Learning to slow down in summer

 Learning to slow down in summer

Ahhhh summer: beautiful sunny days, festivals, vacations, camping, evenings with aperitifs on the balcony or listening to music around the fire, barbecues with friends... 

The summer season is definitely the time of year when a lot happens, when we finally come out of hibernation to socialize and celebrate. The sunny days are so few and far between here in Quebec! So, we want to make the most of them.

However, it's easy to get exhausted trying to be part of every activity. What if we learned to slow down a little and simply enjoy summer?

Why do we feel compelled to do so much in the summer?

You've probably felt it before, that famous summer stress that pushes you to fill your calendar to make sure you don't miss anything. We call it seasonal FOMO ( Fear Of Missing Out) : the constant fear of missing out on something important, interesting, or fun. 

Through Instagram stories, Facebook photos, or TikTok videos, it's easy to compare yourself to others and believe that if your summer isn't as busy, then it's a failure.

The social pressure is real: every sunny day becomes a race to be active, and every moment of rest becomes a missed opportunity. But is that really the case? What if enjoying summer also meant slowing down and savoring things at your own pace, even if that sometimes means doing nothing at all?

Listen to your natural rhythm

Just because everyone seems to be running from festival to barbecue doesn't mean you have to follow suit. 

In fact, contrary to what social media suggests, summer can be a wonderful opportunity for rest and rejuvenation. Listening to your natural rhythm means reconnecting with what you feel deep down. 

Sometimes, enjoying summer means lying under a tree, reading a good book, or simply sitting on your patio, without pressure, without a specific goal, coffee in hand. Slowing down isn't about missing out: it's about choosing what truly makes you feel good.

Recreate a void in your schedule

If your summer feels like a marathon and you feel compelled to say yes to everything, take a moment to breathe and sort through your options. 

Not every invitation deserves an automatic "yes." Before you respond, ask yourself this simple question: "Do I really want to do this?"

Deliberately create blank spaces in your calendar. Keep these moments for yourself. 

They'll be perfect for improvising a short walk, a spontaneous swim, a nap in the sun, or even... absolutely nothing. It's often in these unexpected moments that summer reveals its most beautiful surprises.

Simple activity ideas to slow down

You don't have to look far to slow down this summer. Here are a few simple ideas:

• Read outside, comfortably installed on a deckchair, in the sun (but don't forget the sunscreen!) or in the shade of a tree;
• Walk barefoot on the grass, to fully experience contact with nature;
• Gardening quietly, without pressure;
• Cooking a fresh dish with local produce is a great way to reconnect with the flavors of summer;
• Observe the sky, the stars, the clouds, and simply enjoy the spectacle that nature offers;
• Explore a new neighborhood without a particular destination.

These small activities have in common that they have no specific goal, except to feel good. And that's exactly what slowing down is all about.

Create your own summer

Ultimately, there's no one right way to experience summer. Slowing down can look very different from one person to the next. 

For you, it might mean allowing yourself to do things at your own pace, according to your deepest desires. 

It might mean saying no to a party in favor of a quiet evening at home, or deciding that your ideal way to experience summer is precisely to do nothing special.

Remember this: summer is meant to be savored. So, enjoy it to the fullest, but above all, slowly. Because it's often in these simple, small moments that we find the greatest satisfaction.