When the Well Runs Dry
4 ways to spark inspiration when everything is hazy and sweaty
Sea Legs will take next week off for the 4th of July holiday. Stay hydrated, wear sunscreen, and please, don’t share a photo of fireworks on social media—it never translates!
Whenever I think about the summers of my childhood, the first image that comes to mind is heat rising off the asphalt.
The heat endures in the South morning, noon, and night. There’s no break, rarely a breeze, and even the most basic errands take on a dreamlike haze.
Aside from accompanying friends to their Vacation Bible School (IYKYK), the summers largely stretched ahead of me with no plans. There weren’t means for vacations or summer programs for children. And this is also the 90s we’re talking about, so there was less pressure on kids to be occupied every weekday.
I would venture outside only for the promise of a sprinkler, a trip to Sonic, the public library, or after I had doused my hair with Sun-In (one summer, I truly wanted nothing more than to achieve the exact shade of dirty blonde that the Olsen twins had).
So I killed time by killing the flies that congregated by the front window. At the beginning of these summers it took some getting used to; my hands weren’t quick enough. By the end of the summer, I had mastered the art of the one-swat kill.
And, of course, marveling at the constant heat rising from the asphalt pavement.
Because of this, I like to think of myself as, well, maybe not a master, but more knowledgeable than most about how to handle boredom.
If you, too, are feeling a little delirious from the heat, if the summer slowdown has you feeling a bit restless, or if the state of American democracy has you wanting to dissociate, here’s a handy little guide to spark inspiration over these next few weeks.
Draft a ‘summer bucket list’
This is a ritual my husband and I started when we first moved to NYC—we were so happy to finally be settling in our favorite city and deeply needed to shake off the doldrums from a particularly brutal winter and unseasonable spring that welcomed us when we arrived.
The concept is simple enough: make a list of things you want to do in your general metro area that you haven’t gotten around to. This also applies to things you enjoy doing, but don’t get to do or visit as often as you’d like.
It’s meant to be low-stakes! You don’t have to get super creative or plan the most extravagant staycation. For instance, my summer bucket list this year includes finally taking my daughter to Little Island and decent-ish seats to a Yankees game.
On those weeks when everyone seems to be on a fun vacation and it’s too hot to think of something fun to do, it’s nice to whip out the bucket list and pick something at random. Variety is the spice of life!
In case you’re concerned, it’s not too late to make this list! June is, quite frankly, just the warm-up to the summer season. I’m still finalizing my summer plans well after Memorial Day weekend.
Create a seasonal ritual
Fall and the Holiday season really hog the concept of seasonal rituals—trips to the pumpkin patch, extended family get-togethers, shopping for a Christmas tree, etc. But I think the slow summer days are the perfect time to establish a new normal that's different from the rest of the year.
On Wednesdays, I make a point to swing by the weekly farmer’s market at the south entrance of Prospect Park after dropping my daughter off at daycare. It’s nothing exciting or novel, but it shakes up my ‘usual’ routine, I pick up some seasonal produce, and get my steps in. And by the time the first fall chill arrives, life has picked up, I jive less with the produce of that season, and I promise myself I’ll pick it back up in mid-May.
Revisit the last truly great book you read (or movie, or album, or all of the above!)
Every summer, I re-read a book that I either a) consider one of my all-time favorites, or b) gave five stars on Goodreads but haven’t revisited since. It’s a habit I’ve been doing reflexively for probably the better part of a decade, and while I’m not sure what prompted it, it’s such an easy way to gain a new perspective.
I am always particularly interested in re-reading books I loved during very specific times in my life and seeing how they stack up to my current reality. Does the book about musicians who died tragically that shook 18-year-old Mattie’s goddamn world still move me? Does the coming-of-age debut novel set in a boarding school during the late 80s still deserve a spot in my top 5 of all time?
This can also work for movies and/or albums that you love but haven’t revisited, but there’s just something about a book that really helps get me out of my current headspace.
Reset your space
On those days when you want to do something but it’s simply too hot, I turn inward—to my apartment.
Spring cleaning is overrated. My favorite time to turn my closet inside out is when my blinds are closed and the AC is set to 69. I know that at any given time, there are usually two or three daunting chores you’ve been avoiding.
I admit I don’t enjoy house projects or demanding cleaning tasks, so if you do, this might not be the most helpful tip. But the only way I can motivate myself to clean out a gnarly closet, figure out some semblance of order amongst my daughter’s toys, or finally list the few designer pieces that no longer fit me on eBay is by reminding myself that it’s unbearable out there, and I can crank the AC for a few hours and catch up on my podcasts.
And though I never enjoy it in the moment, I always feel inspired and momentarily free from my mental treadmill once it’s done.
I hope I gave you some ideas for shaking things up during the laziest part of the year (except perhaps the week between Christmas and New Year’s). Here are a few other things I want to note:
As a progressive voter living in Brooklyn, I am pleased with the results of the Democratic primary for mayor, which effectively serves as the general election. However, I am really, really worried about the rampant racism and xenophobia that’s going to be unleashed on the national stage. It’s already starting, and it’s scaring me.
Are you following the 50-something woman who went to Mexico for a facelift and genuinely looks like she’s in her 20s again? It’s freaking me (and many other Internet freaks) out.
I’m quite skeptical about the future of glossies, but if anyone can change their course, it’s a truly smart and savvy new editor to lead Vogue. I’m not even sure who should take the job, but I would love to chat if you have gossip/intel!
Mattie
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xx