Choosing Simplicity This Summer
"Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication."
— Leonardo da Vinci
There is a distinct shift in the air when summer arrives. The days stretch out, bathed in a golden, lingering light that feels like a quiet invitation. Yet, too often, we treat summer not as a season of rest, but as a high-stakes race. We pack our calendars with back-to-back barbecues, ambitious travel itineraries, and endless obligations, trying to squeeze every drop of productivity out of the sun.
By the time August rolls around, we’re left wondering why we feel just as exhausted as we did in the dead of winter.
What if, this year, we chose a different path? What if we opted for a summer of radical simplicity?
The Trap of the "Perfect" Summer
We live in a culture that treats busyness as a status symbol. We’re conditioned to believe that more is always better: more activities, more destinations, more memories captured for social media. But when we over-schedule our summer, we miss the very essence of the season.
Slowing down isn’t about being lazy; it’s about creating space for life to actually happen. It’s about trading the frantic rush of doing for the quiet joy of being. When we clear the clutter from our calendars, we notice the things that actually ground us—the warmth of the sun on our skin, the sound of cicadas in the evening, or the slow, uninterrupted flow of a good conversation.
Three Ways to Practice Simplicity This Summer
You don’t need to sell all your belongings or move to a cabin in the woods to find simplicity. It starts with small, deliberate choices.
Establish a "Do Nothing" Window: Block out just two hours every weekend with absolutely no plans. No chores, no social gatherings, no screens. Let yourself wander, read, take a nap, or simply sit on a porch and watch the world go by.
Create a Low-Fi Ritual: Find an activity that connects you to the tangible world. Make a pour-over coffee in the morning without checking your email, tend to a small garden bed, or take a walk at dusk without headphones.
Edit Your Commitments: Just because an event or activity sounds fun doesn’t mean you have the capacity for it. Practice saying, "That sounds wonderful, but I’m keeping things quiet this summer." Protect your peace as fiercely as you protect your time.
This summer, let the days be long and the to-do lists be short. Allow yourself the luxury of an unhurried life.
Deepen Your Practice: Resources for Slowing Down
If you're ready to dive deeper into intentional living and minimalism, here are a few excellent places to start:
Books
In Praise of Slowness: Challenging the Cult of Speed by Carl Honoré – A fantastic look at how the "Slow Movement" can transform our relationship with time, work, and family.
Goodbye, Things: The New Japanese Minimalism by Fumio Sasaki – A deeply personal and practical exploration of how reducing physical possessions can free up mental and emotional space.
Chasing Slow: Courage to Journey Off the Beaten Path by Erin Loechner – A beautiful memoir and guide on breaking free from the pressure of perfectionism.
Digital & Audio
The Slow Home Podcast (Hosted by Brooke McAlary) – A wonderful audio archive packed with practical conversations about opt-out culture, slow living, and finding your own pace.
The Minimalists (theminimalists.com) – A massive library of essays and resources dedicated to clearing both physical and mental clutter so you can focus on what truly matters.
