Category: Longevity Wellness

Mid-August Reset: Are You Nourishing or Numbing?

by Suzanne Horrocks Wellness, posted in healthy habits, Healthy Lifestyle, Holistic & Integrated Approaches, Holistic Mental Health Practices, Longevity & Healthy Aging, Longevity Wellness, Mental & Emotional Wellness, Natural Solutions, selfcare, sleep, Small Joys, stress-management, Summer, Uncategorized
Are you nourishing your soul or numbing it?

August can feel like a tipping point. The first half of the month often carries the energy of summer freedom, while the second half hints at the structure of fall. This in-between season is the perfect time to pause and ask yourself an important question:

Am I nourishing myself—or just numbing out?

We all fall into patterns that make us feel better in the short term but leave us drained over time. The scroll through social media. The late-night snacks. The third cup of coffee. These habits might feel comforting in the moment, but they don’t actually replenish us.

The truth is, there’s a big difference between nourishing habits that fuel your mind and body and numbing habits that just help you pass the time.

Here’s how to spot the difference—and how to reset your energy in the second half of the month.

What Does “Numbing” Look Like?

Numbing is what we do when we’re tired, stressed, or overwhelmed and we just want to check out.
Some common examples include:

  • Scrolling endlessly on your phone.
  • Reaching for snacks when you’re not hungry.
  • Binge-watching shows until you fall asleep.
  • Pouring another drink instead of addressing your stress.
  • Filling every spare moment with noise, so you don’t have to sit with your thoughts.

These aren’t “bad” things on their own. Watching a show or enjoying dessert can be part of a balanced life. The difference is in the why and the how often. When these habits become your main way of coping, they keep you from feeling truly restored.

What Does “Nourishing” Look Like?

Nourishment, on the other hand, is about giving yourself what you genuinely need to feel better in the long run.
Examples include:

  • Drinking water when you’re low on energy.
  • Taking a short walk instead of another coffee.
  • Cooking a meal with fresh ingredients.
  • Journaling to process your thoughts.
  • Going to bed on time.
  • Spending quiet moments outdoors.

Nourishing choices may take a little more effort at first, but they leave you with more energy, clarity, and calm.

A Simple Mid-Month Check-In

Here’s a quick way to reset your habits:

  1. Pause. Take a few minutes to reflect on how you’ve been spending your time this month.
  2. Notice patterns. Which activities have left you feeling recharged? Which ones left you more tired or distracted?
  3. Choose one shift. Pick just one habit to adjust for the rest of the month. Maybe you swap late-night scrolling for reading before bed, or trade an afternoon soda for water and a quick stretch.

Small, consistent changes often make the biggest difference. (Quiet down, impatience.)

Why It Matters Mid-Month

The middle of the month is a powerful moment. You have two weeks behind you and two weeks ahead.
This is your chance to course-correct before the month slips away. If you’ve fallen into numbing patterns, now is the time to shift gently toward choices that help you feel grounded, clear, and energized.

Practical Ways to Nourish Yourself

Here are some easy swaps you can try right away:

  • Instead of scrolling before bed → read a chapter of a book or write down three things you’re grateful for.
  • Instead of reaching for sweets when stressed → take a five-minute walk or do a few deep breaths. Note to self…
  • Instead of binge-watching TV all weekend → set aside one evening for a creative hobby or time with friends.
  • Instead of pouring another cup of coffee → drink a tall glass of water and stretch your shoulders.

You don’t have to overhaul your life. Just start with one or two shifts that feel doable.

A Journal Prompt for Reflection

If you’d like to go deeper, here’s a simple prompt to write about:

  • “When I’m tired or stressed, what do I usually turn to? Does it truly restore me—or just distract me?”
  • “What’s one small nourishing choice I can make today that my future self will thank me for?”

Sometimes putting your thoughts on paper makes it easier to see where small changes can make a big difference.

The Bottom Line

By mid-August, it’s natural to feel stretched thin. Life pulls in many directions, and habits can slip. But you don’t have to wait until a new month—or a new season—to reset. You can start right now.

Ask yourself: Is this nourishing me or numbing me? That one question can guide your choices for the rest of the month. And when you choose nourishment, you’re choosing energy, clarity, and a sense of peace that numbing habits can never give.

