How is your summer going? I hope you’re getting at least some sunshine, though the UK has been experiencing some very unseasonable weather this August! This can make such a difference to our mood and motivation levels, particularly when we’ve been holding on for our summer holidays and counting on warm sunshine, only to find that it’s cold, damp and grey outside.
We were thoroughly spoilt with hot dry days last year so the contrast can add to our disappointment. All those plans we’d made for a ‘staycation’ or day trips with the kids during the holidays, might have ended up being a bit of a wash-out.
Many of us work hard during the winter months, thinking that we’ll be able to take some ‘down-time’ in the summer: images of sitting on a beach, or park, or just in the garden, sipping a cool drink, and soaking up those warming rays, are what keep us going during those cold months…
We can end up running our batteries down, promising ourselves that we’ll top them up again in the warmer months…
At least, that’s how I’ve been feeling. We moved here in October of last year on the day that storm Callum arrived and ended the 5 glorious months of sunshine. We then spent the winter working hard to fix leaks and get the place set up for ourselves and the horses. I know that I, for one, was hoping for a nice long summer to recharge and have more time just to enjoy being here, before the challenging weather returned.
But these things don’t always go to plan, do they!
So, what can you do if you’re finding that you’re sitting indoors feeling depressed at the wet, grey view from your window?
This can actually be an opportunity to go within and to rest deeply. Sitting in the sunshine obviously feels amazing, and does great things for our wellbeing, but cooler, greyer weather can call us to a kind of ‘hibernation’ and it can good to take advantage of this, listen to our bodies and relax into that deep state of rest.
Also, if we’re not careful, sunny days can draw us into a different kind of busy-ness, with parties, weddings, barbeques, gardening, outdoor repairs, and so on. All of these can be fun but it’s important to balance them out by taking a break every now and then.
And rainy weather is the perfect opportunity / excuse!
I know that in my work I meet so many people who are frazzled and run-down. They have an endless To Do list that just seems to get longer and their holiday, or time off, is a distant dream that keeps getting put off to another day.
But remember that:
And…
So, on those ‘not very summery’ summer days, don’t despair! Try not to feel frustrated or upset at the weather, because after all it’s not something we can change. Instead, use the time for some self-care:
- book a massage, or some Bowen or aromatherapy
- have a session in a jacuzzi or float tank
- do some yoga, mindfulness or meditation
- read a good book
- or just have a lovely, indulgent afternoon nap!
And remember:
I’m sure you can come up with lots of other things to do! Please feel free to share your suggestions in the comments below.
If you struggle with taking this time out for yourself, and some little inner voice is driving you to keep going even though you’re exhausted, then I can help. Together we can explore where that little voice comes from and how to address it, so that it can let go and give you the peace and permission you need in order to fully rest and recharge. After all, this will mean that you can function much more effectively and enjoy greater wellbeing. You’ll also have the energy to include those fun things in your life that you’ve just been too tired / busy for previously.
If you’d like to have a chat, you can contact me by phone, email or through my website:
- robyn@equenergy.com
- 07980669303
- https://www.equenergy.com/
