The "Slow" Summer Movement: Habits and Trends
- Lay Jordan
- Jun 28
- 10 min read
As we dive into the summer months of 2025, are you feeling the pressure to pack your calendar with adventures, projects, and social events? Or are you sensing a need to slow down and create a more intentional seasonal experience?
In this post, inspired by Episode 55 of "A Little Atypical" podcast, we'll explore the growing "slow summer" movement that's challenging our culture's obsession with productivity and constant activity. As someone who loves analyzing cultural trends, I wanted to take my usual aesthetic observations a step further and examine these emerging lifestyle shifts through a more substantive lens, highlighting not just what these trends look like, but their psychological foundations and real-world impacts on our wellbeing.
The episode titled "Summer Prep: Set Your Own Vibe (Hot Girl Summer or Maybe…) " discussed breaking free from prescribed summer narratives (particularly the high-energy "hot girl summer" expectations) to design experiences that truly resonate with your authentic energy and goals. This concept immediately resonated with me as I've observed this shift isn't isolated but part of a broader cultural movement.
Before diving into the science and psychology behind these emerging slow living trends, I invite you to join me in creating your own authentic summer experience. Whether you're feeling pressured by social media summer expectations or simply seeking permission to do summer your way, the insights below will help you craft a season that genuinely supports your wellbeing rather than depleting it. Click one of the links below to view the episode, and don't forget to follow the podcast to never miss an episode!
Episode No. 55
Where to listen:
In this post, we'll examine why more people are rejecting the fast pace of modern life, explore trending "slow summer" habits and their science-backed benefits, and discuss why embracing slowness might be exactly what many of us need during these warmer months.
Why More People Are Rejecting the Fast Pace
Digital fatigue has reached unprecedented levels over the past year. Between global tensions, the constant barrage of social media telling us who to be, what to like, and what to care about (often framing these choices as moral imperatives), many people are mentally exhausted.
We're expected to simultaneously:
Manage our health and wellness
Find our purpose and contribution to society
Earn enough to cover increasingly expensive basic needs
Stay informed about global and local issues
Maintain a perfect online presence
Be constantly productive and growing
The pressure is immense, and more people are recognizing that this pace isn't sustainable or even desirable.
Research on "blue zones" reveals that regions where people consistently live longer, healthier lives typically embrace slower, more intentional living. They prioritize community connections, meaningful work performed at a sustainable pace, and regular periods of rest and reflection.
This connects directly to what science tells us about nervous system regulation. Our bodies weren't designed to operate in constant "fight or flight" mode. Periods of rest and "tend and befriend" activities are essential for physical and mental health. Seasonality and embracing different energy levels throughout the year are how humans have functioned for millennia before the industrial revolution demanded constant productivity.
Trending "Slow Summer" Habits and Their Benefits
Digital Minimalism
Description: The intentional reduction of screen time and social media consumption to regain control over digital habits.
Why it's relevant: Studies show excessive screen time correlates with increased anxiety and decreased attention spans. Research published in the Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology found that limiting social media use to 30 minutes daily significantly reduced feelings of loneliness and depression.
How it improves life: Digital minimalism creates space for deeper thinking and more meaningful in-person connections. Neurologically, it helps reset dopamine pathways that become disregulated with constant digital stimulation.
Article Recommendation: https://www.thegoodtrade.com/features/what-is-digital-minimalism/
Frugal Living
Description: Embracing mindful spending patterns and finding genuine satisfaction in simpler pleasures.
Why it's relevant: Research in positive psychology consistently demonstrates that materialism correlates negatively with well-being, while experiences and relationships show strong positive correlations with life satisfaction.
How it improves life: By redirecting resources toward what truly matters, frugal living reduces financial stress while increasing gratitude (a psychological state strongly linked to improved mental health and immune function).
Article Recommendation: https://www.financialpoise.com/frugal-living-benefits/
Slow Travel
Description: Deeply experiencing fewer locations rather than rushing between tourist attractions.
Why it's relevant: Cognitive science reveals that our brains form stronger, more lasting memories when given adequate time to process new experiences without overwhelm.
How it improves life: This approach reduces travel-related stress while enhancing cultural understanding and creating more meaningful connections to places visited. Studies show that the quality of experiences consistently outweighs quantity in terms of long-term satisfaction.
Article Recommendation: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-is-slow-travel-vacation_l_63ea5c31e4b0063ccb27b668
"Touch Grass" Movement
Description: Prioritizing regular, intentional time in natural environments as a form of therapy.
Why it's relevant: A substantial body of research supports "nature prescriptions." A 2019 study found that just 20 minutes of nature contact significantly lowers cortisol levels, while multiple studies confirm that nature exposure reduces blood pressure and improves cognitive function.
How it improves life: Regular nature immersion helps regulate the nervous system, improves attention capacity, and provides vitamin D, which is essential for immune function and mood regulation.
Article Recommendation: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/touch-grass-productivity-app_l_67d44c4ce4b034e451a5be71
Low-Buy Summer
Description: Focusing on experiences rather than accumulating material possessions during the summer months.
Why it's relevant: Research in happiness economics consistently shows that the hedonic adaptation to purchases happens quickly (the "hedonic treadmill"), while memorable experiences provide more sustained satisfaction.
How it improves life: This practice reduces consumption stress while encouraging more meaningful memory creation. Psychologically, it shifts focus from external validation to internal satisfaction.
Article Recommendation: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/trendy-low-buy-years-challenges/
Analog Hobbies
Description: Engaging in physical activities like reading print books, journaling, gardening, and crafting.
Why it's relevant: Neuroscience research shows these activities engage different neural pathways than digital activities, promoting cognitive flexibility and often inducing flow states, a psychological condition associated with happiness and fulfillment.
