3 Ways to be more Spiritual this Summer

Summer is the season of spirituality, and is the perfect time to dedicate yourself to getting in touch with your spiritual side. During the summer months, the days are a little longer and we often find ourselves with a little extra time to fill, so why not take the opportunity to take up some new habits to help you practice your spirituality. Here are our top three ways to be more spiritual this summer.

Unplug

The first step in getting in touch with your spiritual side is to rid yourself of idle distractions, and be more present. Spirituality requires a strong connection to yourself, to others, and to the world, and this is hard when you’re spending time more passively than actively.

Technology is consuming more and more of our free time, and though there are countless benefits of using technology, it is good for our physical, mental and spiritual health if we unplug occasionally. It’s natural and easy after a long day at work to come home and crash in front of the TV or spend the evening scrolling through social media, but schedule one or two nights a week to leave the TV and laptop switched off, and spend your time doing other things instead.

It could be something as simple as reading a book;  cooking and eating a delicious dinner; running a relaxing bath; or sitting and talking to your family/friends. Anything that helps you stay present and connected to yourself is great.

If you want to actively practice your spirituality, this is the perfect time. One of the best ways to connect to your spiritual self is to practice meditation. Spending just half an hour each day meditating will help immensely. You can follow a guided meditation, or simply dedicate the time to simply sitting in silence and focusing on your inner thoughts.

Spend Time in Nature

Following on from unplugging from technology, the best way to connect with your spiritual side is to get outside and connect with nature. We all come from nature, and spending time outdoors is great for our physical and spiritual health.

There are so many things to do outdoors while the weather is good. Stretch your legs on a scenic hike, or take a daytrip to the beach, and swim in the sea. Or, why not make a weekend of it and go camping? Grab a tent, a few friends, and enjoy a night under the stars.

A great habit to practice is to take a walk every day. Walking is not only good for your physical health, but it is also great for clearing your mind. 20-30 minutes  a day is ideal, but if that’s not possible, just do what you can, even if it’s just a quick ten minutes on your lunch break. Walking gives you a chance to think and take stock of your life and things you are dealing with without distractions. This time alone to think can make you feel more connected to your spiritual self, lowers stress and generally improves mood.

Write it Down

One way to really connect with yourself and understand your thoughts, feelings and desires is to write them down! Get a notebook, and dedicate a little time each day to simply writing about your life and your experiences.

One popular writing exercise is called Morning Pages, created by an artist called Julia Cameron. The idea is to fill three pages with words, in a stream of consciousness, first thing in the morning. Of course, three pages seems a lot to most people, so you can adapt this exercise to suit you. However, the important thing is that the first thing you do when you wake up is to write down your thoughts and feelings. Write about anything that is on your mind, as much or as little as you want.

Once you’ve finished writing, you will find that your mind feels lighter and it’s as though a load has been taken off your shoulders. Clearing your mind this way first thing in the morning helps you face the day with a fresh perspective and can help provide you with useful insights and solutions to problems you didn’t realise that you already held within you.