How I'm staying sane this summer
Summer 2025 is looking like: AI support, beach weekends, buttered dates, magnesium supplements, and 8:45 PM lights out
Hi bb’s. Summer is here and while it’s certainly beautiful, it can also be absolutely. jam. packed. (and by jam, I mean the seasonal strawberry rhubarb kind.)
Between packed schedules, nonstop social plans, the pressure to make the most of nice weather, travel, and looming deadlines like a book coming out, summer can feel like a pinball machine. And you’re the pinball.
The worst part about summer stress isn’t the lack of sleep, the low-grade anxiety, or the constant rushing from one place to the next. It’s that if we’re not careful, we’ll miss out on this precious time of year and its fleeting beauty.
Stress steals our ability to connect with ourselves and others—and to me, that’s what summer is all about: more people, more love, more fun, more rest. The irony isn’t lost on me that, especially in New York, everyone seems to be in a mad rush to relax. Just look at the weekend holiday traffic on the BQE!
To me, managing stress is about staying present. I want to be awake and aware for every moment of Summer 2025 (and at 6.5 years sober, I’m primed for raw dogging reality!) While sobriety keeps me clear, stress can make me feel like I’m totally spun out, and not in a good way.
As we head into the warmer months, it feels especially important to take care of myself and others, so I put it all into a list for you to come back to whenever things feel a little too big. I think you’ll find some inspiration in here, and at the very least, a snack idea or two.
1. One long walk, every day
I take Samson on a long walk in the morning or early afternoon, every day, without fail. The walk is usually between 6,000-10,000 steps, which benefits both of us. Instead of three short walks per day, if I give Samson one nice, long, uninterrupted walk in the morning, he’ll pretty much sleep the rest of the day. This is one of the perks of having a dog who is almost 7 and slowing down. My body and Samson look forward to these daily walks. I usually put on a podcast (I love Every Outfit), call my mom, or listen to a DJ set on SoundCloud (currently loving this one). I’m always ready to kickstart my day after.
2. Making my own meals
There’s something about a home-cooked meal that just grounds me. When things feel hectic, making my own food gives me a little boost—body, mind, and wallet. I usually stop working around 5:30 to make dinner for myself and my man. It’s become a ritual I really look forward to. Lately, breakfast has been something like a Dam Good English Muffin with avocado and cottage cheese (fast and easy). Lunch is usually leftovers or a big salad with things like tinned fish, lentils/beans, cheese, veggies, and crackers to keep me full. But dinner? Dinner is always fresh, always intentional, and always delicious. Also, no phones at the table. (Below: Daphne Oz Chocolate chip cookies, Poppy’s Brooklyn buttermilk biscuit,
coconut-rhubarb jam-matcha latte)
3. Little snacks
Snack time is very important! Summer means longer days and later dinners, so we gotta stay fueled through the endless stretches of daylight. Lately, I’ve been reaching for the following combinations: medjool dates stuffed with Irish salted butter, sourdough pretzels + cottage cheese, apples + cheddar, full-fat Greek yogurt with chocolate chips + banana.