August is confusing. It’s technically summer, but the light has already shifted, and every store you walk into is screaming fall. The air is heavy, the tomatoes are incredible, and somehow you’re both sitting by the fan and daydreaming about hot lattes.
I’ve been trying to take August especially slow, even though we’re already halfway through it. The heat has caused the linden tree out front to drop a ton of its leaves, bringing a sense of change that has me bookmarking soup recipes and talking football (go Bills!). This month is its own weird in-between. And instead of trying to “make the most of it,” I’m just trying to notice it.
Here are a few small things helping me slow down in August and enjoy it for the break it is:
Things to Notice
- The fallen leaves that have already decided they’re over summer. (Trust me, they’re everywhere right now.)
- How the light in your house changes at 7 p.m.—it cuts across the floor differently than it did in July, which somehow makes the same room feel oddly cozy.
- Tomatoes. They’re showing off right now, and no, you cannot replicate this taste in January no matter what anyone says about hothouse ones.
Comfort Rituals
- Keep the fan running during dinner. Yes, it’s loud if you aren’t used to it. No, I don’t care. I recently got a new fan with a natural wind setting, which I definitely recommend.
- Make at least one meal this week that doesn’t involve heat: fruit, bread, cheese, whatever you can stack on a plate. The bar is low, and that’s the point.
- Put a cool washcloth in the freezer for 10 minutes and use it on the back of your neck before bed. It’s weirdly calming, and it helps me ward off random panic during these longstanding heatwaves.
Gentle Prompts
- Write down one memory from this summer that actually feels worth remembering. Mine is eating watermelon at the sink and dripping everywhere. (Or it could be peaches like in TSITP, iykyk.) It doesn’t have to be profound.
- Call the person you keep meaning to call. Don’t overthink the update. A simple “hi, just thought of you” is enough. Summer is busy, but make August a time to reconnect.
- Let yourself scroll through fall sweaters or pumpkin bread recipes if you want, but stop short of the “add to cart” spiral. September will get here soon enough.
If you’re finding your own tiny rituals this month, find me on IG and tell me. I love knowing what other people are paying attention to—it makes me pay attention more, too.
See you in the in-between,
— Lauren
P.S. I’ve had Folklore (ahem, august) playing in the evenings—pairs nicely with cutting up peaches and pretending it’s not still 90 degrees outside.
