Booked and Busy this Summer? This is How I’m Finding Harmony (And How You Can Too)

Summer has always been one of my favorite seasons. It brings so many things I love: warm weather, long walks, rounds of golf, fun with friends. Now, as a real adult, it brings a time of even more celebration: weddings, dinner parties, weekend getaways, live music, barbeques and more. There’s something about summer that makes life feel lighter, freer, more social and I thrive off that energy and connection.

And you may assume that as a Health & Wellness Coach championing a healthy lifestyle, proactive stress management, and mindfulness that I have it all figured out. Wrong!

With that fun also comes a different kind of pressure: packed calendars, disrupted routines, unpredictable travel days, and not enough quiet moments to recharge. I’ve found myself caught between wanting to say yes to everything and knowing that my nervous system needs a slower pace, too.

So the honest truth is that this summer, I’m trying to find ~harmony~ somewhere in the middle.

I’m giving myself permission to fully enjoy the weddings and social events, to have the spritzes without guilt, and to treat dancing for hours or playing eighteen holes of golf as movement. I’m also making an effort to take time for myself—because feeling good in my body and mind is what allows me to actually be present for the rest.

Here’s what’s helping me find balance in a booked and busy summer season and what might support you, too:

1. Start the day with something that’s just for you

Whether it’s a few deep breaths, stretching while making coffee, or a quick 20-minute workout in my apartment, starting the day with intention grounds me. On busier mornings, I’ll still step outside for a short walk or take a few deep breaths before I reach for my phone or laptop.

Try this: You don’t need a full hour to take care of yourself. Pick one thing: breathwork, a body scan, or a morning walk and let that be enough.

2. Shift the way you think about movement

In the summer, my movement looks different. Some weeks it’s less formal workouts and more long walks, rounds of golf, or stretching on the floor in my pajamas. I’ve found the importance of giving myself grace with unstructured movement in the summer.

Try this: Think of movement as an energy tool, not just a fitness goal. What kind of movement would feel good to your body today?

3. Build in anchors, even when you travel

My schedule’s been all over the place lately between events, travel, and work, but there are a few practices I bring with me wherever I go: a morning walk, nourishing breakfast, and my HeartMath® breathing. These little anchors help me regulate no matter where I land.

Try this: Choose two or three things that help you feel grounded, and treat them like non-negotiables that you can adapt even when you’re away from home.

4. Make the choice to find more joy

I needed to learn the hard way that life isn’t just about routine, structure, and achieving goals. Joy is a choice we make for ourselves in the little things we do. Responding with laughter instead of anger, taking a stroll with no destination, having fun for the sake of fun. I’ve decided these choices are essential to my happiness and success.

Try this: Ask yourself: What’s bringing me joy right now? Then make space for more of that.

5. Check in with yourself (often)

Balance and harmony in my lifestyle doesn’t happen by accident. It happens when I ask myself: How am I really doing? What do I need more of? Less of? Sometimes that answer is movement. Other times it’s silence. Or connection. Or a night in.

Try this: After a social weekend, take five minutes to check in. Journal a few lines, stretch, or do nothing at all—but pause and listen to what your body is telling you.

To summarize, you don’t have to choose between enjoying summer or caring for yourself. You can do both with a little intention and a lot of compassion.

This season, I’m allowing myself to dance, drink, laugh, travel—and then come home to breathwork, morning sun, and my clients. 

Looking for a reset or support in staying grounded this summer? I'd love to work together. Learn more about Grata Wellness coaching or join me in NYC at Mindful Moments Summer Fridays or at Casa Cipriani Back to Wellness evenings July 1st and July 15th (reach out for booking info). 

Here’s to embracing the fullness of summer, without seeking perfection, while staying rooted in what helps you feel like you.