Welcome, if you’ve stumbled across this post you’re likely looking for some insight on summer routines and how to better improve yours! If you’re like us, you live for the summer. Ok, maybe that’s a bit dramatic. But when you live in Canada and spend 6 months of the year bundled up in layers, the summer is a time to be a bit more care free, wear your favourite summer styled pieces, spend time with friends you haven’t seen all winter and get some vitamin D on your skin.
Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves though, the real reason for this blog is to discuss routine. And the one drawback we often find with summer is that your carefully crafted routine you had built over the winter, can often go straight out the window. Why? Well summer is a time to socialize, stay out later with friends, travel, eat different foods and possibly indulge in some alcohol. Which is all great! But how can we shift our mindset to accepting that it’s a given you’ll fall out of routine come the summer months? How can we have fun, but still come out of the summer feeling the best versions of ourselves? We have some ideas and solutions for you! So keep on reading :).
“If you’ve stumbled across this post you’re likely looking for some insight on summer routines and how to better improve yours!”
Try to make your routine and the space around you resemble how it looks at home or when it is at its best.
Summer is a time for travel with family and friends and we love that! But it’s easy to fall off your routine and start to let your usual habits go. For example, I will forget to meditate in the mornings when I’m on vacation as I’m around more people. Or will find myself eating what everyone else is eating because it’s the easiest option. Or even taking the time to complete usual workouts you do at home. Maybe doing your fitness on the go is a bit harder for you. We’ve all been there! What I have found helps is to bring the tools you need to accomplish your ideal routine, no matter where you are. That way there are less roadblock
I try to bring my vitamins with me when travelling to take every morning like I would back home. I’ll bring my yoga mat and booty bands to fit in a quick workout outside, maybe it’s only 15 minutes, but at least it’s some form of movement. Or walking is a great alternative while travelling, see new sights and get your steps in, win win! In terms of meditation, maybe it’s taking 5 minutes to yourself, in another room or taking a solo morning walk. Little changes add up, maybe it doesn’t look like how it does at home, but even being conscious of positive changes will make a difference for your well-being.
Reward yourself with habit stacking.
Maybe you’ve heard of the term habit stacking, and maybe you haven’t, either way let me elaborate a bit more. We feel that it’s become a bit more of a popular idea in the last year or so. As simply put in this article by “Real Simple”, habit stacking “involves “stacking” the new behavior you’re trying to adopt onto a current behavior in order to help you remember to do it and/or perform it with less mental effort. It utilizes the strong synaptic connections we already have.”
So for example, maybe you brush your teeth every morning. If there’s a new habit you’re looking to build, pair it with you brushing your teeth. Every time you brush your teeth, maybe your journal is right next to your bathroom sink so you remember that’s a new habit you’re wanting to start. Or if you like to have coffee right away, put your supplements next to your coffee machine and take them as your coffee is brewing. It’s pretty simple once you get the hang of it. Pair a desired habit with an already existing one!
Think of the long term goal, how do you want to feel after summer wraps up?
We’ve all been here. Summer is coming to an end and suddenly you realize you’re feeling sluggish, more tired than usual, bloated, and maybe your skin isn’t as clear as you’d like it to be. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve felt this way! But this year I plan to do things differently. I want September to come and not have to spend 3 months getting my health back to where it was in May.
So throughout the summer I now think ahead, how do I want to feel long term? This thought helps keep me on track. I continue to prioritize movement, I indulge in the things that I love but I also am mindful about my choices. I try to keep balance at the forefront of my mind so that I’m not sacrificing what I love, but am also making sure I am still taking care of my body.
Can you prioritize healthy substitutions?
First of all let me say, eat and drink whatever you want. This isn’t a blog to make you feel bad about your indulgences! I personally love enjoying lots of treats in the summer; ice cream, anything on the bbq, snacks by the campfire, white wine and lots of great meals out! That being said, I also know what catches up with me over time and then I don’t feel so great. So I’ve started to try and find some substitutions that are both good for you and
Think about alternatives that are easy to swap! So for example, I reach for the coffee with less sweetener in it, I choose the vodka soda over the craft beer, I will walk to my destination rather than drive, I’ll try to meal prep more during the week so that I can eat out on weekends.
“How can we shift our mindset to accepting that it’s a given you’ll fall out of routine come the summer months?”
We’re not saying your summer routine needs to be perfect, life ebbs and flows based on the season. Each month of the year presents different opportunities, challenges, room for growth and varying priorities. Life is meant to be designed by YOU. We hope these tips are helpful in crafting your best summer routine, no matter where you’re at in life! If there are things that you do that could help others in building their routine, please comment down below. And if you like blogs like this ones, check out our post on “How to Become a Morning Person.” Wishing you all a great summer with lots of sunshine, positivity and healthy vibes all around!
xo
Cornelia & Meg
