Today is July 31st. Yesterday, I overheard something at my doctor’s office that I don’t remember hearing when I lived in New York. “See you at the end of August.” Then another employee said it. A few minutes later, my doctor smiled and told me she was taking 4 weeks off herself. Whoa, what the heck was going on?
I just came back from a short week-long vacation, and hearing that conversation made me realize something. Whether you take 4 weeks off or 4 days, chances are your life looks a little different in the summer than it does in the middle of winter. If you’re anything like me, you may have the urge to eat salads and spend more time outside soaking up a little vitamin D. Maybe you’re even lucky enough to take a vacation.
Here’s what’s been milling around my Feng Shui head while observing all this: We tend to naturally change our routines with the seasons, but do we match our homes as well?
Living in France has made me realize that the seasons aren’t just something we experience outside. Parisians seem to let the seasons shape the rhythm of their lives. They eat seasonally, pay attention to their impact on the environment, and slow down in summer. This rhythm is slowly changing the way I think about my own life and home too. Instead of expecting my home to serve the same purpose all year long, I’m learning to let it evolve with the season. Very Feng Shui!
Here are 3 simple ways to help your home catch up with summer:
1. Open the windows
This may seem obvious, but opening your windows isn’t just about letting in fresh air. It’s about inviting fresh energy into your home and giving stagnant energy a chance to leave. Even 9 minutes (an auspicious number in Feng Shui!) can completely change how a room feels.
2. Let go of what’s broken
Summer naturally inspires movement and lightness. Take advantage of it! I find that it’s often easier to let go of broken or unused items now than later in the year, when cooler weather tends to make us want to nest and hold on to things. If you’ve been meaning to repair it, repair it! If not, it may be time to let it go. If you have an outdoor space and you’re spending more time with friends, does that space welcome people in, or has it become a dumping ground?
3. Refresh your pantry
Our eating habits tend to change with the seasons, but do our pantries? If you haven’t already, toss expired foods at the back of your fridge, donate unopened items you’ll never use, and make space for the lighter seasonal ingredients like fresh herbs. I find that a pantry that reflects the season makes my everyday life feel more in sync.
Your home should support the life you’re living today. If your routines have changed for the summer, maybe it’s time your home changed a little too.
Your home doesn’t have to be perfect. It just has to support the life you’re living right now.
Happy almost first day of August!
