Summertime, and the living is easy. What are you doing this summer to relax and recharge your batteries?
I just got back from a two-week road trip from Myrtle Beach through the Carolinas….and it got me to thinking.
The scenery was absolutely stunning…from beautiful white beaches to charming historic college towns to the majestic Blue Ridge mountains. There were long stretches of road, especially on the Blue Ridge Parkway, where we had no internet connection, no radio, only the sights and sounds of nature slowly revealing itself around every corner.
A part of me felt guilty. I couldn’t respond to e-mails instantly. I did not know minute-by-minute what was happening at work or at home. I wasn’t writing blog posts, or connecting with clients, or creating new workshop materials.
As Americans, I think many of us are trapped in a work ethic that keeps us feeling vaguely uncomfortable if we are not constantly productive.
We tend to think of time spent relaxing as wasted time…but is it really?
In most European countries, taking a month off every summer is the norm. It would be unthinkable to ask someone to keep up their work routines during that sacred time off.
What do the Europeans know that we don’t seem to understand?
I realized on my self-imposed time out in the Carolinas that taking the time to recharge my batteries was actually helping to improve the quality of my life. Now that I am back, I feel more energy, more creativity, and more passion to commit to moving my life vision forward in the coming months.
I know that not everyone can afford to take a month off (or even two weeks). But you can get the same benefits by following these 3 simple strategies for making the most of summertime living.
Unplug and Tune In
I had no idea how much stress I was carrying due to the constant demands of keeping up with my electronic devices. In this connected society, we live with a constant barrage of texts, e-mails, live chats, FB posts and tweets. There is a lot of pressure to respond instantly, and I had bought into it. I finally turned off the alerts on my iphone and ipad, because I found myself jumping with adrenaline every time they went off. Nonetheless, I generally reply to personal messages within an hour, and check my FB and twitter feeds several times a day.
All of this had my anxiety level so high that I couldn’t relax and get a good night’s sleep. Sometimes I would be up at 3:00 a.m. firing off a response to an e-mail or sending out a message that just couldn’t wait until morning. And I know you have done it, too, because I see you online in the wee hours of the morning.
Now, don’t get me wrong. I love the connections that are possible in the new electronic world. I just think there is room to dial back the urgency, and make space to tune in to the actual physical world around us.
Philosophers call it mindfulness…the state of being present in the moment. Summer is a great time to try it out, with its longer days, slower pace, and outdoor activities.
Why not take a short holiday from your electronic devices and simply enjoy the gifts of summer?
You don’t have to go cold turkey. Start with just a two-hour block of time where you leave your smart phone and computer behind.
Give yourself nothing to do but experience the sights, sounds, smells and feelings of summer. Lounge in a hammock, read a good book, ride a bike or just sit and watch the birds.
I guarantee the electronic universe will go on without you…and you will be more focused and relaxed when you re-connect.
Enjoy Nature’s Bounty
What would summer be without picnics, barbecues and dinners out on the road?
Vacations can mean big, rich, heavy restaurant meals or lots of fast food.
Week-end barbecues can mean lots of ribs, burgers, and mayo-based salads…all topped off with rich, creamy ice cream.
All of that can wreak havoc on a healthy lifestyle…but it doesn’t have to be that way.
Like many people, I look forward to eating lots of delicious meals out on my vacation. But I was determined this year not to turn that into a recipe for weight gain, sluggishness and poor digestion.
Fortunately, it was easy to turn vacation eating into a gastronomical adventure by tapping into the locally grown, slow food movement.
Almost every big city…and many small ones…have restaurants that specialize in farm to table meals. You can enjoy fresh seafood, locally raised organic meat and chicken, and lots of fresh veggies all cooked lovingly by chefs who care about flavor and quality.
Our greatest culinary adventures were found in the small city of Asheville, North Carolina. This town of less than 100,000 people has 17 farmers’ markets, dozens of microbreweries, and the local restaurant scene is all about taking advantage of the seasonal produce sold there. We ate local for three entire days without beginning to exhaust the possibilities, and even picked up some basil plants to bring home from the local farmer’s market. If you go, don’t miss the Nutty Fried Chicken with 18 different farm fresh sides at Tupelo Honey Cafe.
You can also take advantage of nature’s bounty at home to create summer meals that are delicious and creative, with a side effect of being good for you.
This summer, we joined a CSA (community supported agriculture) that delivers farm-fresh veggies to our house every Wednesday. We never know what we are going to find in the 64 gallon cooler. One week we had to figure out what to do with two large heads of cabbage. Another week, we scoured the internet to figure out what the round yellow root vegetable was (it turned out to be a golden beet).
It is great fun to look up recipes for our mystery veggies online. Some of my favorites this summer have been Jennifer Hudson’s No Noodle Vegetable Lasagna (great to use up all those zucchini); Chef John’s Beans and Greens (use escarole or any kind of greens the CSA delivers); and Beet & Goat Cheese Arugula Salad (who knew beets could taste this good?).
You can also grill just about any veggie. It is amazing how the grilling process caramelizes veggies and brings out their natural flavor without turning them into a soggy mess.
Does all this mean that you can never give in to the temptation of a juicy burger or hot fudge sundae? Of course not. Just follow the 80/20 rule…fill up your plate (or your daily calories) with 80% fruits and veggies, and use the remaining 20% for high quality protein, dairy and whole grains. Buy locally raised, organic, hormone and preservative free whenever possible, and follow our tips to eat your way to health this summer.
Refill Your Well
Julia Cameron, creativity coach and author of The Artist’s Way, has a great metaphor to help people connect with their creativity. It is called “filling the well,” and it involves the active pursuit of images and inspiration to refresh our creative reservoirs.
Summer may not be a great time to begin new projects, but it is the perfect time to refill your well so you will be ready to take on major changes in the fall.
Nature, hobbies, travel, visits to museums, hiking and cycling can all be great ways to refill your well. So can daydreaming, meditation or visits to a spa.
One of the most nurturing activities I enjoyed on our road trip was a visit to a salt cave. Imagine lying back for 45 minutes in a zero-gravity chair, surrounded by healing salt crystals, trickling fountains and soothing music.
Salt crystals emit negative ions that counter the positive ions that assault us from appliances and electronic devices. The power of salt therapy has been thought for centuries to be beneficial in the treatment of respiratory ailments, cardiovascular issues, nervous system disorders, skin problems and digestive complaints.
I don’t know about all of that, but I do know that two visits to the salt cave totally rejuvenated my body and spirit. I went in laden with a head full of worries and a body full of minor aches and pains. I emerged feeling lighter…simultaneously relaxed and full of energy. The worries in my head had been replaced with daydreams and visions of a new way of life. I was ready to enjoy the rest of my trip, and eager to get back to growing my own business.
This is what it means to refill your well, and it is essential to creating a life worth loving. So figure out what activities work for you, and use the summertime to fill your life with inspiration.
I would love to hear how you are making this your best summer ever. Please leave me a comment and share your favorite summer activities here.
