The Roller Coaster Effect: 3 Ways to Savour the Summer (Before It’s Gone!)
The best way I can describe the month of July is the feeling of being on a roller coaster ride.
We are six months into the year, well into the summer highs — temperatures included — having been slowly making our way up the proverbial hill since January. Getting to July/August feels a bit like reaching the crest of the steepest hill: we have all the anticipation in the world as we chug toward the peak, then a moment to breathe, smile, and admire the view from the top…before we dive-bomb into autumn and the soon-to-be holiday season (yes, I said it!).
As we reach the pinnacle of summer, there is this wonderful moment of pause that also comes with the whisperings of all the things left to do and achieve by year-end. The “got to get it done list” is as fast as the wind in your hair on the way down. Rest assured that in a few weeks, back-to-school materials will have jostled for space on the shelves while we are still in flip flops.
It can be hard to savour the summer season when you’re still working through most of it. Even with holidays or long weekends penciled into the calendar, I’ve had discussions with a couple friends lately who feel a little bit deflated and unable to enjoy the summer until it’s too late.
If you’re trying to appreciate the ride without dreading what’s around the corner, here are three actions to help you stay in the moment.
Sit Tight and Delight
The poet Rumi wrote, “Wear gratitude like a cloak and it will feed every corner of your life.” Just as buckling your seatbelt before the coaster takes off is a non-negotiable, so is starting every summer day with gratitude. My morning ritual now includes thinking of three things that I am grateful for before I even touch my phone or my hot chocolate! There are only upsides to establishing a gratitude practice, so be sure to delight in that regularly — especially while longer days are on our side.
Swivel Swiftly
Technically speaking, there are still well over six weeks of summer to go — plenty of time to start a fun side project or be a tourist in your own city. Maybe you can visit an exhibition or museum in your hometown, pick up a new hobby while your work inbox is a little quieter, try a new recipe in the kitchen, or plan a getaway to look forward to in the fall/winter. (There is no better time to plan your next trip than when you’re on a slower schedule!)
Pause for Applause
There is always a tiny pause before the roller coaster’s steepest dip: use this metaphorical moment to look back on your wins this year. What milestones did you reach? What hair-raising moments did you overcome? Sarah Blakely, the founder of Spanx, recently posed this question: “Remember when you wanted what you currently have?” You are halfway through this beautiful year, and you’ve undoubtedly accomplished a lot. Give yourself permission to slow down, make the memories, and swap your evening scrolls for evening strolls. Do stop to savour the ride; pumpkin lattes will be just around the curve!
