How to Keep Your “Cool” this Summer
“We don't realize that, somewhere within us all, there does exist a supreme self who is eternally at peace.” ~ Elizabeth Gilbert; Eat, Pray, Love.
Summer is a time for ice cream, relaxing by the pool and overall slower days spent with family and friends….at least that’s what it’s supposed to be like, right?!
All of the happy summer memories are being made, but in reality, we’re also experiencing overheating in some form or another. And if you have kiddos, you might be overheating from the constant whining, fighting, and endless requests for snacks...where are the snacks?!
Are you nodding your head yes?
As the temps heat up, our tempers can also rise. You may have kids at home complaining of endless boredom, and we’ve still got two months of summer vacation “bliss” to go! Or, you may work in an office that doesn’t allow you to get outside and enjoy the sunshine as often as your body is craving.
It’s really easy to be calm and collected when life is easy, but life is rarely easy. And while I love summer vacation and my children, I’ve lost my “cool” more times than I can remember with my kids. So I am trying to remind myself of ways to keep my composure this summer as the temps and my MIND gets overheated.
Here are a few ways I am trying to stay cool and calm this summer...
Tips to stay chill and collected...
Be Self-Aware
Make a list (even if it’s just a mental list) of all the things that cause you to lose your cool. Just noting what those triggers are will help you avoid those situations. And when the situations are unavoidable, you’ll be aware and able to react more calmly.
Breathe
When you’re in the heat of the moment, stop, slow down and breathe before you react. Your breath is really powerful. It calms the nervous system and helps minimize anxiety. Before reacting to your kid’s 1,832nd request for a snack that afternoon or a boss asking you to work extra hours while all of your girlfriends are at the pool, take a deep breath. Notice how you feel.
Practice Gratitude
It seems so simple, but make a list of what you are grateful for. Try to come back to one of these things when you are about to lose your shiznit. A quick reminder of all the good things about summer, like the warmer weather, family time and hopefully a more flexible schedule can help remind you to slow down and enjoy the season rather than rush through it.
Surround Yourself with Peaceful Reminders
Motivational quotes are great reminders to practice mindfulness. I like to display words of wisdom around my home and our Bird’s Tail studio as daily reminders of what’s important.
Essential oils are another tool that help me keep my cool (yes-that rhymes!). I really like doTERRA’s Lavender and Balance to evoke feelings of calm and peace. You can even wear your essential oils daily on our bracelets or lava pendants as a constant reminder to slow down, take a breath and breathe in the calming scent.
Our healing stones jewelry also serve as a reminder to stay calm. Stones such as Howlite and Turquoise are known for their soothing and calming effects.
“Nothing gives one person so much advantage over another as to remain always cool and unruffled under all circumstances.” ― Thomas Jefferson
Take a Day for Yourself
Taking time just for you is so good for your soul. If an entire day is too hard to come by, schedule a couple of hours each week. Attend a yoga class, shop for a new outfit or a pair of earrings, get a massage, treat yourself to a fun, bright pedicure. When you take care of yourself, you’re less likely to snap at others.
Treat Yourself!
There’s always ice cream. In fact, this Sunday, July 21st, is National Ice Cream Day! Whatever your flavor, grab a cone, chill out and enjoy each yummy lick. And for those that are lactose intolerant, there’s always dairy-free…or jewelry!
When Summer Heats Up, Keep Your Cool
“Summertime and the livin’s easy.” Until it’s not. So keep your cool and enjoy living your best life. And when you inevitably do lose your cool, don’t stress about it. Forgive yourself and move on.
Join the conversation and let us know how you keep your cool over on our Insta profile @birdstaildesigns.
“Each one has to find his peace from within. And peace to be real must be unaffected by outside circumstances.” ― Mahatma Gandhi
With gratitude each and every day,