There’s something about early summer that feels like a deep exhale.
The frost is gone, the mornings are lighter, and the evenings stretch on like golden invitations to slow down. As someone who moves between the coasts of Canada, the arrival of early summer always feels like the perfect cue to shift gears—not in a drastic way, but with small, intentional changes. My early summer wellness routine is less about reinventing myself and more about realigning with the season. It’s gentle, grounding, and—most importantly—sustainable.
If you’re craving a reset that feels more like a warm hug than a total overhaul, this is for you.
1. Morning Rituals That Match the Sun
My early summer wellness routine always starts with my mornings. Instead of hitting snooze in a dark room, I now wake up naturally around 6:30 or 7:00 to the soft light peeking through the curtains. It makes the day feel more expansive, like there’s extra space for myself before life gets loud.
Here’s what my ideal early summer morning looks like:
- Hydration first: A big glass of water with lemon or chlorophyll to wake up my system. Sometimes I sip on herbal tea—peppermint or nettle are my go-tos this time of year.
- Outdoor journaling: I grab a blanket and my journal and sit outside, even if it’s just for five minutes. The cool grass under my feet and birdsong in the background help ground me.
- SPF & skin reset: I switch to a lighter moisturizer in the summer and always apply sunscreen first thing, even if I’m staying in. My skin prefers fewer products in the heat, so my summer routine is simple and soothing.
This little rhythm helps me feel more present and aligned with the new season. It’s not about productivity—it’s about presence.
2. Strength & Sweat: Movement That Fuels Me
While I love slow, grounding moments, early summer also lights a fire under me to move with more energy. I naturally start craving sweaty workouts, heavier lifts, and time in the gym—especially when the sun’s up early and the motivation is high.
In this season, movement becomes less about aesthetics and more about how good it feels to feel strong. So yes, my early summer wellness routine absolutely includes gym sessions—and I love it that way.
My gym-focused routine right now includes:
- Weightlifting 3–4x/week (focus on lower body, glutes, and back)
- Walking on an incline for 20 minutes post-lift—my favorite form of low-impact cardio
- Core and stability work—think kettlebell carries, planks, and balance drills
- Mobility sessions with resistance bands and foam rolling to support recovery
I keep it fun by rotating between strength training days and outdoor movement. If I hit a heavy leg day, I’ll follow it with a beach walk or a mobility flow on my balcony. It’s all about balance.
Summer movement staples in my gym bag:
- Grippy lifting shoes or barefoot trainers
- Resistance bands for activation
- High-protein snack or smoothie
- Mini SPF mist (because even the gym parking lot sun hits hard)
Including strength training in my early summer wellness routine doesn’t just change my body—it sharpens my focus, boosts my mood, and helps me carry myself through the season with confidence. It’s functional, it’s powerful, and it fits seamlessly into the softness of summer when you let it.
3. Food & Body Rhythms for the Season
Summer always shifts my cravings. I naturally gravitate toward fresh, hydrating foods, and my appetite changes as the days warm up. Instead of fighting that, I let it guide me.
Here’s what nourishing looks like in my early summer wellness routine:
- Cooling meals: cucumber salads, watermelon slices, smoothies with mint or coconut water
- Simple cooking: grilled veggies, quinoa bowls, chickpea wraps with hummus
- Herbal teas on ice: I love peppermint, ginger, or chamomile chilled with lemon
- Listening to my cues: I eat when I’m hungry, even if it’s not “mealtime,” and I skip heavy foods if I’m not craving them
Summer doesn’t have to be a diet season. It can be a listening season. Tuning into your body’s needs and rhythms is the most nourishing thing you can do. My early summer wellness routine is rooted in honoring those intuitive shifts.
4. Skin, Body & Beauty Rituals That Feel Like Care
As the temperature rises, I shift my self-care to focus on refreshment, protection, and simplicity. In other words: less fuss, more glow.
What I prioritize in my early summer wellness routine:
- Dry brushing before a shower to wake up my skin
- Cooling showers or rinses after being outside
- Lightweight oils like rosehip to keep my skin balanced
- Sunscreen, always—especially a powdered SPF for reapplication
- A fresh pedicure (at-home kit!) and natural nails for fingers
I also like to keep a mist in my bag to refresh my face when I’m out. Aloe or rosewater sprays are perfect for mid-day pick-me-ups.
This season is about feeling fresh, protected, and confident in my skin—even if I’m sweating on a trail or wearing zero makeup. That’s the power of a low-maintenance but intentional early summer wellness routine.
5. Mental & Digital Space Clearing
Early summer is when I crave a clean slate—not just in my home, but in my head. The longer days make me more aware of how I’m spending my time and energy. Part of my early summer wellness routine is making sure I’m not mentally cluttered.
How I create more headspace:
- Limit phone use in the mornings (airplane mode until I’ve journaled or moved)
- Batch content creation, then spend less time scrolling
- Daily offline time: crochet, read, write letters, cook slowly
- Weekly no-social day: a full 24 hours off Instagram (still a challenge, but worth it)
This mini digital detox doesn’t mean disappearing. It just means being more deliberate with my attention—especially when summer is so alive and happening outside my screen.
6. Rest as a Priority, Not a Reward
Longer days can trick us into thinking we need to do more. But part of my early summer wellness routine is rewriting that narrative. Just because the sun’s up until 9:30 doesn’t mean I need to be.
I schedule rest just like I schedule workouts or outings. Here’s what rest looks like in my world:
- Midday hammock naps with a soft breeze
- Reading on the dock or in a park
- Saying no to extra plans so I can stay home and recharge
- Prioritizing 8+ hours of sleep, even if it’s not “cool”
This has honestly been one of the biggest mindset shifts in my early summer wellness routine: learning that I don’t need to “earn” rest. I just need to allow it.
7. Gentle Goal-Setting & Seasonal Intentions
While I love a good list, I don’t set rigid goals in early summer. Instead, I write seasonal intentions—loose, intuitive themes that guide how I want to feel and move through the next few weeks.
A few intentions I’ve written this season:
- Choose presence over productivity
- Prioritize water, plants, and movement
- Let softness and slowness be strengths
- Enjoy beauty without needing to document it
These little reminders live in my journal and on sticky notes around my room. They help me stay aligned with the spirit of my early summer wellness routine: gentle, spacious, and soul-nourishing.
Build Your Own Early Summer Wellness Routine
If you want to create your own seasonal reset, here’s a soft structure to guide you:
- What does your body need more or less of in this season?
- What makes you feel refreshed—physically, emotionally, spiritually?
- What’s one habit you can release to make space for something more aligned?
- How can you honor the energy of early summer without pushing yourself into burnout?
Remember: your early summer wellness routine doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. Let it be as fluid as the season itself.
Final Thoughts
Early summer is a time to breathe, reset, and realign with what truly supports you. For me, that means slower mornings, cooling foods, strength training, and low-maintenance rhythms that still make me feel nourished and cared for. Your version might look different—and that’s beautiful.
Whether you’re between coasts like me or just feeling the shift in the air, I hope this inspires you to create your own early summer wellness routine. Not to change everything—but to soften into the season with grace and intention.
/Want more seasonal routines, skincare tips, or wardrobe guides? Explore the blog or follow along on Instagram for more slow-living inspiration 🌿