Summer Scramble
What if we tried to ease our way through it?
It’s mid June, which, if you’re like me means you’ve got a lot on your plate. Between school graduation season, summer camp registration, vacation planning, trying to hit those last deadlines before summer hits, and generally adjusting to the heat and humidity, we’ve had a busy couple of weeks. Honestly, this is the time of year me and everyone I know is running around like chickens with our heads cut off. And that’s not even taking into account the absolute chaos of the world (and specifically how quickly things are crumbling in the U.S. in particular) and daily incredulity at the headlines.
Regular readers of this newsletter know I try to live more peacefully and less frantically than I did before I wrote my second book, Rest Easy. There are lots of changes I’ve implemented in my life to make things generally more ~chill~ than hectic, like keeping a regular bedtime, regularly reading fiction for relaxation, and taking walks without always blasting my brain with podcasts or audiobooks to calm my mind, too. But it’s also true that sometimes life is just, well, busy. Like now.
When life gets so nutty even your best intentions can’t calm the chaos, I recommend the following:
Recognize (and remind yourself) that this is just a phase. Stressful two weeks before vacation? It’s all right, I promise. You will get through it. Remember: This. Is. Temporary. You're closer to the other side than you think. Let this phase be what it needs to be: a phase.
Try to hold onto at least one grounding, restful practice, no matter what. Despite feeling like time is currently slipping through my hands like sand, I’m holding onto two practices I know are important for me: my weekly pilates class, which always leaves me feeling energized and accomplished, no matter how much the day’s gone off the rails, and my weekly library visit with my son. Nothing makes me happier than picking up a new book off my holds shelf, and cracking open a book next to my son while he reads. Could I be doing laundry while he reads? Banging out a few emails? Sure. But having that quiet moment—even if it’s just for 20 minutes—is deeply restorative for me, and is going to help me get through the rest of the day on the right foot.
What small practice can you hold tightly to amidst this end of school year rush? Drop a comment below or hit reply to share your thoughts.
📚 What I’m reading
Blame the stress, but I’ve been getting through a lot of books lately. Here are some of the standouts:
Blob, by Maggie Su. This was a very fun read about a young woman finding herself and turning a blob into a potential boyfriend along the way. Honestly, I don’t want to give too much away. Just know there’s a Blob who becomes Bob and our narrator has a lot of growing up to do—and we get to go along for the ride.
Killer Potential, by Hannah Deitch. A literary thriller following Evie, an SAT tutor on the run for a crime she did not commit: the murder of the Victors, who happen to be the parents of one of the wealthy students Evie’s currently tutoring. Thriller lovers should know this doesn’t read as a classic thriller—the twist on who killed the Victors doesn’t pack the same punch as it would in a classic thriller, because the truth is, this isn’t a proper whodunnit. What’s more compelling is the relationship that develops between Evie and her unnamed partner on the road, a woman she discovers hiding in the walls of the Victor house. How their relationship evolves, and whether or not they’ll actually escape, is the real question.
Rental House, by Weike Wang. I think this is my favorite Weike Wang yet. Short but definitely not sweet, this is a story about a married couple and all the parental baggage that comes along with them. If you like a huge character change by the end of the book, you might feel “nothing much happens”, but this is a book that is best appreciated in Wang’s sharp observations about our relationships with our in-laws and others who know nothing about what it’s like to be in our heads, much less our marriages.
The Pairing - Love reading about food, travel, and lots of sex? You might like this very spicy summer book from Casey McQuiston.
💸 Currently coveting
There are so many end of season sales happening right now (Cos! Sezáne! J Crew!) but I’m holding out for summer travel. Why pack my suitcase with online finds now when I can find some gems in less trodded stores on vacation?
💌 Thanks as always for reading along and supporting my work. If you like what you see, hit the heart button, drop a comment, or share this with someone you think will love it, too. You can order my new book or journal or book me for a speaking event here. 💌