This August, give yourself the gift of a reset. Keep what feels good, let go of what doesn’t, and carry forward habits that leave you feeling truly alive.

Start Fresh in August: 5 Simple Shifts for a Better Month

by Suzanne Horrocks Wellness, posted in Drink More Water, healthy habits, Healthy Lifestyle, Holistic & Integrated Approaches, Holistic Mental Health Practices, Integrative Health, Longevity & Healthy Aging, Longevity Wellness, Mental & Emotional Wellness, Mental Health, mental-health, Natural Solutions, Preventative Self-care, selfcare, Small Joys, Soft Goals, Summer, Uncategorized
It’s August already. Are you getting ready for autumn?

August is often a quiet month. Summer is winding down, the back-to-school ads are popping up, and you might feel caught in between — not quite ready for fall, but a little worn out from the heat and hustle of summer.

It’s the perfect time to reset.
Not with a long list of goals or strict routines — just a few simple shifts that can gently guide you toward a better month.

Whether you’ve had a busy summer or feel like the year is moving too fast, August offers a fresh start. Let’s keep it easy. These five simple shifts don’t require a big overhaul. Just small changes with a big impact.

1. Slow Your Mornings

If your mornings feel rushed, this is your invitation to slow them down — even just a little.

Try waking up 10–15 minutes earlier. Not to check your phone or scroll, but to sit quietly, sip water or coffee, and breathe. This small window of calm can set the tone for the entire day.

Try this:
Before you check email or news, step outside for five minutes. Look at the sky. Stretch your arms. Let your body and mind wake up gently.

A slower start doesn’t mean doing less — it means doing what matters first.

2. Drink More Water, More Often

This one sounds simple because it is — and it works. Staying hydrated helps you think more clearly, improves mood, and keeps your energy more steady throughout the day.

In the heat of August, your body needs it more than ever. But many of us don’t realize we’re low on water until we’re already tired or dragging.

Try this:
Fill a reusable water bottle in the morning and keep it where you can see it — on your desk, in your car, by the kitchen sink. Add a slice of lemon or cucumber if that helps you drink more.

A few extra sips every hour can lead to a better mood and clearer mind by the end of the day.

3. Make One Thing Easier

We often feel stuck because we’re trying to do too much at once. What if you made one thing easier this month?

Maybe that’s simplifying dinner with a weekly meal plan, keeping your shoes by the door to encourage a daily walk, or unsubscribing from emails that clutter your inbox.

Try this:
Pick one area of your life that feels harder than it needs to be. Ask yourself: “What would make this 10% easier?” Start there.

Easier doesn’t mean lazy. It means smarter. You deserve systems that support your peace of mind.

4. Use Your Evenings to Unplug

The end of the day often fades into screens — TV, phones, social media — but it doesn’t always feel restful. August is a great time to rethink how your evenings wind down.

Even just 20 minutes of unplugged time before bed can help you sleep better and feel more grounded.

Try this:
Instead of scrolling before bed, step outside for some evening air. Sit on the porch. Journal a few thoughts. Light a candle. Do a gentle stretch.

Your brain needs quiet to process the day. Give yourself the gift of calm before sleep.

5. Set a Gentle Intention for the Month

Not a goal. Not a to-do list. Just a simple intention to carry with you through August.

It could be a word like ease, clarity, or joy. Or a phrase: “I take care of myself in small ways every day.” Let it be something that feels supportive — not pressure-filled.

Try this:
Write your August intention on a sticky note and place it where you’ll see it each day — your mirror, fridge, or planner.

Let that intention guide your choices. Not perfectly, but gently. You can return to it whenever you feel off-track.

A Better Month Begins With Small Shifts

You don’t need to change everything. You don’t need a perfect plan.

You just need a little space to breathe. A little water. A little quiet. A small step in a new direction.

August is your fresh start — not because anything is broken, but because you’re ready for something better.

Let this be the month you slow down, care for yourself in quiet ways, and choose peace over pressure.

You deserve that. You always have.

