Set Your Intentions For Balance Summer Solstice

Summer Solstice 2026: Sunday, June 21st

Staying true to summer’s nature, the solstice usually falls during a busy time for many of us.  Summer is the seasonal representation of peak “yang” energy. When you think of yang, think: expansion, lots of activity, more social energy, heat (both physical and energetic), and movement (it’s time to move our bodies after the colder, wetter seasons). When in alignment, summer is the time of waking up early with the sun and working long mornings, before taking a break in the hot and hazy afternoons. This more energetic state comes naturally to our bodies in the summer. However, much like too much of a good thing, our bodies can become depleted if we don’t set our intentions on balance. If we stay in summer mode too long, we can deplete our adrenals, experience inflammation, or experience major digestive disruption from too many nights out with alcohol or travel food. This is usually when we feel like we need a vacation after our vacations. It’s always a good time to listen to your body, but during the summer, it becomes even more important. During the long, muggy-buggy days, we need to listen to our bodies and stay hydrated. We also need to listen to our internal cues for cooling food (melons, cucumbers, fresh herbs, and veggies).

Balance

Not only do we need to practice balance in our physical health during the summer, but we also need to remember to practice balance in our emotional lives. Remember, summer is a great time to fan the social flames. Typically, in the summer, we have more energy, so it’s best to use it to fill our social cups. But like anything, it should come with balance. The solstice is a great time to embody alignment and to practice boundaries. Boundaries help preserve your energy so you can use it when it matters. So, as summer reaches its peak at the solstice, it’s also beginning its natural cycle inward. We’re certainly not saying it’s time to start downshifting your energy as if it were already autumn, but we do enjoy using the summer solstice as an invitation to take inventory of where we’re placing our energy and how it sets us up going forward. 

Ways to enjoy, reflect, and honor the summer solstice

Enjoy awe-inspiring moments outdoors: 

Awe is a powerful emotion that shifts our mindset, reminding us that we’re connected to a larger world. The scientific study of awe is a really fascinating subfield of psychology. Typically, awe is triggered by vast, unexpected, or natural events, like a beautiful sunset, a vibrant rainbow, or starry skies. Have a moment of awe with your loved ones by gathering outdoors for a campfire, a sunset, or a particularly good rain.
Studies show that experiencing awe shrinks the sense of self, and this experience can reduce stress, lower chronic inflammation, and increase prosocial behaviors such as generosity and kindness. As if we needed another reason to have s’mores outside.  

Enjoy long, light-filled evenings: 

These allow us to spend more time outdoors, especially with our loved ones, fostering stronger social bonds and a sense of connection. How often do you feel like time is just flying by? Enjoying slow moments outside allows the brain to expand its perception of time, and we can actually feel that as an abundance of time. This can lower stress and boost overall mental well-being. 

Eat seasonally:

Right now, eating in-season foods is pretty easy. Even parties and cookouts are often stocked with fruits and veggies that can be picked up at your local farm stand. But eating in-season foods can actually be done year-round with relative ease and enjoyment.  There are so many reasons why eating seasonally is the way to go, but perhaps the best reason is: 

Better Taste and Better Nutrition

Food that is allowed to grow until peak ripeness and then quickly brought to your table is much higher in nutrient content than food picked early and then processed and shipped around the country or the world. Every day that your tomatoes are en route to your local grocery store, they’re losing some of their beneficial nutrients. And honestly, they usually end up tasting a bit disappointing, too.  These are the foods our bodies crave at the peak of their seasonal ripeness. 

An added nutritional bonus is that these seasonal items offer nutrition tailored to your local environment. They’re foods that are dealing with the same environmental factors as you. Fruits and veggies that grow in the summer are often hydrating, with natural electrolytes, and provide some sun protection for the skin. For example, tomatoes are rich in the antioxidant lycopene. Studies show that lycopene can protect against UV-induced damage, reduce oxidative stress, and boost collagen production. And, how convenient that tomatoes reach peak ripeness in the middle of the summer!

For more summer-inspired recipes, check out our previous post.