A Midsummer Reset

July 19th.

Summer is in full swing, and so is my routine!

For me, summer is the perfect season to realign with myself and set up for success on my goals throughout the year. The air is warm, the parks are full, and there's something so sweet about a little time at home. This summer has been my busiest yet, so finding time to do things for myself has taken more discipline than my typical leisurely season. June was a period of settlement for me. I got home from a big trip, and within the week, I had started an internship and a full-time nanny job. The month felt wobbly when it came to getting myself on track, but July rolled around quickly, and by the premier jour I felt up to speed. It is easy to let creativity and imagination fall through the cracks, but once you grasp them, the pleasure is bountiful. Using my hands to create is how I would spend all of my hours if I could. Whether it's in the kitchen trying an extravagant pastry recipe or simply stitching fabrics together to create something wonderful, it is my favorite pastime. I find that the simple, ordinarily crowned, monotonous actions of whisking ingredients or sewing a pattern give me the allowance of interior thoughts without the infiltration of exterior influence. 

I encourage you, my readers, to intentionally set aside some time to work on your passions this summer, whether in the form of ritualizing afternoon tea, a bubble bath, or working on something with your hands, do so without a screen. Something is rewarding about being gentle with yourself and taking a breath to just be. If you find yourself wrapped up in the chaos and inclusion of more time may be of absence, use your morning commute, or getting ready time as a reset. It does not take hours on end to envelop some deliberateness. 

Be gentle on yourself, focus on your goals, and do so with intention.

My Reset Recommendations:

• Visit your local library, pick out a cookbook, find an exciting recipe, and create it!

• Purge your closet, find something you would never reach for, and sew it into a new staple

• Take a bubble bath, light your favorite candle, and indulge in a magazine

• Host a tea party, there doesn't need to be a big crowd, just you and your favorite person (dogs included)

• After waking up, have 5 minutes of sun on your face before reaching for your screen

My Favorite Blueberry Pancakes https://pinchofyum.com/fluffiest-blueberry-pancakes