Enjoyed Summer’s Slow Down? Let’s Keep It Going

In Summer, I slow down, do you? The days feel longer, life often feels less pressured, and our minds have more space to wander. This wandering—sometimes referred to as the Default Mode Network (DMN) in neuroscience—is a fascinating part of our brain. It has a two-part nature: on the one hand, in that daydreaming space, we can be more creative, more easily solve problems, and find insight. On the other hand, it can pull us into loops of worry, self-criticism, or regret.

(This is why slowing down in the summer can actually feel hard—more time for introspection can bring up things we’ve avoided during the busier months.)

Learning to notice our thoughts without being swept away by them is at the heart of mindfulness. As Cory Muscara puts it:

"Mindfulness is the practice of being with our experience rather than in our experience, in a way that is spacious, curious, and heartfelt."

I like to think of it as watching a river from the shore. You can observe the currents, the ripples, and the sunlight dancing on the water—without being tossed around in the rapids. In life, this perspective allows us to notice the beauty, joy, and subtle insights that we often miss when we’re “in the river,” caught in the rush of thoughts and responsibilities.

Just yesterday, I had one of those small but unexpected joys: a baby deer wandered into my garden (though admittedly, it was eating my flowers—grrr). Still, it was a gentle reminder that life’s simple, beautiful moments are right in front of us—we just often miss them in the hurry of a busy life.

But let’s be honest: sitting with ourselves is harder than it sounds. Our minds crave constant stimulation—scrolling, planning, doing. When we try to simply be, the restlessness can feel overwhelming. That’s why mindfulness is called a practice: it’s not something that comes naturally at first. It’s a skill, like learning a musical instrument or training a muscle—and it’s so much easier to start with a teacher and a supportive community.

I was reminded of this when a friend recently completed a two-week Vipassana retreat—silent meditation for up to ten hours a day, no talking, reading, or distractions. Listening to their experience, I wondered: Could I do that?

Blaise Pascal observed in 1650: "All of humanity’s problems stem from one’s inability to sit quietly in a room alone."

Our culture trains us to fill every moment with activity. But the true gift comes when we allow ourselves to pause and simply be. In those moments, we notice the subtle joys, gain clarity, and allow creativity to flourish.

Slowing down isn’t about doing less in a productivity sense—it’s about experiencing more of life, even in the smallest moments. Mindfulness teaches us to meet life with curiosity, openness, and heart. And sometimes, that’s all we need to remember that life is full of little wonders, waiting quietly to be noticed.

✨ Want to keep that summer pause alive?
Join me for a free masterclass on September 18th, where we’ll explore practical tools to slow down and cultivate mindfulness in daily life. Or dive deeper with my online course, Find Your Pause, and build a lasting practice of calm, clarity, and creativity.