The Small Summer Rituals That Bring Me Back to Myself

Summer always comes with a shift in rhythm. Longer days, warmer nights, more spontaneity. But somewhere in the middle of the sunshine and social plans, I’ve learned how easy it is to slip out of my routine—and out of myself. Especially now, in midlife, I don’t bounce back the same way I used to.

So over the past few years, I’ve started to think of summer not as a season to push through but as an opportunity to pause. To restore. I’ve gathered a few rituals—simple ones—that help me stay present and connected, even on the busiest days.

And at the heart of it all? The golden hour.

As the light softens and stretches, the day invites me to exhale. I no longer feel the urge to hustle for the sake of it, I don’t need to prove or produce, I just need to come home to myself.

Here’s what that looks like for me.

Summer Evening Walks with No Destination

My favorite time of day in summer is just before the sun sets. I try to head out for a walk at least three times a week—no fitness goals, no route, no pressure. Just me and the changing light.

I focus on my breathe and try to remember who I am beneath all the noise — beneath the to-do lists, the emails, the roles I slip in and out of all day.

I’ve also noticed that an evening walk can do wonders for your sleep. It helps calm the mind, easing stress and anxiety—two common culprits behind insomnia. Gentle movement also relaxes your muscles and boosts circulation, making it easier for your body to unwind and drift off.

Even better? These calming effects can linger for up to six hours after your walk.

The Ritual Evening Cup

One of the most grounding things I’ve added to my evenings is a simple ritual: making myself a soothing drink and sitting with it in silence. It might sound small, but the impact has been surprisingly profound.

After a day filled with tasks, conversations, and all the little decisions we make without even realising, there’s something deeply comforting about closing the loop with a cup in hand and no expectations.  The act of preparing something warm and calming is my signal to the body: “You’re safe. You’re done. It’s time to soften.”

In summer, I like to switch things up. Lately, I’ve been loving chamomile tea with a fresh sprig of mint from the garden. Some nights it’s warm almond milk with a pinch of saffron and honey. On particularly hot evenings, I’ll steep hibiscus and orange peel, chill it, and pour it over ice with a splash of rosewater.

Whatever the choice, the moment is always the same: I sit down, wrap both hands around the cup, take a slow sip, and exhale. It’s become a kind of punctuation mark at the end of my day—and I honestly look forward to it more than I ever expected.

A Journaling Wind-Down

I used to think journaling was just for planning, problem-solving, or hashing out big life decisions. But in midlife, it’s taken on a completely different meaning for me. It’s become less about fixing and more about feeling—a quiet space where I can reflect, release, and gently realign with myself at the end of the day.

In summer, one of my favourite parts of the evening is curling up with my notebook as the sun begins to set. The way it slows everything down—that makes it feel like the perfect time to write.

I don’t go deep every night. Most of the time, I just ask myself one simple question: What felt good today?

Some nights, it’s a small win at work. Other times, it’s the smell of the garden after rain, or a chat with someone I love. The point isn’t perfection or performance—it’s presence. That gentle pause helps me let go of whatever I don’t need to carry into tomorrow.

Research backs this up, too. A study published in Psychosomatic Medicine found that expressive writing for just 15 to 20 minutes a day can help reduce stress and even boost immune function. Another study from the University of Rochester showed that journaling regularly can help manage anxiety, improve sleep, and support mental clarity—something I’ve absolutely felt firsthand.

I’ve made it a ritual now. I keep a beautiful notebook just for my sunset reflections—linen-bound, with thick pages that feel lovely under a pen. 

This small act of daily reflection has become a grounding force in my life. It’s how I close the day, come back to myself, and make peace with whatever unfolded.

Ending the Day with Summer Body Rituals

I never used to think much about how my body felt at the end of the day—until I hit my forties. Now, I notice everything more clearly: the way tension collects in my shoulders after a busy afternoon, the ache in my feet after standing too long, the subtle fatigue that settles in my hips if I’ve been sitting at my desk for hours.

Our bodies carry so much, often quietly, often without thanks. And somewhere along the way, I realised I hadn’t been showing mine the appreciation it deserves.

These days, I’ve started treating my body like the wise, weathered companion it is. One of the simplest ways I do that is with a short ritual just before bed.

Sometimes it’s a few gentle stretches at sunset—just enough to roll out the day and breathe into the places that feel tight. Other times, I’ll lay out my yoga mat near the window, where I can still catch the last bit of light, and move slowly through a few poses.

But the thing that’s made the biggest difference for me is touch. I keep a small bottle of body oil on my nightstand—something with lavender or frankincense, depending on my mood—and every evening before slipping under the covers, I take a minute to massage my feet.

Just slow, intentional strokes, no rush. I always think of it as a quiet thank-you. “Thank you for holding me up today. Thank you for walking me through whatever I had to face”.

This little practice helps me come back to myself. It soothes my nervous system, grounds my energy, and signals to my body that the day is done. And there’s actually science to support this—studies show that self-massage can lower cortisol (our stress hormone) and increase oxytocin, the hormone associated with calm and connection.

It doesn’t take much—just a few moments of kindness, consistently offered, but the impact has been profound.

My Favourite Summer Ritual: Sitting in Silence

Sitting in silence wasn’t always easy for me. In fact, for a long time, it made me uncomfortable. Stillness used to feel like a void I had to fill—with noise, with movement, with productivity. If I wasn’t doing something, I felt like I was wasting time.

But something shifted as I moved through midlife. Slowly, I began to understand that silence isn’t empty—it’s full of exactly what I need.

During summer, I like lighting a candle and find a spot to sit—sometimes on the porch, sometimes by an open window, occasionally curled up in a chair facing west so I can watch the sky melt from gold to indigo. I just sit and breathe.

Even five minutes of stillness changes how I feel. It softens the edges of my day. It reconnects me to a sense of peace that, honestly, I didn’t know I was missing until I found it.

Now, stillness isn’t something I avoid—it’s something I protect. It’s become one of the most nourishing parts of my routine, especially at sunset, when the light stretches long and golden, and the world seems to say, “Pause. Just for a moment.”

And so I do.