Happy Summer Friday, {{ first_name | friend }}!
It’s July and many of us are already feeling how fast the summer is going. For many of my patients, the pressure to make the most of summer can actually create anxiety, leaving them feeling like the season is passing too quickly and they’re missing the moments they hoped to remember. The pace of life doesn’t always slow down even in the summer—full calendars, daily distractions, and stress can cause us to miss the moments. But I do have a practice that has worked for me and many of my clients that I want to share with you…
SAVORING SUMMER
1) SAVOR SLOW MOMENTS:
Savoring is the key. We don’t have to wait for the big moments. Find small moments throughout your day to slow down and savor: a sunrise or sunset, a cup of coffee in the quiet of the morning, sparkles on the ocean waves, a song that unexpectedly brings you back to a high school summer driving with the windows down—and my favorite, looking for the glow of the fireflies at dusk. Literally stop for a moment and take it in with slower breaths. Pause. Savor with all of your senses.
It’s actually these moments that make summer feel like summer, and good news—you can collect them every day. Here are some of the summer moments I have paused to savor:
Hydrangeas on the Cape
A Spectacular Sunset
Unexpected Lavender Fields by the roadside
Evening walks with my daughter
Nightly S'mores
2) GRATITUDE:
If you have been following me for awhile, you 💯 know how I feel about gratitude. Gratitude trains our brain to focus on all the good of summer and moves us away from the anxiety of it slipping away. Try to find 2 or 3 moments a day—write them down or say them out loud to yourself—and watch how it allows you to feel more present and calmer in the summer.
LESS DISTRACTION, MORE CLARITY
My most recent Today Show segment focused on why summer is the perfect time to reclaim our attention and focus. If you struggle with constant distraction OR brain fog (where my menopause ladies at 🙋🏽♀️), these quick tips will help.
Believe it or not, monotasking or single tasking is the KEY to focus, mental clarity, and less brain fog. Even 15 minutes a day of doing one thing at a time (imagine that) can make a big difference in memory and mood. Yes, multitasking is stress on the mind.
Start with just one of these:
And single tasking will create a more focused mind, which will help you savor the summer—so it all works together to create a summer that feels like summer and one that you will remember for years to come.
EXCITING NEWS
Look out for the next few newsletters where I will share some exciting news that I want you to hear first from me.
More to come soon. Thank you for following and being a part of this community for years now. Know someone who feels like summer is flying by? Share this with them as an invitation to slow down and savor the moments that matter.
If this letter brought you a little more perspective and joy today, please share it with someone you care about. And if this email was shared with you, please subscribe! Each week I share a dose of calm, connection, and clarity rooted in science.
Why 3 Good Things?
Wellness isn’t one big thing—it’s three good things, or two good things, or five. It’s noticing the gifts of the life we have.
If you’ve followed me for a while, you’ve probably heard me talk about “3 Good Things.” It’s the question I often ask my kids and one of my favorite gratitude practices.
Research shows that identifying three good things each day can actually rewire your brain from negativity to optimism in just 30 days. Follow along for my 3GT each month! And send me yours! I want to hear from you.
