Summer Isn't Relaxing for Everyone

Ah, summer. Everyone's favorite season... right?

It's supposed to be sunshine, vacations, pool days, BBQs, and making memories. We're told to get outside, enjoy the weather, soak up the sunshine, and make the most of every long day.

But what if summer doesn't feel relaxing to you?

What if it feels exhausting?

Longer days can be wonderful, but they can also be challenging. Not everyone enjoys bright sunlight. Some people burn easily, have skin conditions that make sun exposure difficult, or struggle to sleep when it's still light outside at bedtime.

Then there's the heat.

Sweating can be uncomfortable enough on its own, but for many people it can become a sensory nightmare. The feeling of sweat running down your back, clothes sticking to your skin, or humidity making everything feel damp and heavy can push an already stressed nervous system closer to overload.

And don't even get me started on mosquitoes.

One of my favorite things about winter is that there aren't any. Summer finally arrives, I get excited to spend more time outside, and suddenly I'm swatting bugs, scratching bites, and listening to the constant buzzing around my ears.

Even activities that are supposed to be relaxing can become overwhelming.

Beach days are bright, loud, crowded, and hot. Sand gets everywhere. Wind blows your hair into your face. Sunscreen feels sticky. Your hair feels strange after swimming. The sensory input just keeps piling up.

And that's before we talk about the pressure.

Summer often comes with an unspoken expectation that we're supposed to do more.

Work all day. Keep up with the yard. Grow the garden. Take the kids to activities. Plan the vacation. Attend the BBQ. Go to the softball game. Exercise outside. Keep the house clean. Make memories. Be social. Stay productive.

Somehow we're expected to do everything we do during the winter months, plus all the extra summer activities too.

No wonder so many people burn out.

From a Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective, we're currently in a Fire season during a Yang Fire Horse year. That's a lot of fire energy.

And whether you follow TCM or not, many people are feeling it.

I'm seeing it in practice every day. People are overwhelmed. Especially the helpers, healers, caregivers, teachers, healthcare workers, and the people trying to hold everything together for everyone else.

Many are quietly asking themselves the same question:

"How am I supposed to fit one more thing into my schedule?"

The pressure to enjoy summer can become its own form of toxic positivity. It leaves no room for the people who are struggling, exhausted, overstimulated, grieving, burned out, or simply needing something different this season.

So when I talk about embracing joy, play, whimsy, and slowing down this summer, I'm not suggesting that you add more things to your calendar.

I'm actually suggesting the opposite.

Do less.

Choose the things that genuinely bring you joy.

Give yourself permission to skip something that doesn't.

Maybe that means fishing.

Maybe it's reading in a hammock.

Maybe it's eating watermelon on the porch.

Maybe it's sitting by the water and doing absolutely nothing.

Water, in Traditional Chinese Medicine, helps balance Fire. And sometimes the best medicine isn't another task, another self-improvement project, or another obligation.

Sometimes it's simply creating space.

Space to rest.

Space to breathe.

Space to remember that your worth is not determined by how much you accomplish this summer.

So if summer isn't relaxing for you, you're not doing it wrong.

And if you're feeling overwhelmed, perhaps the answer isn't figuring out how to do more.

Perhaps it's deciding what you can lovingly let go of.

🌿

If you're struggling with burnout, stress, sleep issues, nervous system dysregulation, or simply feeling overwhelmed by life right now, acupuncture and naturopathic care can help support your body through the season.

And if you'd like more seasonal wellness support, my free self-paced summer mini-course, Bloom to Fruit, is available now through the courses page on my website.