The Great British Summer… what does it have in store for us in 2022? As glorious as it is unreliable, summer in the Surrey Hills is a promise too good to doubt. With trees in full leaf, chicks fledged and blossom a breezy memory, summer months are the time for us to reap the reward of a years effort. Longer days and warmer weather offer more time to connect with friends, pick up old projects or simply pause and take in the air. The trails are bursting with life, tempting us out into nature and offering sights, sounds and smells that reassure and invigorate. Now is the time to commit to getting outdoors, try something new, connect with nature in a way you may have forgotten. Why not walk alone, or stand barefoot in the grass? Maybe an open water swim after a full day’s hike? Or simply lie in the grass and watch the clouds float by. Whatever appeals to you, take this moment to remind yourself to be a part of nature, not apart from nature.

In the unlikely event that you exhaust all the Surrey Hills have to offer, summer is also a time for variety. Many of us will head to new and unfamiliar places, and leave the predictable pulse of daily life behind. We seek sun and space, food, drink and adventure, and hope for inspiration and energy from a life lived in new and strange ways. A chance to read, to write, to experience the exotic and exhilarating, and to plan for a return to normality that has benefitted from a fresh perspective. To extend the reach of your holidays, invest in planning and researching your destination well in advance. Get the whole family engaged in what to expect, to find the things that interest them, and think about how to make the most of the break. Building excitement and anticipation is a key way to ensure that your holiday is so much more than the week or two spent away. Once home, take time to reflect on what you have learned, what you would do again and what would have been even better if… Travel is an enriching and mind expanding experience, make sure you capture as much from it as you can and bring new perspective into life back home.

Finally, take time this summer for some self-care. In a world where the unpredictably awful continues to threaten our daily lives, and we are being challenged on all sides from the household bills to global stability, time to support your own wellbeing is critical. It is a well worn adage that you should put your own oxygen mask on before tending to others, and it is true. Looking after yourself is not selfish, it is ensuring that you are able to be there for those that depend on you. Take some time this summer to think about what really supports you – how do you recharge? Then, once you have hit on something just for you, schedule the time in and protect it as you would if it were a meeting with your boss! Commit to a regular investment in your physical and mental wellbeing, consider it critical to building the resilience you need now and in the months ahead. Believe that this is time well spent, a non-negotiable part of everyday life, an investment in yourself that reaps rewards for all you care about. A practice built in the welcoming warmth of the long summer days, will have more chance of standing the test of darker days ahead, so go on, start something new, just for you, and notice how good it feels.

Kate is a Professional & Personal Coach walking and working in The Surrey Hills, to find out more visit www.airheadcoaching.com