Let the Sun Shine in, Completely.
Summer is here, and I am very excited about it. For some reason, summer seems to take forever to begin and then fly by in the blink of an eye. Because of this, I do my very best to fully embrace it when it finally does arrive.
There are many ways to take advantage of the summer season, and today I am going to be offering you some ideas of how to do just that, using your all of your senses. Keep reading to learn how you can lean into a seasonal lifestyle and practice being fully present in the summer months.
Embracing Summer with your Sight
Summer is an amazing time to see sights that your eyes have been lacking a view of for the last nine months. Below you will find some of my favorite ways to embrace the summer season through sight.
Take advantage of low lying light. Getting light on your face first thing in the morning or while the sun goes down is a a great way to appreciate the warm season, and also offers physical benefits. Soaking in low lying light not only allows you to embrace this season of extended daylight, but it can also help to regulate your circadian rhythm and improve your sleep cycle.
Look at the details of the foliage. Summer brings a beautiful bounty of flora to life. This summer, try taking some time to look deeply at the details of a plant or flower. Note the color, texture, variation, and design of this specific plant. This is a great way to ground yourself in the here and now, and to realize just how amazing things that we frequently consider to be unimportant are.
Beautify your space. Take some time to tidy up your yard, plant some colorful flowers, or bring cut flowers indoors. Summer is such a bright and colorful season, so take advantage of it.
Enjoy the blue sky. Layout and look up at the big blue sky or find shapes in the clouds; take in the beauty of it all.
Go stargazing. Take advantage of these warm months by packing up some blankets and heading to an area with low light pollution after dark to get a glimpse at the heavens. Some of my favorite memories are of stargazing on the beach in the summer with good friends.
Embracing Summer with Scent
The scent of summer is uniquely defined by each individual, but I think all would agree that it is unmatched by any other. These are a few of my favorite ways to soak it in while it’s here.
Open the windows. Let in the scent of the fresh summer air, the cut grass, the blooming lilacs. Allow the stale winter air to be dispelled from your house. Breath it in.
Keep fresh flowers. If you have flowers growing in your yard, cut some and bring them indoors, or pick up a fresh bouquet the next time you are out. There’s nothing like walking into a room filled with the scent of real flowers.
Breathe in the outdoors. Take a moment to be still and take several deep breaths the next time you are out in nature.
Embracing Summer with Touch
There are many ways to embrace the season of summer through the sensations of touch. For one, it is certainly the most welcoming season to utilize your bare skin. Touch does not have be physical either, it can also include getting in contact with a friend or loved one you’ve been meaning to see. Here are my favorite ways to embrace summer through the sense of touch.
Be barefoot. Take off your shoes and run across the grass, or walk on the sand, dirt, or rocks. This is a wonderful way to ground yourself and let your feet get some freedom after spending so much time in socks and shoes.
Lay on the earth. Go to the beach and lay on the sand, or lay in the grass at the park or in your yard. Focus on the feeling of your body sinking into the ground and the way that you are being held.
Get sunlight on your skin. Soak in the sun and feel the warmth dance over you. Marinate in it.
Dig in the earth. Whether you play in the sand at the beach or work in your garden or yard, feel the soil on your fingertips and let the dirt run through your hands.
Float in the water. Go to the pool, the lake, or the ocean and just float. I love the feeling of being suspended in water, it’s so calming and peaceful.
Make plans with a friend. Summer is a busy season, but it is made so much better by the company of good friends. Get in touch with someone you’ve been meaning to reach out to, and enjoy the summer season together.
Embracing Summer with Sound
The sounds of summer are many, and highly varied depending on where you make your home. Noticing them will help you to fully embrace the season.
Try Forest Bathing. Get out somewhere where the human noise pollution is low, such as a park or hiking trail, then close your eyes and simply listen. The sounds of the wind rustling the leaves, the birds tweeting, and the critters moving is so beautiful; it will enliven you.
Listen to the birds. Take note of and appreciate the early morning tweets you hear. If you want to take it a step further, give the app “Merlin Bird ID” a try and find out who is singing to you.
Que up your summer playlist. Listen to your favorite summer jams. Don’t forget to dance.
Notice the sound of your home. If you tend to have music on, try being in silence and letting the soundtrack of your life play instead. What do you hear?
Embracing Summer with Taste
My personal favorite way to embrace any season is through the sense of taste. Summer has a bounty of delicious foods to enjoy, most of them very light and bright, which offers a reprieve from some of the heavier foods we rely on in other seasons. There are so many ways to taste this season.
Go fruit picking. Whether it’s berries or stone fruits, picking fruit is a super fun and delicious way to embrace the summer season and get in touch with your food from the source.
Try out some heatless meals. Summer is warm, and turning on the oven or stove in a hot house will likely leave you even hotter. Instead, try to make some meals that require minimal interaction with heat. You could make spring rolls, a new salad, some fancy sandwiches, or smoothies.
Eat what is ripe. Summer brings us corn, watermelon, fresh berries, rhubarb, tomatoes, and herbs-a-plenty. See if you can incorporate some of these ingredients into your meals to take advantage of the bounty that summer brings.
Visit the farmer’s market. The farmer’s market is one of the things I most look forward to every summer. It’s a fun activity and you get to support local farmers and stock up on tasty, fresh seasonal ingredients.
Take your meal outside. Try eating your meal in your yard space, or packing a picnic. Better yet, utilize your grill so that you can get your cooking and eating done outside. Nothing quite says summer like a meal outdoors.
Enjoy Summer while it Lasts!
I hope this post gives you some inspiration to lean into a seasonal lifestyle and embrace this amazing season. Summer comes and goes so quickly; enjoy it while you can.
What is your favorite summer activity? How do you like to practice seasonal living? Leave a comment below letting me know.
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