Summer has a particular energy. The days are long, the sun is high, and everything around us seems to say: relax, enjoy, take it all in.
But for many of us, it’s become just another performance review. There’s pressure to be productive, to “make the most of it,” as they say. Use the time wisely. Recharge. Reorganize. Reset.
What if that pressure is exactly what’s draining our energy and creativity? What if summer isn’t a time to do more, but a rare chance to slow down and reconnect with what really matters?
If your mind feels stuck in overdrive, you’re not alone.
Lately, I’ve seen a pattern among clients, teams, families and yes, in myself. We’re moving fast, thinking hard and juggling more than usual. But instead of feeling energized, we’re exhausted, scattered, stalled and disconnected from the moment.
Whether it’s at the cottage, in the garden or just trying to keep up with a growing list of personal goals, many of us are pushing too hard to wring meaning from every hour.
Here’s the paradox: the harder we try to squeeze value from this season, the less we actually get from it.
Let’s be blunt: your brain might be burned out.
Ask yourself:
- Are your best ideas showing up while walking, showering or half-asleep (and not in front of your keyboard)?
- Do you feel guilty if you’re not “making progress”?
- Are you uncomfortable with silence or unstructured time?
If you’re nodding, the problem isn’t a lack of effort. It’s a lack of space. And no, the answer isn’t another app, habit tracker or time-blocking strategy. What we need is stillness, not as a reward but as a foundation.
Stillness isn’t laziness. It’s fuel.
We’ve been trained to treat rest like a pit stop: short, strategic and justified only by the hustle that follows. But that mindset is backwards. Real rest, the kind that isn’t squeezed in between meetings, isn’t where momentum ends. It’s where it begins.
And this isn’t just poetic. It’s physiological.
Rest sparks creativity. These quiet, open moments are not a luxury; they’re where clarity returns and ideas begin.
Research into the vagus nerve, a key part of the nervous system that helps regulate stress, mood and emotional connection, shows that we function better when we slow down. Eye contact, laughter, movement, and even time with pets aren’t indulgences. They’re powerful resets that help us think clearly and connect meaningfully.
Giving yourself permission to slow down might feel strange at first, especially if you’re used to measuring your days by output. But that discomfort is often a sign that rest is exactly what you need.
So this summer, stop trying to earn your rest. Just take it.
You don’t need to conquer a reading list, reorganize the garage or chart your five-year plan under a patio umbrella. You need to be here, grounded in the present. Let summer do what it’s meant to do: pull you into the moment, not into a to-do list.
Try this instead:
- Walk without your phone.
- Doodle with no agenda.
- Let a conversation wander.
- Watch clouds like a kid with nowhere to be.
The world isn’t asking you to hustle this summer. It’s giving you permission to slow down.
And that, it turns out, is more than enough.
Faith Wood is a professional speaker, author, and certified professional behaviour analyst. Before her career in speaking and writing, she served in law enforcement, which gave her a unique perspective on human behaviour and motivations. Faith is also known for her work as a , with a focus on thrillers and suspense. Her background in law enforcement and understanding of human behaviour often play a significant role in her writing.
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