.
I love to sleep in, it’s the best thing to do in the summer haha, a good playlist is a must as well! Great post! xx
TheQuietGirl | http://www.quietgirlblog.com
That’s great to hear – fresh vegetables and fruit form the garden is such a wonderful treat and always tastes the best! Happy Summer!
YES! It’s so much fun to put on a fun playlist and just have a little solo dance party!
Not setting an alarm clock is always such a great treat! Playlists are so great – throw one on and have a little dance party!! 🙂
Thanks – traveling is such a great way to learn about the places around. Just pop in a car and go off exploring, you’ll likely find lots of great little spots as you explore!
Always love visiting the farmers market to get my fruits and vegetables! Not just the prices and health aspect but also the atmosphere is wonderful. Can’t wait for spring and summer to get back there!
That’s so lovely and one of my favs too! You can’t beat the quality and the experience of farmer’s markets! I’m also counting down the days.