Embrace Slow Living This June: Reflection, Celebration, and Seasonal Joy

Hello June, the first true Summer month in the UK has arrived with blue skies and sunshine. Can you believe it? We’re already halfway through the year! Six months of this year have flown by, and now we find ourselves in June, which for me is the gateway to the lovely season of Summer. June is a time to take a breath, reassess our Spring resolutions, and embrace the gentle warmth of Summer.

There’s something nostalgic about June for me. In the next couple of months, nature will be reaching its peak. Gardens will be abundant with fruits and vegetables, and forests will be lush and thick with ferns and wildflowers. With the Summer Solstice marking the longest day of the year and the dominance of the sun, it’s the perfect time to celebrate this season of abundance.

On the 22nd of June, we celebrate the Summer Solstice (pagan Litha, also known as Midsummer), the peak of the solar cycle that marks the longest day of the year. It’s also the official first day of Summer! From this point onward, very slowly, the night will be getting longer until we reach the Autumn Equinox, when the day and night are equal in length. Although we have over three months of many sun hours per day, once we pass the solstice, the forces of nature will be in motion, shortening the day by a few minutes each 24 hours and extending the night.

This always makes me feel nostalgic, realising that despite the sun being high and mighty, its strength is already waning, and the nights begin to lengthen. My regular readers and viewers of my YouTube channel know that I love Autumn the most, and June gives me the first, tiniest tingle of Fall. It’s a reminder to enjoy the warmth of the sun and balmy evenings as the chilly winds of Autumn are closer than I think.

Check out previous months' slow living to-do lists:
March - April - May - June - July - August - September

Here’s my June “Slow Living To-Do List” to help you embrace slow living this June, ensuring you savour every moment and find joy in the simple things.

 

1. Reflect on Your Year So Far

As half of the year is almost gone, June is an ideal time to sit down and reflect on the past six months. Take some time to assess your Spring or New Year’s goals. Have you achieved what you set out to do? Are there areas where you could improve or refocus? Be gentle when doing it. This reflection isn’t about judging yourself but rather understanding where you are and where you want to go. Think about your successes and areas for improvement. This practice can provide clarity and motivation for the second half of the year.

 

2. Embrace the Summer Solstice

Living in tune with nature is one of the easiest ways to practice slow living in your everyday life. This year’s Summer Solstice falls on the 20th of June 2024, the longest day of the year, and marks the official start of Summer. It’s a beautiful reminder of the abundance of the natural world and warmth. Celebrate this day by taking a walk in nature, lighting our Summer Solstice candle in honour of the sun, and cooking a meal using seasonal, locally grown vegetables. Use this day to connect with the natural world to feel more grounded and peaceful in everyday life.

How to celebrate Litha - ideas:

- Light a bonfire (if you can)
- Light a hand-poured candle in honour of the sun
- Set intentions for the next six months
- Spend time outdoors
- Watch the sunset or rise on Litha
- Practice Sun Salutations (yoga)

3. Plan a Summerween Celebration

I know my audience well, and I realise that many of you struggle during Summer. If celebrating the Summer Solstice isn’t your thing, and you much prefer Autumn and its festivities, this day can be an occasion to celebrate Summerween. It’s a fun way to enjoy the spooky vibes of Halloween in the midst of Summer. Decorate your home with a mix of Summer and Halloween decorations, read a spooky book, or watch a movie, bake a cake with cinnamon, and light one of our Autumn and pumpkin candles. It’s a delightful way to blend the joy of Summer with the excitement of Autumn.

Our Fall & Halloween candle collection is available all year round, so you can get your Autumn treat whenever you need it! Shop our cosy, natural wax candles here!

4. Plant or Tend to Your Pumpkins

This activity is perfect for those who love gardening and are looking forward to Autumn. If you already planted pumpkins indoors or in a greenhouse, now that the last danger of frost (at least in the UK) has passed, it’s time to plant them outdoors.

If you haven’t planted your pumpkins at all, it’s not too late. You can now plant them directly in the soil outdoors.

Either way, growing pumpkins is much fun for both adults and children, and seeing them grow and turn orange is one of the simplest pleasures of my life. This year I’m trying to grow pumpkins in containers (as the soil quality is very poor in my back garden, and we’re hoping to move so there’s no point in building raised beds), so wish me luck!

June is a fantastic month for gardening, and growing your own plants can be incredibly rewarding. Gardening is a therapeutic activity that allows you to slow down and connect with the earth and seasons. Plus, you’ll have the pleasure of enjoying the fruits (or vegetables) of your labour.

