Mid-Summer Check-In: What’s Working and What Needs Resetting

I notice it most in the little in-between moments. I will be standing at the kitchen counter thinking about what to do next, looking out at the bright afternoon, and suddenly realize I have barely stepped outside all day. Or I will sit down in the evening with every good intention of relaxing, only to start making a mental list of what still needs to be done tomorrow. Those moments are usually my first clue that I need to pause, not push harder. With age, I am becoming much better at taking time for myself to relax.

One thing that has been working is giving myself permission to enjoy the small parts of summer without needing them to be picture-perfect. A quiet coffee outside, a drive with the windows down, a simple supper that does not require turning on the oven, or a few minutes spent watering flowers can be enough to make the day feel softer. I used to think summer memories had to come from big plans, but lately I am noticing how often the ordinary moments are the ones that stay with me.

What has not been working quite as well is the habit of letting my days fill up before I have had a chance to decide what actually matters. I have noticed that when I start the morning by checking messages, scrolling, or mentally running through every responsibility at once, I feel behind before the day has even begun. It is a small thing, but it changes the tone of everything. A rushed morning seems to follow me around, while a slower one gives me a little more patience for whatever comes next.

I have also noticed how quickly clutter, both physical and mental, can build up by mid-summer. A stack of papers on the table, a few unfinished chores, a calendar with too many scribbles, a phone full of unanswered messages, and too many emails from businesses and advertisers I no longer care about can make everything feel louder than it really is. When I take even a few minutes to clear one small space, I usually feel as if I have cleared a little space in my mind too.

This mid-summer check-in has also reminded me that rest is not something I should only earn after everything else is done. There will always be another load of laundry, another room to vacuum, another toilet to clean, or another item on the list. If I wait until life is perfectly caught up before I slow down, I may never slow down at all. I am now trying to notice the places where I can create a little breathing room, even if it is only ten minutes at a time.

One reset I keep coming back to is making ordinary routines feel a bit gentler. Folding laundry with a favourite show on in the background, taking the longer way home just to enjoy the scenery, lighting a candle while I tidy the kitchen, or sitting outside for a few minutes after the day is done all help me feel

less like I am rushing from one task to the next. None of these things change the whole day, but they do change how I move through it.

I am also trying to be honest about what I want the rest of summer to feel like. Not what it should look like from the outside, not how full the calendar is, and not whether I checked off every idea I had back in June. I want it to feel steady, simple, and real. I want more evenings when I am not rushing, more conversations that are not squeezed between tasks, and more weekend mornings with a quiet cup of coffee before the day begins.

My reset for the rest of summer is simple: protect more quiet time, choose one or two things that truly matter, and stop treating every open space on the calendar as something to fill. I want to enjoy what is left of summer instead of rushing through it to make it count. Maybe making it count begins with being present enough to notice it.

Key ideas from this mid-summer check-in:

* Mid-summer is a natural time to pause, reflect, and gently reset instead of rushing through the rest of the season.

* Small summer moments, such as coffee outside, simple meals, time in the garden, and quiet evenings, can be just as meaningful as big plans.

* Feeling stretched or mentally cluttered is often a sign to slow down, clear one small space, and make room to breathe.

* Personal priorities may shift, and it is okay to choose time with grandchildren, family, or simple joys over trying to keep everything perfectly caught up.

One place I see this shift most clearly is in my garden.

After one of the strangest springs I can remember, with snow falling far too many times, I planted late and kept the garden very small. I still have not taken the time to see what is growing and what is not, so I need to add that to my list: go check the garden. My rhubarb went to seed in mid-June, so I removed the stalks, and now it is slowly starting to come back.

Grandchildren have entered my life, and I would rather spend my spare time with these little people than weeding the garden.

The weeds can wait a little longer. These little people will not be little forever!

Time to end with a song. I suggest listening to “Don’t Blink” by Kenny Chesney. The song emphasizes how quickly life moves from one stage to another, often compressing decades into what feels like moments. And we all know how quickly time is passing. A fine example is that the August long weekend is just two weekends away. Where does the time go? The message is a reminder not to take any stage of life—childhood, adulthood, parenthood, grandparenthood, or long-term relationships—for granted – don’t blink!

Merle Lee Ann Pratt – merleleeannskitchen.com Email: merleleeann@gmail.com

YouTube: @merleleeannskitchen

Note: Parts of this blog were written with the help of Copilot in Word (AI)

This column is sponsored by MacKenzie Funeral Chapel and Crematorium – We will be there when you need us.

130 9th St. E, Prince Albert, SK

Phone: (306) 763-8488 – https://mackenziechapel.ca

by Merle Lee Ann Pratt – Merle Lee Ann’s Kitchen, author of A Baker’s Dozen

Mid-Summer Check-In: What’s Working and What Needs Resetting

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