Hi friends, Sam here. Welcome back to Nuance Needed. This is your weekly little pep talk, and today, we’re talking about summer.
As May wraps up and June steps in, you might notice your fyp starting to fill with summer ‘aesthetics’ and vibes. Whether it’s last summers’ ‘brat summer’, or the trends from this year such as ‘coquette’, ‘guava girl’, ‘butter yellow’, (don’t ask me, I do not decide the names) or whatever the current vibe is, I genuinely love these. They’re lighthearted, they give you something to play with, and they help you set a tone for the season.
But here’s the thing.
All these summer aesthetics and vibes? They’re just a distraction. Fun, but a distraction.
Today, I have decided to create a new vibe. One that doesn’t get enough air time:
Resting Girl Summer
Wait, Are You Actually Resting? Or Just Numbing?
Here’s what I’ve noticed in my own life and with so many of my clients: We don’t actually know how to turn off.
We tell ourselves we’re “relaxing” when we’re scrolling TikTok in bed, or watching a show while playing a game on our phone. But that’s not rest. That’s just a different flavor of over-stimulation. It’s keeping your brain and nervous system constantly on by feeding it 2-3 second clips for an unlimited period of time.
If you’re feeling tired all the time, even after “downtime”,this might be why.
And listen, I’m right there with you. I love my shows. I love a scroll. But the truth is, 16-plus hours a day of constant stimulation leaves us depleted. So much of what we think is “self-care” is really just sensory overload disguised as relaxation.
So What Does Rest Look Like?
I’m not saying you can’t watch New Girl while painting (because, yes, I absolutely do that). But what if we got honest about what helps our bodies and brains feel calm?
Here are some prompts to think about:
What was the last time you sat down and read a book without checking your phone?
Can you go for a walk without listening to a podcast or taking a call?
Could you do a hobby without some type of a screen in the background?
What shows actually relax you, and what ones secretly stress you out?
It doesn’t have to be rigid. Just intentional.
For me, it’s choosing shows like Schitt’s Creek or Parks and Rec when I need something gentle. It’s painting with music on instead of another screen. It’s remembering that silence doesn’t have to feel empty, it can feel like space.
The Mental Health Crisis of Constant Connection
Let’s also name this: many of us are deeply anxious right now. The world feels overwhelming. News comes at us every five seconds. And if you live in the U.S., that feeling is on overdrive.
These tiny devices we carry, our phones, our laptops, our smart watches, are not just tools. They’re pipelines of stress, productivity, marketing, and content. And we have been tricked into thinking we must always be available.
You don’t.
You’re allowed to unplug.
You’re allowed to miss a text.
You’re allowed to rest without documenting it.
A Summer Invitation
So as we shift into this next season, I want to offer you this gentle challenge
Make Resting Girl Summer your theme
Let it be the summer of:
Logging off without guilt.
Finding joy without ‘content’.
Resting without a timer.
Reconnecting to what you actually like, not what the algorithm thinks you should.
Even if you have responsibilities. Even if your job is demanding. Even if you’re a caregiver. I believe you can find moments, tiny but sacred moments, to reclaim some peace.
Maybe it’s 15 minutes with a book.
Maybe it’s a walk without your phone.
Maybe it’s setting a boundary you were too scared to set before.
Whatever it looks like, I’m cheering you on.
Let’s Make This the Most Unplugged Summer Yet
If you’re feeling this too, I’d love to hear from you. Let me know what your version of Break Girl Summer will look like. I’ll be sharing more on this on my Instagram and TikTok soon, and hopefully, we can help each other remember what real rest feels like.
Thanks for being here. I’m so grateful you read these posts, and I hope May was as gentle as it could be. Here’s to a June that’s not about hustle, but about healing.
Take care of you.
You deserve it.
Until next time,
Sam 💛
And p.s. - Here is a list of some ideas if you read this and thought ‘what do I even like to do?’
If you’re ready to embrace a softer, slower summer but need a little inspiration, here are some ways to disconnect and practice rest that doesn’t involve a screen:
Take a walk without your phone (or put it on airplane mode).
Read a physical book or magazine in a chill space.
Try a more creative hobby like painting, drawing, knitting, or journaling.
Lay outside and literally watch the clouds.
Visit a local library or bookstore and browse with no agenda.
Cook a new recipe just for fun, no photos, no pressure.
Sit in the silence with your favorite drink and let yourself be present in the moment.
Write a letter/postcard to a friend and actually mail it. Physical mail is an immediate serotonin boost.
Listen to music while doing absolutely nothing else.
Do a slow stretch or yoga flow with no video or timer.
Tend to your plants or garden with your hands in the dirt.
Take a solo picnic to a park or even your backyard.
Play a board game or card game with someone IRL
Sit somewhere you love and people-watch with no distractions.
Meditate, nap, or simply lay down and breathe.
These aren’t meant to be tasks or goals. They’re invitations; to be still, to be present, and to remember what it feels like to be a person who isn’t constantly “on.”
Happy resting babes!
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