August is approaching and if you are anything like me, as soon as school finishes, I feel myself switch to holiday mode which is a little premature as I have clients to support and a million and one things to do before I do get to break for a much needed Summer holiday, but my body and mind have other ideas!

Why Summer Can Leave Us Feeling Mentally Overloaded

It feels like much more of a mental effort to stay focused and be productive and I caught myself this morning in the mental overload trap: How am I going to juggle a busy clinic, be available for the teens who still want to spend time with me or at the very least, be a taxi service and juggle it all without the usual feelings of guilt and overwhelm?.

It then hit me - all I need to do is give myself permission not to be - It’s as simple as that. I don’t need to be as focused, and I certainly don’t need to be as productive; I’m not a robot and neither are you, my friend ❤️

Giving Yourself Permission to Be Less Productive

I reminded myself that I am the main character of my story and I can change the narrative whenever I want so that’s exactly what I’ve just spent the last hour doing – simplified my month and switched the focus. I’ve reduced my to do list to focus on the must do’s only and anything else will just have to wait till September. I’ve increased my non-working days and condensed clients into 3 full days so I have space for the teens and my priorities for the remainder of the week, and do you know what, the world won’t stop spinning, and I will be a much happier person for it. I feel so much more energised just knowing I’ve took control.

So, this is a quick communication (yes, I’ve condensed the time for this comms too without guilt 😉) to say, give yourself permission to do the same ❤️

Summertime brings longer days, the light is brighter, and your body may be asking for something very simple: slow down and come back to your body. So, as we approach August, I want you to give yourself permission to be present, breathe and add a few easy practices that will support a healthier and happier you in body, mind and spirit this Summer:

Here are the 20 simple ways I will be becoming back to my body this month:

1. Eat lunch in the sunshine
2. Take a slow walk after dinner
3. Read a book under a tree
4. Stand barefoot in the grass
5. Listen to the birds
6. Add lemon or lime to my water
7. Take a nap without guilt
8. Eat berries with full-fat Greek yoghurt with the sunshine on my face
9. Let myself be a little less productive
10. Lie in the grass and do absolutely nothing
11. Move my body because it feels good
12. Go somewhere green and smell the roses. Literally!
13. Dry brush before I shower
14. Eat dinner ‘al fresco’ as much as possible
15. Swim in a lake, pool or river
16. Try a new vegetable on the grill
17.  Wear something that feels easy on my body
18. Take a quiet walk when I feel overwhelmed
19. Take my morning cuppa outside and listen to the world come alive with the sunshine on my face
20. Watch the sunset

So, my intentions for you are simple: reduce that to do list, make space for what truly matters to you and park anything that can be left until Autumn with no guilt. Grab a pen and write which of the above practices might resonate with you and add your own Summertime no guilt attached practices – with FULL permission.

Have fun and see you on the other side 🌈