Self-Care in the Summer Sun: 5 Simple Ways to Refill Your Cup

by Suzanne Horrocks Wellness, posted in Climate Mental Health, healthy habits, Healthy Lifestyle, Holistic & Integrated Approaches, Holistic Mental Health Practices, Longevity & Healthy Aging, Longevity Wellness, Mental & Emotional Wellness, Mental Health, mental-health, Natural Solutions, Preventative Self-care, selfcare, Small Joys, stress-management, Summer
Enjoy a refreshing glass of iced tea

Summer has a way of speeding up life. The days are longer, and calendars fill with cookouts, travel plans, and extra errands. While there’s beauty in the brightness of summer, it can also leave you feeling drained—especially if you’re not pausing to care for yourself.

The good news? You don’t need an expensive retreat to feel better. Sometimes, just a few small moments can help you slow down, cool off, and feel more like yourself again.

Here are five simple, budget-friendly ways to refill your cup this summer—without overthinking it.

1. Take a Cool Bath or Shower

When the heat becomes too much, a cool (tepid is best per friend Jenny Graves, author of Naturally-Supporting-Cancer-Treatment-Evidence-based) bath or shower can work wonders. It’s more than just about lowering your body temperature—it’s about giving yourself a quiet pause. Light a candle, play soft music, or just enjoy the sound of the water.

Try adding a few slices of cucumber or mint leaves to bath water for a refreshing twist. If you’re showering, hang a bundle of eucalyptus or lavender from your shower head. It’s a little act of care that can turn a basic rinse into a calming reset.

Why it helps: Water has a naturally soothing effect. It lowers stress levels and helps you feel clean, refreshed, and reconnected to your body.

2. Start Your Day with a Gentle Morning Walk

Summer mornings are often the coolest and quietest part of the day. Before the noise of the day takes over, lace up your shoes and take a short walk—around your block, through your garden, or at a nearby park.

Keep it simple: no phone calls, no rushing. Just notice the birds, the breeze, and the way the light filters through the trees. Even 10–15 minutes can lift your mood and give you a small victory to carry into your day.

Why it helps: Morning light can help regulate your sleep cycle, and movement boosts your energy. A walk also gives your mind room to breathe.

3. Create a Simple Herbal Iced Tea Ritual

Instead of reaching for another coffee or sugary soda, treat yourself to a tall glass of iced herbal tea. You can make a batch ahead of time and keep it in your fridge. Mint, chamomile, hibiscus, and lemon balm are all wonderful choices for cooling and calming.

Take it outside to sip under a shady tree or enjoy it with your feet up indoors. Add a slice of lemon or a sprig of fresh herbs from your garden for a little touch of beauty.

Why it helps: Staying hydrated is crucial during the summer, and herbal teas offer gentle benefits for digestion, relaxation, and hydration—all without caffeine.

4. Create a Quiet Corner Just for You

Designate a small space in your home (or even outside) that’s just for you. It doesn’t have to be fancy—a cozy chair, a cushion, a basket with your journal, a book, or a favorite photo.

Return to this space when you need to breathe, reflect, or just sit in peace. If it’s too hot indoors, set up a shaded spot on your porch or in your backyard. Even five minutes in your “quiet corner” can help shift your energy.

Why it helps: Having a physical space that belongs to you sends a message: “I matter.” It invites you to pause and honor your needs in the middle of a busy day.

5. Unplug for One Hour Each Day

Between group texts, social media, and constant news updates, your mind rarely gets a break. Choose one hour each day—maybe during your lunch, in the early evening, or before bed—to set your phone aside.

Use that time to rest, read, journal, cook, stretch, or simply be still. You might be surprised how quickly the noise settles when you allow space for quiet.

Why it helps: Constant input can be exhausting. Even short breaks from screens can improve focus, reduce stress, and give you more clarity and calm.

A Gentle Reminder

Self-care doesn’t always look like spa days or long vacations. Sometimes, it’s a glass of iced tea in the shade, a walk before the world wakes up, or five minutes in a chair where no one’s asking anything of you.

If your summer has felt a little too full, try one of these ideas this week. You don’t have to do all five. Just start somewhere.

The sun is shining, but you don’t have to burn out. You deserve moments of calm, comfort, and care—even in the middle of a busy season.

Need a little help getting started?
Download my free Self-Care Checklist—a simple printable you can hang on the fridge or keep in your journal as a gentle reminder to put yourself back on the list.