5. Enjoy Seasonal Foods

Talking about fruits and vegetables… Summer brings an abundance of fresh and delicious produce. Make the most of seasonal fruits and vegetables by using them for your meals. Visit local markets or farm shops to find fresh, organic produce and feel like you’re in an episode of Gilmore Girls, browsing the grocery store in Stars Hollow. Eating seasonally not only benefits your health but also supports local farmers and reduces your carbon footprint.

One of my favourite ways to enjoy Summer is baking with seasonal fruits. I recently made a chocolate cake with blueberries and rose petals or try my recipe for a Dutch baby pancake with raspberries and honey.

When I think of Summer, I always picture golden fields of wheat; hence baking simple bread can be an amazing way to celebrate the Summer Solstice. I have put together my three favourite Summer bread recipes here.

6. Disconnect from Technology

I know this is easier said than done, we are all so dependent on our phones and laptops. They are no longer just tools of entertainment: we use them to pay for our shopping, keep contact with our family, pay bills, book tickets, and so much more. I am a big believer in the “attitude of gratitude”. I’m grateful for everything mobile phones and computers allow us to do, making our lives easier and connecting with people and communities that matter.

As with all good things, it’s easy to overdo it. This June, make a conscious effort to disconnect for a little while to give yourself a mental break. Taking a break from screens can be incredibly refreshing and really good for our mental health.

Some of the simple ideas for screen-free time:

- Play with your children (puzzles, Lego, play dough)
- Go for a walk
- Have a face-to-face conversation with a friend
- Write a journal
- Start writing a book or memoir
- Knit, paint, sew, etc.
- (Ok, this one might not be my favourite one :D) Clean your house
- Cook or bake
- Have a quiet evening reading a book

Cosy up this Summer with our natural wax candles made in Somerset, UK. Shop our scents inspired by the English Countryside HERE

Of course, there are lots more you can do. Despite our modern world being so addicted to technology, there are still loads of things that no computer, even with the smartest AI, can replace, like cultivating deep human connections and experiencing the beauty of nature in person.

 

7. Explore Your Local Area

Travelling is good for the soul, but you don’t need to travel far to have an adventure. I love discovering new places in my area of the southwest of England. Medieval villages, historic churches, cute tea rooms, old bookstores, and areas of outstanding natural beauty - a lifetime is not enough to visit them all. I also love researching these places online and learning about their history and interesting facts about them.

This June, I encourage you to explore the hidden gems in your local area. Visit nearby parks, nature reserves, or historical sites. Take a day trip to a neighbouring town or city and discover its unique charm. Exploring locally not only supports your community but also helps you appreciate the beauty and history of your surroundings.

8. Practice Gratitude

I already mentioned gratitude in connection with technology and mobile phones, but I believe that it should extend to every aspect of our life. In June, there is A LOT to be grateful for. First of all, we’ve made it through the coldest part of the year, and now we’re on to a few months of warm weather and sunshine. Ok, here in the UK we expect some rain too, but Summer rain is warm and invigorating compared with the icy cold of January droplets.

Gratitude is a beautiful practice that can add to your overall happiness. Each day in June, take a moment to reflect on what you’re grateful for. It could be something as simple as a sunny day, a kind gesture from a friend, or a delicious meal. Keeping a gratitude journal can be a wonderful way to document and remind yourself of the positive aspects of your life.

Things to be grateful for in June:

- The return of warmth
- Pretty dresses
- Light clothes
- Flowers blooming in gardens and in the wild
- Sunny days
- Rainy days
- Fresh fruit and vegetables
- The smell of the forest (especially after the rain)
- Long evenings
- Not spending money on heating

The list goes on; what are you grateful for this June?

9. Set Intentions for the Rest of the Year

With six months behind us, June is a perfect time to set intentions for the remainder of the year. Think about what you want to achieve and how you want to feel by the end of the year.

When setting your intentions, keep in mind that in our modern, western world, the second part of the year is usually busier, with the last four months of the year (aka the BER months) being filled with celebrations and festivities. Overdoing it and promising yourself too much during this busy (and for some people also stressful) period is a recipe for disappointment. Set clear, realistic intentions that will help guide your actions and decisions, making it easier to stay on track for the rest of the year.

10. Make a Cosy Summer Bucket List

Finally, create a cosy Summer bucket list! Fill it with activities you want to do before the season ends (I officially switch to Autumn in September). It could include things like visiting a local beach, having a picnic, or picking strawberries. A bucket list will help you stay focused on enjoying Summer to the fullest, and even if you don’t tick all of the points on it, you can carry it to the next Summer, as one of the very few sure things in life is that each season has its turn and they always come back, perfectly timed.

Embrace slow living this June by taking time to reflect, celebrate, and enjoy the beauty of Summer. Whether you’re gardening, baking, hiking, or spending time with loved ones, remember that the key to slow living is to savour each moment and find joy in the simple things. Here’s to a peaceful and cosy June!

Adriana x