While summer is often thought of as the most laid-back time of year, this one may be anything but. A tumultuous presidential campaign, concerns about our changing climate, and conflicts overseas are just a few of the things causing people to worry and fret. For many, relaxing and enjoying summer might take a little extra work.
If you are struggling to unwind and slow down, learning more about mindfulness and the health benefits linked to it might be the first step. Exploring a few ways to manage stress might also help you make the most of your summer.
What Is Mindfulness?
In simplest terms, being mindful means living in the present moment and not borrowing trouble for what may—or may not—happen in the future. It is making a conscious effort to quiet the mind and focus on only one thing at a time.
Centering your thoughts may help you avoid feeling overwhelmed by events that are out of your control. It can keep you from getting caught up in a cycle of overreacting to the big and small struggles we often encounter throughout the day.
Benefits of Staying in the Moment
By making a concentrated effort to remain focused on the moment at hand, you’ll likely reap a variety of benefits. A few of them include:
- Lower risk for depression
- Reduced stress and anxiety
- Boost in spirit and mood
- Improved ability to focus and stay positive
Each of these can lead to a sense of peace and calm that improves your overall well-being.
If you need some tips for quieting your mind this summer, we have a few for you to consider.
Ways to Relax and Stay Centered in the Summer
Plant and nurture an herb garden: Gardening can be a great pastime at any age, including during your retirement years. Seniors have many options to try, from flowers to vegetables to herbs. In addition to being healthy seasonings for grilling and cooking, herbs have aromatherapeutic benefits. For example, the smell of rosemary is believed to lower stress and improve concentration. Lavender is known for its calming powers and ability to help you sleep better. Planting and nurturing an herb garden can be as easy as buying a few plants at your local garden center and finding a home for them in a sunny space in your yard or patio.
Bond with our feathered friends: People are often surprised by how satisfying bird-watching can be. It’s even been found to help soothe agitation and restlessness in people living with dementia. And birding is an accessible activity even for those with mobility challenges. A pair of binoculars, a notepad or journal, and a field guide to birds might be all you need to get started. Bird Watching 101: A Guide for Beginners from Audubon is a good resource for learning more.
Try backyard plein air painting: You don’t have to be an experienced artist to pack up a few supplies and paint in the great outdoors. Even setting up a paint-by-numbers project on a card table on the porch or patio will suffice. By keeping your focus on the joy of painting and not sweating over how perfect it looks, you’ll likely achieve a sense of mindfulness.
Set up an outdoor meditation spot: If you haven’t tried meditation before, summer can be a good time to give it a go. Forget all you’ve seen in the movies—it’s not as complicated and difficult as you might think. It can be as simple as downloading an app to your phone, finding a bench or quiet corner in your yard, and closing your eyes and being still. Two apps that earn good reviews from beginners are Ten Percent Happier and Calm. Each one offers a free seven-day trial so you can see how well you like it.
Subscribe to the PSL Learning Center
We tackle a variety of wellness topics, from nutrition and exercise to diversity and volunteerism, in the Waypoints Learning Center. The best way to stay updated and receive new articles sent directly to your inbox after publication is by subscribing to our learning center! And no worries about sharing your personal information. We will never sell it or spam you with unwanted emails.
