Summer Staples On Repeat
first, a mini rant on what's bothering me about wellness culture. then, the simple summer staples I have on repeat.
Every June through September, I’m invigorated by the sweet simplicity of summertime. On the sunniest days with a welcomed breeze, I feel a sense of clarity that is nowhere to be found when I’m forced into layers and closed-toe shoes. This season has a tempo unlike others, where the days feel long, but the weeks breeze by. Our to-do lists never seem to get fully done, but that’s okay because squeezing in an hour or two at the beach or in the backyard is way more important than actual errands.
With this welcomed clarity, I’ve come to realize that the summer version of myself is the best version of myself. One where I care less about what others are doing and instead am able to focus on being present at the moment and seizing these sweet, sweaty days for all their worth. I’ve noticed that this clarity can easily be disturbed when I open up Instagram and e-mails when I read headlines like “Experts Agree: This Is The Healthiest Way To Take Your Coffee” and see Instagram stories of endurance athletes working out IN an infrared sauna. As my clarity dissolves, I notice thoughts of doubt bubble up inside me, questioning if I’m doing enough for my well-being.
This is one of the things that annoys me most about wellness culture. The neverending influx of new, and sometimes extreme, ways to be the best at improving every facet of your being. After a few scrolls on Instagram, I feel like I’m missing out on eternal health since I haven’t been cold plunging, getting lymphatic drainage massages, drinking greens powder, or whatever else I’m supposed to be doing this week.
It’s exhausting to be inundated with messages about the latest practices, services, or tools that claim to optimize health and wellness and “change your life.” Who has the time and space for giant bathtub water that’s colder than the Arctic ice caps? Why is Pilates every celeb’s fave workout class? What is so great about chugging thick, earthy, greens-infused water? It’s easy to jump on the bandwagon and dive headfirst into the consumerism and FOMO of it all.
While I do like to live by the maxim, don’t knock it till you try it, the prescriptive nature of messages I’ve seen online is quite irritating. We can easily set ourselves up for disappointment when we fall into comparison traps and become self-critical when we don’t meet our own made-up expectations. As a way to be more self-compassionate, I tune into my own wants, needs, and goals. While one of my goals right now is get better at optimizing my recovery post-workouts, I do not need to be cold plunging. In fact, this would be the opposite of a recovery experience, considering I break out in hives anytime my skin comes in contact with something cold.
I can tune into my curiosity about trying new things and sign up for a pilates class at the new studio that opened up. I can also recognize that I don’t need to buy a 10-pack package when I already have a gym routine that’s working for me. I can finally give in and be influenced to try the $99/month greens powder and immediately ask for a refund because the flavor immediately reminded me of an antibiotic I took during leukemia treatment (that’s a true story).
I often remind myself and my clients that just because something is health-promoting and has tons of well-researched benefits, that doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for you. We all have our own unique preferences, abilities, and limitations that we need to consider when adopting behavior and lifestyle changes. When I find thoughts of comparison popping up or the urge to drop everything and adopt a new, expensive lifestyle change, I remind myself that these wellness trends as just that– trends. Sure, they can have great benefits and be impactful, but they’re most likely not the have-all for health and well-being.
I take great pride in finding new, steady staples that actually fit into my life. It’s the small, steady, and consistent steps that ultimately shape our well-being and how we feel now and in the future. During these hot summer days, I’m too busy (and sweaty) to begin routines and habits from scratch. Instead, I’m leaning into my tried-and-true staples and incorporating a few new favorites that I’m naturally finding to be on repeat this summer.
My “On Repeat” Summer Staples
In my kitchen
Herbs
I’ve been a huge fan of fresh mint lately, mostly because it’s the only herb thriving in my mini herb garden. I’m adding it to smoothies, cocktails, and mocktails and infusing it in water for a refreshing mid-day boost. Mint is naturally cooling and is known to help with digestion and GI upset. Just a sprig or two will make a big difference in whatever you add it to!
