Will Summertime Chaos Knock You Out of Your Game?

Summer is fun, but it can be chaotic!

Kids home from school, juggling crazy schedules, backyard barbecues, covering for colleagues during vacation, planning getaways—it's a lot! ! It all sounds like fun, but it can take a toll on your self-care. You know that being your best every day means sticking to healthy routines and not letting the craziness imposed by the outside world drive your moods and actions.
 
For the next few months you may feel like you have less time—or more interesting options—but you can still weave self-care and self-connection into your daily routines (albeit with a few modifications). I call these “self-care snacks” and I choose a handful each day—even when things feel most chaotic!
 
Here are a few of my favorites. They serve as energizing additions or substitutes for my normal daily routines.

• 10 deep breaths while listening to the birds
• Turning my face to the sun and soaking it up for just a few minutes
• Catching the sunset (even better with a friend!)
• A 10-minute bike ride around the neighborhood (or even on the Peloton)
• Sipping a tall glass of cold green tea in the afternoon
• Doing a quick body scan and considering, “How am I feeling right now?”
• Pausing to read a poem or something inspirational
• Writing in a journal
• Stretching—anytime and anywhere
• 10 push-ups, jumping jacks, squats or burpees to refresh my energy
• Tending to plants
• Sleeping with the windows wide open
• Enjoying the flames from our fire pit at night
• Experimenting with a new salad recipe
• Practicing patience and having a nice conversation in the supermarket line

 
Taking good care of yourself so that you can feel and be your best doesn’t require a big time investment everyday. Simply bringing your attention and focus to the present moment—regardless of what you are doing—helps. Experience gratitude, a minute of calm and connectedness. The more often you choose to connect with yourself, the easier it gets to access feelings of goodness!
 
Don't let summertime chaos get in the way of your self-care! Choose tiny actions that make a big impact!

Want a little support? Download the free guide: POWERFUL POSITIVITY PRACTICES from our resource page.