How I Embrace a Slow Summer (Even When Life Feels Busy)(& How You Can Too!)

I don’t know about you, but summer always feels like this strange mix of freedom and frenzy. The days stretch long, the sun feels like it’s in no hurry to go down, and yet—somehow—I still find myself rushing, doing, checking off lists. (That tends to be my natural bend no matter the season.)

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Even in a season meant to feel laid-back, life still finds ways to get loud and overwhelming.

But here’s the thing I’ve learned: I get to choose how I show up for summer.

And most years now? I choose slow.

Even when the calendar feels a bit too full or the to-do list feels longer than the daylight, I intentionally carve out little pockets of slowness that help me feel grounded, grateful, and more like me.

Today, I want to share how I embrace a slow summer right here in Texas, in our cozy home with my family and animals by my side.

And I hope it inspires you to embrace your own version of a slow, sweet summer, too.

My Life Isn’t Perfectly Peaceful—But It’s Still Slow

Let’s get this out of the way first: choosing slow doesn’t mean everything around me magically quiets down. I’m a stay-at-home mom (even though my three boys are all grown and still living at home), I’m a content creator, and I juggle plenty of projects, housework, writing deadlines, and pet messes.

Our house is rarely all that still—there’s always someone chatting in the kitchen, food being cooked, dogs barking, cats sprinting across the hall, tackling one another.

But slowness, for me, isn’t about silence. (Although silence is nice!)

It’s about presence. It’s about pausing long enough to notice the way the sunlight hits the floor around noon, or how the iced tea tastes after an hour in the fridge.

It’s about the joy of stringing words together in a quiet room, or stitching a little embroidery flower while my dog snores beside me.

It’s not about checking out from life. It’s about checking in.

What Slow Looks Like in My Summer Days

Let me walk you through some of the ways I actually embrace slowness in my day-to-day life during these hot summer months. Maybe you’ll see a few ideas here that you want to try yourself.

1. Morning walks before the heat hits
Texas summers are no joke, so I’ve learned to sneak in my walks early. (It’s a necessity!) I’ll slip on my sandals, grab my water bottle, and walk down our quiet street before the heat starts humming. The world feels softer in the morning. Don’t you think?

I don’t bring earbuds. I listen to the birds, the wind in the trees, my own breath. Some mornings, I pray while I walk. Other times, I just think and let my mind wander like a loose thread.

These walks aren’t for exercise or steps—they’re for peace. And peaceful they are.

2. Afternoon swimming sessions
When the sun starts baking the house and my energy dips, I head outside to swim. I’ll float on my back and look up at the sky, just letting myself be. And, my goodness, how I love that feeling of just being while in the water.

Sometimes my boys or Adam join me and we chat while drifting through the water. Sometimes I’m alone, and I just let the silence wrap around me. Swimming feels like a reset button—a way to cool down and come back to myself.

3. Picking up a slow hobby (again)
Summer gives me permission to pick up slow hobbies I’ve let slip during busier seasons. Lately, I’ve been reaching for my embroidery hoop. There’s something so soothing about creating something small and beautiful with my hands. It also forces me to slow down. It’s a great hobby for slowing the mind and body.

I don’t worry about making something impressive. A little stitched flower. A puffy cloud in the sky. Or, even not finishing a project – it’s really all good!

If you’ve ever wanted to try embroidery, knitting, or crochet, summer is a beautiful time to begin. You don’t need a ton of supplies or time—just a bit of curiosity and patience.

4. Long, slow reads
I’ve always been a reader, but I find myself reaching for slower-paced books in the summer. Gentle fiction. Cozy mysteries. Memoirs that feel like sitting down for a deep talk with a friend.

I’ll sit with a book in my lap while my dog naps beside me, a fan humming in the background, a glass of bubbly flavored water sweating on the table. That, to me, is summer magic.

5. Letting meals be simple and sweet
In the summer, I try to let our meals feel easy. Lots of fresh veggies, grilled chicken, berries, pasta salad, lemonade, and cold fruit straight from the fridge.

I’m not aiming for Pinterest-worthy meals—I just want food that nourishes and doesn’t heat up the whole kitchen. Sometimes I even eat a snack outside on the porch when the sun dips low. And dinner around the dining room table still can’t be beat.

6. Saying yes to small pleasures
I used to feel guilty for enjoying the little things, like taking a nap in the middle of the day or watching the same movie again just because I love it. But not anymore.

Now, I lean into those things—because they’re part of what makes life feel full and slow and good.

So if I want a bowl of ice cream at 2 pm? I scoop it up.
If I want to sit and sketch wildflowers for no reason? I do.
If I want to lie in bed for an hour and watch the birds outside my window? You bet I do.

Slow living isn’t just about removing the big stuff. It’s about choosing the small stuff that matters.

How You Can Embrace a Slow Summer Too

I don’t think you have to overhaul your life to embrace slowness. You don’t need a cabin in the woods or a wide-open schedule. You just need a willingness to notice. To savor. To pause when you can.

Here are some gentle ways you might invite a little more slow into your summer:

• Wake up 15 minutes earlier to sit quietly on your porch with a drink
• Keep your phone in a drawer for a few hours each day
• Create a “slow playlist” full of music that calms you
• Start a simple summer ritual, like an evening walk or journaling under the stars
• Make a “slow bucket list” of things that bring you peace (think: watch a sunset, make lavender lemonade, write a letter, nap in a hammock)
• Leave room in your schedule—even just one day a week with nothing planned

Remember: slow doesn’t mean lazy. It doesn’t mean unproductive. It means intentional. Present. Grounded.

My Favorite Slow Summer Moments So Far

I thought I’d end this little note by sharing a few favorite slow moments from this summer so far: (Yes, summer hasn’t officially begun, but it might as well have with the Texas heat!)

• Watching my youngest son gently scoop up our kitten and rock him like a baby
• Reading a book in bed while Adam made coffee in the kitchen
• Stitching little wildflowers onto linen while the rain tapped on the windows
• Walking barefoot in the grass at dusk
• Laughing around the dinner table with all my boys home and the dog begging for scraps (his favorite hobby!)
• Listening to the thunder during one of our many late spring storms

These are the things I want to remember. Not the chores, the stress, or the deadlines. This is summer.

A Little Note to You

If your summer feels too busy or loud, I hope this encourages you to make space for something softer. Slow living doesn’t have to mean doing less—it just means doing what matters most to you.

You can still live slowly, even in a full house. Even with a big job. Even in the middle of Texas heat and chaos and noise.

Slowness is something we choose—one breath, one moment, one quiet walk at a time.

I’m so glad we get to do life together in this little corner of the internet. I’m cheering for you to have a slow, beautiful summer.

With love from my porch to yours,
Nell Marie 🌸

Quote I’m Loving Right Now:
“You don’t have to escape your life to live slowly. You just have to show up for it differently.”

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