10 Summer Self Care Ideas to Avoid Overwhelm

Are you in full summer holidays mode and feeling it? 

Maybe you’re not, maybe you still find yourself thinking about the weeks that are stretching out in front and wondering how you’re going to get through them. 

Either way you may have a sense of overwhelm right now not only about how you will fill this time but also around how you might keep your sanity, especially if you find yourself in a position where you can't experience or commit to all you want or need to this summer. 

Overwhelm, panic, anxiety - none of these things add up to that serene summer feeling we all wish for so I’ve come up with some self care inspiration to help combat this. 

There are a variety of ideas to try out and choice from, some will give you instant gratification and peace, others might take a bit of planning but will leave you feeling refreshed, empowered and ready to take on anything. Hopefully there’s something for everyone, so here you go...

1. Spa Day at Home - now a summer spa day is a staple for many but may sound cheesy to others so hear me out. The key is to clear out a significant chunk of time to be by yourself, either a morning/afternoon or an entire day if you can mange it and indulge in some feel good pamper activities that you enjoy. Don’t forget to have on hand a relaxing book, a favourite podcast or music and add in extras like candles, crystals and essential oils. This might not be for everyone but the key is to personalise it to you and remember it’s not just about the pamper but a chance to reconnect back to your body and self. 

2. Make your bed - this is so quick and so easy and will leave you feeling accomplished and at peace before you've even had breakfast. Every time you walk into or past your bedroom you will get a sense of feeling like something in your world is together and finished.

3. Digital Holiday - you may not be going on your usual summer holiday but I would highly recommend booking a get away from your digital world! Pick out at least one day, but preferably a weekend or a whole week if you dare, to shut down all screens, turn off social media and disengage from instant messaging! Remember it’s only a holiday and the peace you'll gain will really help you to refocus your attention and calm your nerves. You can always let people know that your taking a break and give them alternative ways to contact you in an emergency or reassure that you will catch up with them later on!

4. Create a self care space - this is such a joyful and loving activity to do for yourself and it can be as big or as little as you want to make it. Pick out a corner or nook of your home and make it into a self care space dedicated just to you. This can be a quick and easy activity by using things you already have around your home like favourite books, candles, cushions and keepsakes that are meaningful and comforting to you, then sit down, relax and take 5 OR maybe you want to turn this into a mini make-over activity? You could treat yourself to a new chair, hang a favourite picture and repurpose a pretty lamp, by creating a dedicated space in your home just for self care you are more likely to use it and give yourself permission to find the time to decompress from the stresses of the day.

5. Take on a self care project - this time over the summer can feel daunting to fill but taking on a longer term project can help you to reflect on how you're feeling and track any changes that are unfolding in your life, plus a longer term self care project is a nice way to record or remember a certain time or transformation in your life. Try my Love Letter Workbook to connect back to the relationship you have with yourself. Through the guide in the workbook you’ll write beautifully crafted love letters to yourself, designed to build your resilience, boost yourself esteem and create last confidence, imagine coming out the other side of summer with a more positive relationship with your past and present and feeling ready for the future?

6. Make over your mornings - this is taking your "make your bed every morning” idea one step forward but if changing up your morning routine feels overwhelming in its self then just start with the bed thing first or change up another little thing from your morning routine like what time you get up or what you have for breakfast. Maybe you want to add in exercise or read a book in the garden or start eating breakfast as a family - aim for a few changes, observe how you feel and see if shaking things up in the morning creates a different mindset for the day ahead.

7. Mini Life Detox - the key to this is staying micro or it can do the opposite to reducing overwhelm. Take one area of your life that needs a shake up or a change and spend a day getting rid of everything that no longer serves you. It could be a room in your house, the food you snack on, a difficult relationship, your wardrobe or your social media habit! I recommend spending some time first making a mini plan so your don’t get overwhelmed, set a small goal to achieve and reverse engineer how you can spend one or a few days doing just that, you can aim to do it over a week instead if this feels more manageable.

8. Say Yes to yourself - if you’re feeling all the pressure right to say yes to everyone else’s needs then here is the permission you’re looking for to say yes to yours instead. It’s fun to spend time with others and it can be nice to commit to doing something for someone you care about but not if it causes you anxiety and overwhelm, you don’t have to please everyone and you shouldn’t aim to either.

9. Take a trip by yourself - if you do find yourself surrounded by others and it’s all too much then a trip out by yourself can be just the self care tonic you need, if you can take a whole day and go for it! Plan to go somewhere that’s meaningful to you, that you know will lift your spirit or give you a much needed boost, this could be anything from a walk on the beach to a solo trip to the cinema on your own.

10. Get lost on purpose - now this could be all about getting out for a drive in your car and seeing where the journey takes you but it could also be as simple as getting lost in a book, in cooking a delicious meal, your favourite music or sneaking away for a secret bath!

I hope this has given you some inspiration to add to your summer self care toolkit, try one of these out whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed, and I would highly recommend book marking one day a week to plan in some self care because having something positive to look forward to brings happiness, which fuels our resilience and keeps overwhelm at bay!

Don’t forget to keep in touch by leaving a comment below or you can email me at 365pearlsofwisdom@gmail.com