From Summer Glow to Fall Flow
How I’m bringing a slower cadence into the busiest months
The light in August feels different, golden and a little softer. Evenings linger, mornings feel slower, and weekends still have that summer looseness to them. But as soon as back-to-school season hits, life seems to flip into fast-forward. One minute it’s school supply shopping, the next it’s pumpkin spice, Halloween candy, and talk of the holidays.
Walk into Hobby Lobby in July and it’s already gone from Fourth of July straight to Halloween. And while I love fall and all the festivities it ushers in, including cooler breezes and a break from the sweltering Savannah humidity, I really hate to be rushed. In all aspects of life.
After taking July to truly unplug with my family, I want to carry that same sense of being present and taking one day at a time into the fuller months ahead. I’m actively resisting the push to leap from one season to the next at lightning speed and instead slowing it down to enjoy the moment we’re in.
Here are a few ways I’m savoring these last bits of summer and easing into fall with a slower cadence:
Cooking with fresh, local produce
Cooking with what’s in season is the easiest way to be grounded in this moment. Nature knows what we need: juicy tomatoes, sweet Georgia peaches, cool watermelon for summer’s heat, and heartier squashes and leafy greens as we head into fall.
This week I made MK’s Summer Veggie Salad with all the good late-summer produce, and I’m eyeing a simple butternut squash and kale pasta in Escape & Celebrate’s fall supper club menu, launching September 1st! (Pro tip: if you’ve got a good local farmers’ market, make it part of your weekend ritual. It’s seasonal eating and small business support in one trip.)
Prioritizing outside time
Evening walks are non-negotiable right now. We catch the last bits of light, wave to neighbors, and let the day unravel before bedtime. On weekends, it’s still beach and pool adventures while the weather allows.
I’m making the most of weekend trips to Tybee before cooler temps and fall sports fill up the calendar. Living in a part of the world with such a long transition from summer to fall is a gift I try not to take for granted.
Evening strolls on Bluff Drive are so special
Having fun with my wardrobe
I still have my sundresses in rotation, but I’m starting to reach for breezy trousers, light sweaters, and fun accessories. There’s something energizing about transitional dressing because it’s the best of both worlds.
I find that what I put on in the morning really does influence my energy for the day, so I’m making the effort even on school drop-off mornings.
Items from my closet and things I’m eyeing
Standing social dates
It’s too easy to let friendships slip when everyone’s busy. Having a recurring coffee date slot, even if it gets moved, keeps me connected. Some weeks it’s a quick walk after school, others it’s a lingering GBD iced latte at Auspicious.
Having it penciled into the calendar means it actually happens or at least gets rescheduled.
Tending to my spiritual + physical health
Morning mass and my weekly exercise class both take discipline, but I treat them as standing appointments. They keep my priorities in line and I always leave feeling like I’ve invested in the things that truly matter.
They also anchor my week. No matter how full my calendar gets, those touch points remind me to slow down, breathe, and take care of myself from the inside out.
I highly recommend the Hallow App for daily spiritual time on the go - they have so many amazing resources at the tip of your fingers!
I’d love to know how you are savoring this last bit of summer. Are you clinging to beach mornings, baking your first apple pie, or pulling out your favorite sweater? Hit reply and share your favorite slow rituals with me and I may just include a few in my next post.