Understanding the importance of light in your daily routine

During summer, we often lose touch with our regular routines. For parents, children are on break. Office workers may feel restless on sunny days, daydreaming about beach vacations.

Instead of resisting these seasonal changes, we can embrace them to create a stronger connection with ourselves and nature. Each season offers different energies and themes that impact our lives.

By being aware of these seasonal shifts, we can cultivate habits that align with nature's cycles. One prominent theme in summer is light, which we can use to form new routines.

Rest is not the same as doing nothing. Lying on the grass in a park while listening to water or watching clouds is valuable.

Summer brings the most daylight. Days are longer, and nights are shorter. We might stay up later or wake up earlier.

Light also has significant metaphoric value.

Physical In summer, our bodies seek "bright" foods like juicy fruits and salads that help us stay cool and hydrated. It's important to find fresh recipes that suit this season.

Ayurvedic expert John Douillard notes that our digestive health changes with the seasons. In summer, he suggests eating sweet, bitter, and astringent foods, such as salads and fruits, while avoiding sharp, strong, or acidic foods. Staying hydrated with coconut or cucumber water is beneficial.

A suggested practice: Treat your body as a sensitive vessel impacted by nature. Before preparing food or ordering at a restaurant, pause and consider what your body truly needs. Pay attention to how you feel while eating and afterwards. If you feel hot or irritable, opt for cooling foods.

Energy Light provides essential "prana," or life energy, from the sun. It's crucial to manage this energy wisely to avoid feeling drained or overheated. Engaging in strenuous activity during peak sun hours can deplete your energy. Instead, seek sunlight in the early morning or late evening when it is gentler.

A suggested practice: Once a week, sit outside in the morning or evening sun. Close your eyes and relax with your hands in your lap. Breathe slowly for five minutes, focusing on absorbing the sun's energy. Allow it to fill your body. Don’t overdo this, as too much can be overwhelming.

Psychological Summer encourages extroversion, contrasting with winter's inward focus. As a psychologist, I recommend avoiding deep internal work during this season.

Instead, summer healing is about lighter activities like rest and relaxation.

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