My Summer Wellness Routine
I love new seasons, and all they represent. There are full of potential, anticipation, and promise of better - or at least, different - things ahead. Living in New England means that we really feel the change in each season. Fall means watching the leaves change colors, winter means cozying up by the fireplace, spring brings new buds and leaves, and then of course - there is summer. The days are long, the weekends are fun, and it’s an opportunity - should we choose to take it - to slow way down. In that spirit, I’m sharing what my summer wellness routine looks like (including a few I would do if I was physically capable this year).
Hydration: I love to start every day with water. As the days get hotter, I’ll be increasing this to 16oz of lemon water before I eat breakfast or drink coffee. From there, I’ll be cruising through my 40oz Stanley Quencher at least twice by the end of the day.
Healthy Eating: To me, summer is all about the fresh produce. I won’t have a full-on garden this year, but will buy local veggies and fruits to ensure I’m eating with the season. I’m going for more protein at breakfast, less processed food (I don’t eat much of it, but I can certainly do better), and as many things cooked on the grill as possible.
Meditation: I’ve been meditating for decades, and a couple years ago, became a certified meditation and mindfulness teacher. At minimum, I aim for five minutes per day, either solo or guided on the Peloton App.
Strength-Training: This summer isn’t traditional strength training, per se, but I have intense physical therapy 2-3x per week, and at-home exercises that I go through several times each day. Building muscle is super important to me, having lost a lot of strength over the first few years of motherhood. It’s time to start fresh and get back to business and feeling strong.
*Walking: I won’t be able to walk for a couple more months, but if I could…The MVP of my wellness routine is a daily walk. In the summer, I love to go super early in the morning before it gets too hot. I always aim for at least 20 minutes, and usually do a Peloton session or listen to an inspirational podcast.
Less Phone Time: I am committing to less time on my phone. For me, that looks like no phone before 8am and after 9pm. It looks like less than an hour on social media per day.
More Reading: If you’ve been following me lately, I’ve been reading a ton since my surgery. I believe I’ve just finished my 30th book in eight weeks - I have had a lot of time on my hands, for the first time ever. I’ll keep this up, and focus on books that bring me JOY.
Community: While I’m physically not able to do too much, I am able to do more. I’m excited to lead a few MamaConnect events, host a pool party for the Central Mass Mom contributors, and just spend quality time with friends and neighbors.
Planning: This fall is going to be BUSY. It’s one of the most intense seasons at my day-job, the kids schedules get filled, I’ll be leading several group coaching cohorts and continuing working with a handful of 1:1 coaching clients, and something else big that I’ll share more about soon. The more I can get ahead of things in terms of decluttering my digital world, mapping out our shared family calendar, and creating tools that will help me keep it all in order, the better I’ll feel later on.
*Acupressure: As soon as I get cleared to do this, you better believe I’ll be picking up my nightly routine of 10 minutes on the mat. I feel so calm and happy after each session, and can never recommend this mat enough.
Vitamins: I have used Ritual vitamins since I was pregnant with my first child. I’m hoping to switch up my routine this summer, so send any recommendations for great products my way. Either way - a daily vitamin is a must, and I’ll be thinking about other supplements to add to my routine.
Sunscreen + Skin Care: I have really lagged in the skin care department since surgery, mostly because I couldn’t physically bend forward to wash my face until this week (!!). I’m excited to begin a new regimen this summer - and of course, will be using sunscreen for protection when I’m outside.
Date Nights In: If you are parents to young kids, it’s hard to prioritize time for you and your partner. I can’t get out on the town much this summer - though if I could, these are some of the spots I’d be going to. That said, I can plan great date nights in. Whether it’s watching the new season of American Ninja Warrior (one of our favorites), enjoying a glass of wine by the outdoor fire, or ordering takeout and playing a game - this is an important part of my wellness routine this summer.
Letting Go of FOMO: If I’ve learned one thing since my surgery, it’s to let things go. I won’t “do” everything I want to do in an ideal world, and that’s okay. I mean, when do we ever have ideal conditions for all we wish to do? I’ll focus on what matters to me and my family. Comparison can absolutely reduce feelings of joy and contentment. So I won’t be focusing on what I would be doing if I was physically better - I’ll be finding the joy in the little things that feel good to me, this summer.
