You know that saying you teach what you need to learn? So, so true for me.
Here's the deal. I have a serious love/hate relationship with summer. This is a problem because I live somewhere where summer is a fact of life pretty much from April to November. So I've been spending a lot of time this summer trying to make peace with it.
One the love side I've got my teacher husband free from the constraints of going to work every day and therefore more papa coverage for the little one, I've got places to go and people to see and time to do it, the endless summer light, steam train rides through the redwood trees in Tilden, summer fruit, tomatoes that taste like tomatoes, the slower pace of life, the evenings in the swimming pool and the playground first thing in the morning before it gets too hot. And let's not forget reading and eating casual meals outside and taking friends to lunch in restaurants while the girl naps with her papa. This is otherwise known as my Summer of Intentionality life.
On the dark side of summer I've got: an easily over-heated body, a seriously short-temper, all kinds of irritability, anger, impatience, judgement, criticism of self and others, perfectionism flare ups, and acne because nothing like a giant pimple to make your summer outfit shine. (See what I mean about love/hate?)
How do I make peace with the summer heat and all its unflattering characteristics and still make the most of the season?
First, know that lots of people suffer in the summer. Even teachers with lots of time away from work.
Second, simple lifestyle choices can go a long way toward calming the dark side of the season.
9 Ways to Cool It Down This Summer
Don’t get heated up to start with. So simple. Avoid the outdoors in the hottest part of the day and slow regular activities. In our go, go, go culture simply resisting the urge to keep up with all our regular activities can feel difficult, however it is much easier to keep your cool when you haven’t ever lost it.
Look to nature (and Europeans) as a guide. Be sure to rise early while the day is still cool, get out and get stuff done before the day heats up and retreat back to your quiet, calm, cool house in the heat of the day. Eat your biggest meal at lunch time, take a rest and connect with family and once it starts cooling down again, then engage with the outside world once again.
Eat cooling foods like watermelon, grapes, avocado, coconut, mango, dates and avoid spicy and fried foods. Source: Eat Taste Heal: An Ayurvedic Guidebook and Cookbook for Modern Living
Leave the ice in the freezer! Drink room temperature or slightly cooler liquids to stay cool and hydrated. In Chinese medicine it is believed super cold temperature liquids actually make the body warmer because the body has to create more energy (heat) to process the cold.
Take a napduring the hottest part of the day. Our pets are on to something with this.
Hit the waters. A dip in the pool, river, ocean or simply taking a cool bath can help return the body to a more comfortable temperature. I’ve also used a damp, chilled washcloth around my neck and filled a simple plastic tub with water from the hose and put my feet in it while sitting under an umbrella outside while my daughter played.
Wear cool colored, natural fiber clothing. It really does make a difference! Since I’ve traded my all black year round wardrobe in for a sea or blues, greens and whites, I’ve experienced a cooling shift.
When all else fails, hit the multiplex and see a movie or two. Sometimes the heat is unrelenting, so make peace with it and go to the movies. Be sure to bring a sweater or lap blanket to combat the frigid temps. Be sure to eat before you go to avoid the temptation of the snack bar.
How about you? Do you suffer from the darker side of summer? How do you keep cool in the summer?
