🌞 My 10 Best Summer Wellness Hacks to Boost Mind, Body & Spirit

As we celebrate the summer solstice to mark the official start of summer, the long days and warm air are a natural invitation to slow down, reconnect, and recharge.

Whether you're soaking up the sun or stuck in your routine, now is a wonderful time to rest and invest in yourself.

It doesn’t have to be a grand gesture or a complete lifestyle overhaul. Just one small shift can completely change how you feel. These moments of care add up.

You don’t need to take on all of them at once. Start by adding one to your daily routine, and you’ll find it enough to alter the course of your day.

We often think it’s the big stuff that we need to be doing to make any difference, but in reality, it’s the small daily habits that create change.

I have to keep reminding myself that consistency is more powerful than intensity.

Whenever I feel like I’m falling behind or not doing “enough,” I come back to these gentle practices that bring me back to balance.

Here are my top 10 best summer wellness hacks for a healthy, happy summer.

1. Rise with the Sun

There’s something magical about those quiet, early mornings when the world hasn’t quite woken up yet. In summer, many of us naturally start waking up earlier, and I’ve learned to look forward to waking at dawn.

When I get out of bed and give myself even 15 minutes before the rest of the day rushes in, I feel calmer and more in control.

Whether I journal, stretch, or listen to a meditation, those moments remind me that I’m allowed to ease into my day, not just dive into it.

Longer daylight is nature’s nudge to adjust your rhythm. Try waking up 30 minutes earlier to journal what’s on your mind, stretch out your muscles after sleep, or simply enjoy the stillness and the birdsong.

Early sunlight also helps regulate your sleep and mood—maybe because it feels so good to do something for yourself first thing, that you know will never happen if you tell yourself you’ll do it later.

2. Hydrate with a Twist

For many of us, it’s a struggle to drink enough water, so how about adding an element of fun and turning it into a mini ritual?

In summer, I love adding cucumber, strawberries, or fresh mint to a jug of cold water. It feels indulgent and spa-like, even on the busiest days, adding a colourful uplift to a plain drink.

Staying hydrated helps my energy, skin, and focus, but it also reminds me that small, nourishing choices add up.

Add fresh fruit, mint, or cucumber to your water to make hydration more fun and flavorful. Aim for 2-3 litres a day, especially if you’re sweating more than usual.

3. Take Your Movement Outside

Whether it’s yoga on the beach or a barefoot walk on the grass, moving outdoors grounds me instantly. It’s like my nervous system exhales.

I love feeling the earth beneath me, hearing birdsong, and noticing the light shift through the trees.

It’s a simple way to reconnect to nature, to my body, and to a sense of ease. And doesn’t it feel good to experience the elements on your skin?

When hanging laundry outside, I try to be barefoot as many months of the year as I can. This gives me the benefit of earthing myself on the grass while ticking a chore off my list.

If you need any further encouragement, check out the 7 Benefits of Practising Yoga Outdoors.

4. Eat Seasonally & Colorfully

Summer produce like berries, tomatoes, cucumbers, and leafy greens are packed with hydration and antioxidants.

Think salads, smoothie bowls, and grilled veg for a happy gut and high energy… the sort of food you feel healthy just looking at, such as a beautiful Buddha bowl!

If you have time to grow your own, then you already know the satisfaction of picking food straight from the earth and eating it while it’s still warm from the sun.

No space to grow potatoes? Try a few herb pots, even something as simple as chives or mint will perk up a salad and add another taste dimension.

5. Create a Digital Sunset

Could you commit to switching off your tech at least one hour before bed? Instead, read a book, stretch, or sit outside and watch the light fade. It’s a simple way to support deeper sleep and mental clarity.

My phone is scheduled for Do Not Disturb mode between 8 pm and 6 am.

It’s a small but effective hack to give myself a break from any emails or messages that might bring stress or add to my workload.

I reckon 99.9% of the time, things can wait till the morning when I am bright and ready to deal with them.

There’s nothing like giving yourself a long soak in a bath of lavender oil and fully relaxing before bed, only to have all that release hijacked by an email.

Yes, I make exceptions to this rule, but so many of us need to take control over our tech—it’s all too easy to let it rule us. Remember, tech is a tool, and you’re in charge of switching it off without feeling guilty.

6. Try Breathwork in the Shade

When I’m feeling overwhelmed or scattered, I like to sit under a tree and breathe. Slow inhales, longer exhales. Nothing fancy. Just me, the breeze, and my breath.

It takes less than five minutes, and it always helps. I’ve realized that peace isn’t something you find—it’s something you practice. And breath is the fastest route back.

Just five minutes of mindful breathing can shift your state completely. Sit under a tree, close your eyes, and practice slow inhales and longer exhales. Think of it as portable peace.

Sitting by a stream, pond, or river works equally well.

7. Have a Solo Date

I used to feel weird doing things alone, but now it’s something I actively seek: a trip to the coast with my dog and my journal; garden center browse, followed by coffee. No agenda, no pressure. Just time to be with myself in a way that feels liberating.

These solo dates refill my cup and help me stay connected to who I am beyond all the roles I play.

Reconnect with your own company in a way that feels loving, not lonely. Maximize the experience by leaving your phone at home.

8. Embrace JOMO (Joy of Missing Out)

As a conditioned people pleaser, saying no used to come with guilt. But this summer, I’ve been leaning into the joy of missing out.

If I’m tired, I cancel. If I need stillness, I decline the outing. I’ve learned that rest is productive, and protecting my energy is a form of self-respect.

It’s okay to skip a party or weekend plans if your body’s asking for rest. Honor your limits. Sometimes the most nourishing choice is doing nothing and not feeling guilty for putting yourself first.

9. Try a Weekly Digital Detox

I think this might be my favorite wellness hack!

One Sunday afternoon without my phone was all it took to realize how much time I was losing to scrolling.

Now, I try to go screen-free once a week. I read, snooze, potter in the kitchen. Life slows down, and I notice things I’d usually miss. I feel more present, more human. It's like recharging more deeply.

In the mornings when I take my dog out, I often see children heading to school, bent over their phones as they walk. As someone old enough to remember life before these gadgets got glued to our hands, I find it sad to observe.

Pick one day or afternoon a week to go screen-free. Leave your phone behind and be fully present. You’ll be amazed at what you notice when you’re not scrolling.

10. Anchor Your Day with Intention

The word “alignment” is resonating with me this year. I’m practising asking whether a habit or choice is in alignment with the life I want to experience in the moment or create in the future.

Choose one word or intention each morning—such as “ease”, “clarity,” or “joy.” Let it guide your choices and keep you connected to how you want to feel, not just what you need to do.

When I think about alignment, it helps me question if the actions I’m taking or things I’m saying yes to are leading me in the right direction.

This has been a game-changer when I find myself unable to make a decision. What is in your life that you’re saying yes to that doesn’t fit with your intention?

🌼 Final Thought

Wellness isn’t all-or-nothing. It’s small choices, made consistently, that help me feel like me. Summer is the perfect time to come back to the simple things that make us feel good.

Whether you try one or all 10 of these, I hope they help you reconnect with your rhythms and find a little more breath and lightness this season.

Let me know if you have a favorite or if there’s a hack you cannot live without that’s missing from this list.