I relate to this so much!! As a fellow New Englander and also someone who needs a lot of quiet/downtime. After I moved to Philly, my mindset around summer completely changed. The summers here are so f'in hot and humid that I can't help but need more downtime. I stopped feeling so guilty about it once I realized that summer is my hibernation season here. When it's 95 degrees with an ungodly percent of humidity, you bet I'll be binging a show in my cool, air-conditioned apartment. Even when it's not absurdly hot, I still need to be mindful of how busy I am. Something I heard recently that I've been trying to heed is to manage your energy not your time. I feel like I can only do one energetically intensive activity a day, and the rest of the time I'll be recouping my energy. Otherwise I won't really be fully present if I'm operating at low capacity.
I recently found in an old journal a Martha Beck quote: "Rest until you feel like playing, then play until you feel like resting." Trust that your body knows what it needs <3
i remember a very specific moment in NYC one summer... it seemed like everyone was outside. i could see them from my living room window romping on the streets, and it made me feel confused and ashamed for not being out there, "living it up."
but i realized it was a weird perception bias i was experiencing, and one that was hard to get around. how many more people were hidden away in their apartments in that moment, enjoying a movie on their laptop, some air conditioning, quiet and a book? and i just... couldn't see them? just because i saw a bunch of people on the street didn't mean that was the reality of the city in its entirety... much remained hidden behind doors and buildings. it's almost like the "outside" during summer becomes an instagram highlight reel, if you will. mellower human moments remaining out of view. anyway. i found this comforting. less FOMO indeed... <3
A loud yes (!) to all of this. I like to take naps and will try and remind myself of getting some good naps in this summer despite the voice inside of me screaming to go to the beach instead.
I relate to this so much!! As a fellow New Englander and also someone who needs a lot of quiet/downtime. After I moved to Philly, my mindset around summer completely changed. The summers here are so f'in hot and humid that I can't help but need more downtime. I stopped feeling so guilty about it once I realized that summer is my hibernation season here. When it's 95 degrees with an ungodly percent of humidity, you bet I'll be binging a show in my cool, air-conditioned apartment. Even when it's not absurdly hot, I still need to be mindful of how busy I am. Something I heard recently that I've been trying to heed is to manage your energy not your time. I feel like I can only do one energetically intensive activity a day, and the rest of the time I'll be recouping my energy. Otherwise I won't really be fully present if I'm operating at low capacity.
I recently found in an old journal a Martha Beck quote: "Rest until you feel like playing, then play until you feel like resting." Trust that your body knows what it needs <3
love this and relate.
i remember a very specific moment in NYC one summer... it seemed like everyone was outside. i could see them from my living room window romping on the streets, and it made me feel confused and ashamed for not being out there, "living it up."
but i realized it was a weird perception bias i was experiencing, and one that was hard to get around. how many more people were hidden away in their apartments in that moment, enjoying a movie on their laptop, some air conditioning, quiet and a book? and i just... couldn't see them? just because i saw a bunch of people on the street didn't mean that was the reality of the city in its entirety... much remained hidden behind doors and buildings. it's almost like the "outside" during summer becomes an instagram highlight reel, if you will. mellower human moments remaining out of view. anyway. i found this comforting. less FOMO indeed... <3
A loud yes (!) to all of this. I like to take naps and will try and remind myself of getting some good naps in this summer despite the voice inside of me screaming to go to the beach instead.