Creating Healthy Summer Rhythms

Stop working to achieve habits and step into rhythms. Lasting change is found here and in this post, you’ll learn five ways to set healthy summer rhythms.

Summer is here and I forget that it often flips me on my head. I look forward to it, I dream about it, I long for it and then boom it’s here, it gets crazy real fast and then poof it’s done.

All my plans and dreams and hopes turned into a hundred thousand, “hurry up’s” and “let’s go!” Only to sit in the car and drive from activity to activity basically living out of my car.

Not that I mind any of it, the frustrating part is finding time to complete my plans of slow mornings, cleaning up my diet, getting more workouts in, hitting the bucket list and my main priority quite time daily.

But more than anything, my soul needs time to chill. To slow down and soak it in. To let it be.

So how do you get it all done? How do you find that balance and really live this summer?

That’s what we’re breaking down on the podcast today. Creating healthy summer rhythms that you can actually achieve. To go along with it I’ve created a free Summer Rhythm’s Guide to help you pinpoint exactly what you want and then create a schedule that works to reach this.

Grab the guide below. 

Then head on over and check out the podcast where we dive into creating healthy summer rhythms as well as answering some of your most asked questions.

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creating rhythms

I like the word rhythm. It seems more fluid and enjoyable than talking about habits. Not that there is anything wrong with those, it just brings more ease to my mind. Creating a rhythm seems more desirable.

So what exactly is a rhythm? Technically the definition of rhythm is; a strong, regular, repeated pattern of movement or sound. I’d say a lifestyle rhythm is much the same. An activity, an event, a lifestyle you do without thinking, repeatedly over time.

But where does the strong part come in? More than a habit which tends to be a forced activity, a rhythm has a deeper connection to your mind and soul. More than a habit a rhythm is a way of life. Rhythms come with the natural ebb and flow of your day, your present situation and the seasons of life.

It’s not the usual wishful, dreaming and yet frustrating pattern that can occur when we’re so caught up in habits. It’s not about creating the perfect life, the best balance or living with the all-or-none mentality.

A rhythm is simply your way of life that has a deeper connection with underlying meaning creating a nurturing life that suits you.

It’s definitely sounding more difficult than it actually is. In fact, given these rhythms have such deep meaning, they can actually be adapted much faster. But the key is attaching an emotion to the activity. Understanding how the rhythms you want to create can nurture your mind, body, and soul.

I want to talk about five ways to start creating healthy rhythms. But don’t forget to download this free guide to walk you through creating your own healthy summer rhythms.

1. appreciate life’s natural rhythms

Life has a way of sneaking up on us. Just when you get into the swing of things, something changes. It always happens and never fails, especially when you’re just getting the feel of a new healthy norm. But it’s in these moments of change that have a way of breaking people down.

Rather than letting these changes get the best of you, accept life’s natural rhythms. Accept the natural changes of life with the changing of seasons. Accept the totally opposite schedules between summer and school and utilize the longer daylight hours in the summer and making more room for rest and relaxation in the winter.

There really is nothing static about life. Instead of waiting for a normal pattern, start embracing the season of life you’re in and revamp your rhythms based on them.

2. live in sync with your current life stage

I’ve always been a person who’s chased the next stage of life. I constantly fell back on excuses like waiting for my kids to be older, to walk on their own, all to be in school, and even for our finances to be better. But I realized that chasing does nothing but increase the anxiety and decrease my productivity.

Creating healthy rhythms means recognizing where you are at, accepting it and using it. There are only two ways to create change, time and work, sometimes both are an option and other time’s just one. But all require you to live in the present stage of life. To use the time, the resources, and live for the livelihood of now.

3. let go of unrealistic expectations

Creating healthy rhythms means you no longer have to live with the all-or-none mindset. You can throw away the perfectionist mindset and step into purpose. Doing everything with purpose and on purpose.

Truth is, it’s not realistic to be perfect at everything, even that Whole 30 diet you have committed to for 30 days. Instead of beating yourself up for sneaking a piece of chocolate, allow some grace and stick to your rhythms. Remember the rhythms are less about being perfect and more about living with purpose.

4. seize opportunities

You don’t know unless you try. It’s an age-old motto and sometimes probably not the best advice. But too often we live with our heads in a rut, doing the same mundane tasks day in and day out that we miss plenty of opportunities.

When you step into your rhythms you no longer live strapped to what you have to do and start to live in-tuned to what you get to do. You no longer are challenging the next stage of life which opens you up to the opportunity to experience what’s here, right in front of you.

When you end the chase you can slow down and live the adventure of the present.

5. know what you want to nurture

What are you craving? It could be food, sure but what else are you craving? Excitement, relationships, adventure, health, a challenge? Knowing what you’re craving in your soul can help you see your desires. It is in these desires that you create your rhythms.

We have to take time yearly or even seasonally to understand what it is that we crave. Then we can transition our life to suit our desires creating nourishing rhythms.

how to build rhythms

Building rhythms begin with knowing where you are, right now and understanding where you want to go. To know how you spend your time, what you eat, how you exercise, what your thoughts are and how healthy your relationships are. Yes, you have to go in deep.

Likewise, you need to really understand what it is you live for. What is your personal life mission statement? Then you can start to overlap the two and figure out what you’re trying to chase, where you’re living outside of your season and begin to let go of the unnecessary expectations and step into opportunity.

THIS GUIDE will walk you through creating your own healthy rhythms, which have been critical for enjoying and cherishing my summers.

nourishing rhythms

To give you some ideas of nourishing rhythms you could start to create for your life, I’ve listed a few of my favorites below:

1. Prioritize sleep – It doesn’t mean you have to get more, it just means you get enough and you schedule it. Aim to go to bed and wake up at the same time daily. Getting in a rhythm of sleep.
2. Take a sabbatical – A day of rest created by God himself. I guess He does know us best and if He thinks we need a day of rest, then we need a day of rest. Take one day off, no social media, no e-mail, no work, just fun, play, and relaxation. You may think you don’t have time, but you don’t have time not too. Get into a weekly rhythm of taking one day off a week.
3. Drink well – Our bodies are made up of mostly water, given this, we need adequate amounts of hydration. But I don’t know if you’re like me, it’s easy to forget your thirst mechanisms and just not drink. Get into a daily rhythm of your normal thirst quenching drinks and carrying it with you everywhere.
4. Move more – Exercise can be a tricky one. We’ve been told for so long that duration and intensity are the end all be all. But what if we get outside of that box and step into a rhythm of movement. Of finding something you enjoy, something that fits your season and choose to do more of that.
5. Eat Well – Yes, you can even create healthy rhythms around eating well. Rather than constantly worry about how many calories or grams of carbs get to know what feels good to your body. Not what necessarily tastes good {although that is a perk} but what feels good. Set a rhythm around eating foods that are nourishing to your body and make a commitment to focus on that rather than numbers. A good place to start is simply by creating a rhythm around one meal and then working yourself up.
6. Play Hard – The key to preventing burn-out and getting more joy out of life is playing. Taking time to set the work down, let the laundry pile up and get out and live. Create a rhythm around play time. Setting it and sticking to it.
7. Soul Food – The most important of all rhythms is nourishing food for your soul. This gives the very purpose of life and provides hope even in the present moment. Create daily rhythms around your spiritual life and disciplines of reading, fasting, praying and worshiping.

freebie

If you’re worried about summer, about missing out, not getting enough done or counting down the days until school starts, I’d encourage you to check out my free guide to creating nourishing summer rhythms. It’s not the end all be all but it’s certainly a tool that can help you live with more purpose and create healthy rhythms that change the way you live life.

Grab the guide below. 

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