How it improves life: These hobbies typically lack the instant rewards and constant stimulation that make digital alternatives so addictive, allowing for more sustainable enjoyment and skill development.
Article Recommendation: https://rollingout.com/2025/06/14/gen-z-analog-hobbies/
Micro-Adventures
Description: Finding excitement in local exploration and day trips without extensive planning or travel.
Why it's relevant: Neuroscientists have found that exploring new environments, even within your own city, stimulates cognitive flexibility and creative thinking by forming new neural connections.
How it improves life: These small adventures satisfy our psychological need for novelty and discovery without the stress, carbon footprint, or expense of distant journeys, making regular doses of adventure sustainable.
Article Recommendation: https://www.travelbugtonic.com/blog/microadventure-ideas
Community Building
Description: Actively cultivating local connections through shared activities and regular gatherings.
Why it's relevant: Harvard's 85-year study on adult development consistently finds that quality relationships are the strongest predictor of happiness and longevity (more important than wealth, fame, or social class).
How it improves life: Strong social ties buffer against stress, improve immune function, and provide a sense of belonging that evolutionary psychology identifies as a core human need.
Article Recommendation: https://www.rd.com/article/what-is-community/
Mindful Consumption
Description: Making deliberate choices to support small businesses and sustainable practices when purchasing becomes necessary.
Why it's relevant: Research in consumer psychology reveals that purchasing aligned with personal values creates what's called "helper's high", the positive emotional state associated with prosocial actions.
How it improves life: This approach reduces cognitive dissonance between values and actions while providing the psychological benefits of contributing to community resilience and environmental sustainability.
Article Recommendation: https://www.conexiogroup.com/blog/the-mindful-consumer-how-values-are-shaping-consumer-preferences-and-what-brands-can-do-about-it
Embracing Different Summer Rhythms
Contrary to popular belief, summer doesn't have to be packed with high-energy activities. There's a cultural narrative that summer should be our most productive, adventurous season, but this doesn't align with everyone's natural rhythms or circumstances.
Why is slowness seen as such a bad thing in our culture? Slow doesn't mean unproductive or incompetent, despite slang often equating these concepts. True slowness is about thoroughness, intentionality, and presence. It's about fully experiencing a moment rather than rushing to the next achievement or photo opportunity. When we take time to truly understand something instead of jumping in hastily, we often save energy in the long run. This is energy we might otherwise spend fixing mistakes or redoing work that wasn't right the first time.
In my own life, I've been "on" since Fall 2024. Fall in my industry is the busiest time of year due to numerous events, and my personal calendar fills up too. My birthday falls in October, followed by Halloween (even though I don't personally celebrate), Thanksgiving in November, and the entire holiday season through early January. February brings Valentine's Day, though celebrations tend to be more one-on-one unless you make group plans. I also happen to know more people born in fall or winter, making these truly my social seasons.
As someone passionate about wellness and personal development, I've noticed that winter and spring months are when I capitalize on energy to make meaningful life changes. Every positive shift I experience during summer is the direct result of intentions set and work done by my winter and spring self (I’ll elaborate more in this monthly review so stay tuned). I typically hit a slump around February. This makes sense when you consider that my highest natural energy comes in September. This natural rhythm is why summer becomes a time when I deliberately choose rest, incorporating play while maintaining minimal organization and prioritizing connections with people, activities, and experiences that bring peace.
Your seasons may look entirely different based on your career, environment, social circle, and personal values. The key isn't following my pattern or anyone else's; it's recognizing and honoring your own natural rhythms.
If you feel called to slow down this summer, don't let productivity guilt or social media FOMO disrupt what you genuinely need. Adjusting your pace doesn't mean you're "falling off" or failing; it means you're attuned to your needs and sustainable growth. You can still make microscopic contributions to your goals during a season of intentional slowness. Sometimes these small, mindful steps lead to the most lasting changes.
The most radical act might be giving yourself permission to experience summer at your own perfect pace, whether that means adventure and activity or rest and reflection. After all, true productivity isn't measured in tasks completed, but in how meaningfully we live our lives.
Episode Description
Your Ultimate Summer Prep Guide: Creating Your Perfect Season
Dive into this soul-nourishing episode about crafting your authentic summer experience! Whether you're dreaming of a "hot girl summer" or seeking something entirely different, we're here to help you design a season that truly resonates with YOUR energy and goals.
✨ Episode Highlights:
• Breaking free from prescribed summer narratives
• Creating space for both growth and spontaneous joy
• Aligning your summer vibe with your authentic self
• Transformative card readings and Spiritual guidance for the Cancer season
• Practical guidance for seasonal intention setting
• Permission to break free from expectations
🎯 Perfect for anyone:
Feeling pressured by social media summer expectations, seeking permission to do summer their way, or looking to create meaningful seasonal experiences that align with their true self.
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Music by Remil - Evening Tea - https://thmatc.co/?l=DFECB5D4
Section | Timestamp | Notes |
Breaking Free from Summer Trends: Creating Your Season | 00:00 | ✨Highlights
|
Why do we even label our summer | 02:28 | ✨Highlights
|
Witty and Whimsy Summer | 06:44 Subtopic breakdown: Subtopic 1 -11:14 Subtopic 2 - 14:38 Subtopic 3 - 17:44 | Highlights
|
How to curate your vibe | 22:12 | ✨Highlights
|
Your Summer Story: A Personal Symphony | 24:44 | ✨ Highlights
|
Card Pull | 26:44 | 2 Card Decks
|
What I'm grateful for | 31:52 | My mom gifted me with something she knew I needed |
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