A few weeks ago, Whole Foods had an insane ice cream sale, so I scooped up a few boxes of Good Pops to stock up for the summer, and I have not regretted it one bit. Good Pops are the “cleaned up classics” of ice cream in the form of non-dairy frozen desserts and come in tons of fun flavors and they’re the perfect size for a sweet treat that’s lower in sugar.
Chia Seed Pudding and all the Seasonal Produce
As I’ve mentioned in other Substack posts, I’m on a chia seed pudding kick. It’s a great alternative to plain ol’ yogurt and contains more protein, omega-3s, and fiber! In my version, I use Siggi’s plain non-dairy yogurt, Califia almond milk, and chia seeds and let it rest in the fridge for a few hours or overnight until it becomes a pudding consistency. This week, I topped it with blueberries, diced nectarines, almond butter, coconut flakes, and a drizzle of honey.
In my beach bag
Cocokind Silk SPF
I’ve tried a few different face SPFs in recent years and haven’t loved any of them until I picked this one up on a whim. I use Cocokind for most of my skincare routine so I know they have quality, clean ingredient products that are effective. This SPF is as silky as described and is mineral-based which is supposed to be safer, and it doesn’t leave a white cast on my typically pale skin.
Owala Bottle
This insulated water bottle has been my bestie this summer. I won’t go anywhere without it, so much so that I accidentally brought it inside a restaurant recently. I’m a big fan of the 24-ounce bottle because it fits in my car’s cupholder and is easy enough to lug around without feeling like an extra appendage.
Bug Spray
Earlier in the summer, I took a walk at a woodsy park around dusk and got a bug bite on my neck that quickly turned into a massive raised red blotch. I was so embarrassed I covered my neck with a band-aid for two days, which was probably more noticeable than the bite itself. Since then, I’ve been dousing myself in bug spray almost every time I go outside. I purchased this “Outdoor Spray” filled with a blend of essential oils from my local farmer’s market, and so far, it seems to be doing the trick.
In my workout routine
I’m a member of a local gym that offers semi-private personal training, so I've been getting into strength training over the last year and a half. Somehow, they’ve tricked me into deadlifting, among other hard things I didn’t know I could do. I noticed earlier this year that my hands were getting calloused from the weights, and I saw another gym-goer wearing these little gloves and had to get a pair. They’re very comfortable, and my palms are noticeably softer!
Electrolytes
I’ve been a big fan of electrolyte tablets for years and rely on them to feel more energized after depleting workouts and sweaty summer days, but I was getting tired of my usual Nuun. My newest go-to is coconut water with a pinch of sea salt. It naturally has potassium and sugar that work with sea salt to hydrate your cells. I pick up the big pink coconut water bottle from Whole Foods or the mini ones from Trader Joe’s.
Yoga
I feel like I’m always “getting back into yoga” and that in itself is what it means to be a yogi. Currently, my intention is to formally practice one to two times a week as a way to strengthen my mind-body connection and get into those sticky areas that often go unloved in other forms of movement. I love the total bliss that comes with taking classes in the studio and tuning out the outside world. When I can’t get there in person, I rely on my Peloton app for quick 20 to 30-minute classes that aren’t as blissful but still do the trick.
I’m spoiled enough to walk to the ocean in just a few minutes, and beach yoga has been calling my name all season long. I’m determined to get to class on the sand at least twice in August. Later this month, I’ll be entering a new era of yoga and embarking on a 200-hour yoga teacher training for the very first time. It’s an intimate group of ten people (whom I haven’t met yet!) that I will learn with once a week for the next ten months. I feel so aligned with the instructors’ energy and the trauma-informed nature of this training, and I can’t wait for training to begin. More to come!
Wherever you are, I hope you’re (carefully) soaking up the sun and embracing the beauty of this stretch of time.
I would love to know…
Am I the only one who is annoyed with wellness culture lately?
What are your summer staples that you have on repeat?
Chime in through the comments below.
xoxo
Nicole
"I often remind myself and my clients that just because something is health-promoting and has tons of well-researched benefits, that doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for you." Such a good message, Nicole! I'd trust any wellness advice from you. PS - You ARE summer! Love it!