Why living seasonally can boost your wellbeing

With longer days, sunny weather, and nature blossoming, summer is the perfect time to focus on your wellbeing – here’s how to live seasonally and feel like your best self

CREDIT: This is an edited version of an article that originally appeared on Happiful

While there are certain responsibilities you can’t avoid, it’s important to embrace the summer; a season many love. So, how do you learn to do that?

Connecting with your inner child

Coach Helen Snape explains why embracing our inner child could be a great way to make the most of this summer.

“Our inner child is the part of us that feels our true emotions, and so we want to nurture that part of us through healthy emotional connection,” Snape explains. “While this can be with other people, it’s also the case that we are a part of nature and can find fulfilling and genuine connections when going into outside areas such as gardens, woods, by the sea, or to a local park.”

There are so many benefits to embracing your inner child, Snape says. “This is the part of you that will show you what your true feelings are, and what you need. This is critical for self-worth, healthy boundaries, and assertive communication.

“Embracing your inner child will allow you to be more open in your important relationships, and create greater intimacy, meaning you will enjoy more fulfilling relationships.”

And, of course, our inner child is related to the idea of fun and play. “As human beings, we are cyclical creatures,” says Snape. “We are not meant to work all of the time! We need a mixture of work, rest, and play. Play can give you mental rest, it can help you work off excess tension, and it can re-energise you.”

Why is summer the perfect time to embrace your inner child?

“We can, of course, connect with our inner child at any time of year,” says Snape. “What makes the summer a particularly wonderful time to connect with your inner child is that the warmer weather provides ample opportunities to experience play and fun outdoors!”

Many of us find it easier to connect with nature at this time of year. “As a child, we had a sense of wonder and awe about the world – nature in its complexity and beauty re-cultivates that sense of awe and admiration,” Snape explains.

Think, too, about the curiosity you had as a child. Being curious about the world around us can help with our appreciation and understanding of nature, and to feel more connected to it, too.

How to embrace your inner child

Consider the summertime activities you enjoyed growing up. Did you swim in the sea? Eat ice cream at the park? Kick a football around the garden with your friends?

Consider what these memories mean to you. What feelings do they bring up?

Snape recommends reconnecting with activities you loved as a child and can return to now. From going on a camping trip and telling stories over the fire, to a picnic in a local park, building sandcastles at the beach, and a day at an amusement park (extra points if you eat an obscene amount of candyfloss) – there are so many options to explore. And then, think about the little things you can do each day, whether that’s taking your tea outdoors or going for a walk in the sunshine.

So, whatever it is that reignites your soul and brings back warm memories of a carefree childhood, why not slip on your sandals, slather on the sunscreen, and embrace the summer again?