The Art of Slowing Down This Summer
When you think back to childhood summers, what comes to mind?
Maybe you’re reminiscing on long afternoons at the swimming pool, chasing the ice cream truck down the street, eating watermelon until the juice ran down your chin, sleeping with the windows open on warm evenings, or spending entire days outside without ever looking at a clock.
Summer had a different rhythm then. It was a time to play and to be completely free.
As adults, many of us lose that rhythm. Even when summer arrives and nature seems to invite us to slow down, we often continue living at full speed. Our calendars stay packed, our minds race ahead to the next task, and we measure our worth by how much we accomplish.
I've spent most of my life believing that productivity was the ultimate goal. For years, people have asked me when I was finally going to slow down, when I'd retire, start working less, or taking things easier? My answer was always the same.
"When I'm 80, I'll think about slowing down."
Apparently, the Universe had other plans. Almost exactly a year ago, I missed an unmarked six-inch step while rushing trying to find an office in a building I had never been to before. Just as I spotted the name on the door I was looking for, my foot found the edge of the step. I fell hard, severely dislocating my right pinkie finger, spraining my ankle, and bruising my knee.
Luckily, my finger prevented me from hitting my head, but instead of focusing on that positive aspect, I spent the following months incredibly frustrated about how much these injuries slowed me down.
Even while I was supposed to be resting with my leg elevated, I fought it. Sitting still has never come naturally to me. Even now, a year later, I still have to do finger exercises twice a day, which is something I often resist, despite knowing it's exactly what my body needs.
Upon some (much needed) self-reflection, I realize my resistance isn't really about the exercises, but it's about what slowing down represents. Growing up, I learned that being busy meant being valuable. Somewhere along the way I came to believe that resting was unproductive and lazy, and that doing more somehow made me more worthy. Those beliefs run deep.
Ironically, for several years I'd been getting the same quiet message from within:
"Slow down. Do yoga. Take better care of your body."
I heard it, I simply didn't listen. Sometimes our bodies become the messenger when our minds refuse to listen..
I've noticed that many of my clients struggle with this same challenge. Especially those working in demanding careers, where busyness is often worn like a badge of honor. We tell ourselves there's no other way, that this is simply the season we're in. Sometimes that's true, but sometimes what really needs to change isn't our schedule—it's our mindset.
One of my favorite questions to ask both myself and my clients is:
How do you want to BE as you DO your life?
Do you want to move through your days feeling rushed, overwhelmed, and constantly behind? Or do you want to move through them feeling calm, grounded, present, and connected? The choice isn't always easy, but it is always worth considering.
One of the greatest gifts that summer offers us is permission to embrace a slower pace:
To sit outside with a book.
To listen to birds instead of notifications.
To eat fresh fruit without one hand on your phone.
To take a walk without counting the steps.
To simply be.
Many years ago, my daughter gave me a birthday gift that I don't think I fully appreciated at the time: a book titled The Art of Doing Nothing: Simple Ways to Make Time for Yourself. I used to joke that I needed to study that book because doing nothing felt so lazy to me.
Today I understand it differently because doing nothing isn't laziness:
It's restoration.
It's allowing your nervous system to settle.
It's creating space to think clearly, heal deeply, and enjoy the life you're working so hard to build.
The art of slowing down still doesn't come naturally to me. I still love to learn, accomplish, explore, and have adventures. But I've discovered that sometimes peace may actually be more valuable than productivity.
That's a lesson I'm still practicing every day, and perhaps summer is inviting all of us to practice it together. As you move through the rest of this season, I encourage you to ask yourself:
What would slowing down look like for me?
What could I let go of?
And how do I want to BE as I DO my life?
Sometimes the smallest shifts create the biggest changes. During my upcoming fall class, we'll continue exploring what it means to create health in every area of life—not just physically, but mentally, emotionally, spiritually, relationally, financially, environmentally, and vocationally. Lasting wellness comes from looking at the whole picture, and sometimes that begins with something as simple as giving yourself permission to slow down.
For now, I encourage you to embrace the season we're in and savor the joy that summer brings. Find a little space to take a leisurely swim, listen for the ice cream truck, eat fresh fruit with both hands, and let the nostalgia of sweet summertime guide your days.
10 Tips for Slowing Down This Summer
Spend time outside.
Read a book, listen to the birds, and simply notice the sounds of summer.Take a walk in nature.
Whether it's a forest trail, a neighborhood park, or a lakeside path, allow yourself to reconnect with the natural world.Practice being present.
Gently remind yourself to "be here now." It's difficult to rush when you're fully engaged in the present moment.Leave earlier than you think you need to.
Giving yourself extra time reduces stress and helps you move through your day more peacefully.Break the rushing habit.
Constantly hurrying places unnecessary strain on your nervous system. Most things can wait a few extra minutes.Reduce distractions.
Limit interruptions whenever possible so you can focus on one thing at a time with greater ease.Prioritize what truly matters.
Ask yourself what actually needs to be done today - and what can wait.Change your self-talk.
Say phrases like: It feels good to be in this moment. I can accomplish this with calm and ease. It's okay to simply be.Live at the pace your nervous system needs.
Productivity is important, but not at the expense of your health.Ask yourself one simple question:
How do I want to BE as I DO my life? Let your answer guide your choices.
Warmly,
Tamara