By now I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s thrilled that summer 2k24 is almost over! The heavy rain last night was a perfect sign that fresh autumn breeze is on its way - and I can’t wait!!
I’ve been pretty vocal about how much I dislike Madrid summer. My first one (last year) was brutal. I ended up gaining 4 kg because I couldn’t bring myself to exercise. I was stuck at home, desperately trying to stay cool and eating mindlessly to pass the time. Needless to say, it took a toll on me—not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. Needless to say, it affected how I view summers in Madrid - for better or for worse.
I was bracing myself to experience all the same this year. I tried to manage my expectations and even came up with a list of fun things to do indoors. I stocked up on new books, borrowed a guitar from my manager (although I only used it 3 times and totally forgot about it after 🐵), created a list of new old movies/series to binge with the boyfriend, subscribed to as many newsletters as I possibly can, etc etc!
In other words, I was all set to be a total homebody.
But here’s the plot twist:
This summer actually turned out to be one of my most productive summers, yet!
So to celebrate this feat (and for posterity) I am writing this post to share some pro tips on how I managed to make this summer way more enjoyable than the last - even with the same hellish heat.
Hopefully, these tips will help you out too - in the summers to come 😉
... But first, here are some photos of my beautiful city in summertime. With its empty streets and half full cafés, the capital of Spain doesn’t feel like a big city at all in August, does it?
PRO TIPS TO ENJOY MADRID DURING SUMMERTIME:
1. Switch Up Your Daily Grind
Instead of dreading the heat and hiding indoors to stay cool, why not take advantage of the cooler parts of the day with early morning walks and late evening gym sessions? The temperature doesn’t start climbing until around noon, and the hottest hours are from 3 PM to 7 PM so there’s actually plenty of time to get moving in the mornings or unwind in the evenings. Madrid is known for doing things late but in the summer, being an early bird is the key to enjoying the (empty) city.
2. Embrace Boredom
This was a real game-changer for me. As someone who has undiagnosed ADHD, I truly love to chase dopamine all around. But this time, instead of resisting that boredom that I usually loathe, I decided to lean into it. Turns out, allowing myself to be bored would be a fantastic catalyst for creativity and reflection. It pushed me to think outside the box, dive into passion projects I had been putting off (I managed to publish 6 new posts on this blog after a 2-month writing hiatus during Spring can you believe???) and even planned some exciting trips for the months ahead! Woooo!
3. Hydrate! Hydrate! Hydrate!
With water comprising about 60% of our bodies, staying hydrated is vital for healing and overall well-being. I've made it a priority to drink more water and eat hydrating fruits like watermelon, mandarins, and pineapple. Plus, whenever my boyfriend and I are in the city centre, we make it a point to grab refreshing drinks like fruit juices, matcha frappes, or boba tea. It definitely adds a little extra charm to summer 😉
4. Be Artsy Fartsy with Arts and Crafts
For my birthday last April, my friends gifted me a diamond art painting kit with the image of the Eiffel Tower🗼 It turned out to be the perfect way to spend hot afternoons when going outside wasn’t an option (thanks, girlies!!) Painting, writing, knitting, learning to play a musical instrument, doing puzzles, doing some DIY furniture at home et al can truly make these sweltering hours fly by. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to decompress (without going immediately to Netflix) and stay mentally stimulated!
5. Create a Cozy, Pinterest-ish Space
Spending more time indoors is the perfect chance to unleash the inner interior designer within you! As for me, I took this hot opportunity to refresh my space by rearranging my skincare products, adding fresh flowers to the bathroom sink, repositioning the plants throughout the flat, and decluttering the non-essentials to create more room. It felt incredibly refreshing and motivating. It’s amazing how a small makeover can completely change your mood. Sometimes, all it takes is moving a few things around to reset your mindset.
6. Engage in a New Hobby
Whether it’s experimenting with new recipes, picking up a musical instrument, practicing home yoga or pilates, upgrading your skincare routine, refining your skills in sketching or pottery, or finally launching that website or YouTube channel, now is the perfect time to dive in and explore something new. Use this downtime to enrich your life with new hobbies so by the time you kiss summer 2024 goodbye, you’ll be a more fulfilled and better version of yourself!
7. Go on Dates with Friends - Even if it’s only Once a Month
I made a deliberate effort to stay in touch with friends and family - whether through texts, video calls, or monthly brunches. It’s easy to retreat and isolate when you’re dodging the heat, but those small connections really boost my mood. Plus, having someone to bitch about the weather always makes things better!
8. Celebrate the Little Wins
Lastly, I discovered the importance of celebrating small victories—whether it was finishing a book, burning 500 calories (which is my daily target), hitting the gym three times a week, doing Zumba, conversing in Spanish, or simply getting out of bed earlier than usual for a morning walk (even though I was not in the mood!). These little achievements accumulated and made each day feel more rewarding.
Summer may not be my favourite-iest season, but I’m really proud of how I’ve done this year. Despite the heat being just as intense as ever, switching up my routine and being intentional in how I spend my time really turned this summer into a period of growth and productivity. If you’ve also been struggling with the scorching temperatures, I hope these tips help you make the most of it.
To end this post, I would like to share these nuggets of wisdom from one of the books that I’ve read this summer:
“To overcome the anxieties and depressions of contemporary life, individuals must become independent of the social environment to the degree that they no longer respond exclusively in terms of its rewards and punishments. To achieve such autonomy, a person has to learn to provide rewards to herself. She has to develop the ability to find enjoyment and purpose regardless of external circumstances.”
“People who learn to control inner experience will be able to determine the quality of their lives, which is as close as any of us can come to being happy.”
-Mihaly Csikszentmihalyi, Flow: The Psychology of Optimal Experience
All of this for now! Hasta luego!
PS: Bring on the autumn breeze!!! 🍂
Comments