When Life Slows Down: What to Notice in a Quiet Season

Summer often brings a shift in pace. Therapy slows down, routines loosen, and days can start to feel quieter. As an intern therapist, I’ve noticed how this change affects both clients and myself. Sometimes the slower rhythm feels like relief. Other times, it can bring up restlessness, sadness, or a sense that something is missing.

Many of us are used to staying busy as a way to cope. We fill our days with work, tasks, noise, and screens; not just out of necessity, but also to avoid boredom, or discomfort. When that pace eases up, it’s common for emotions we’ve been pushing aside to come to the surface.

Feeling “off” in a quiet season doesn’t mean anything is wrong. It might just mean there’s finally room to feel what’s been waiting underneath.

If this sounds familiar, here are a few ways to gently check in with yourself:

• Ask, “What have I been avoiding lately, even if I don’t have words for it yet?”

• Notice how you feel when you're not multitasking. Does stillness bring calm, or does it make you uneasy?

• Reflect on what you turn to when you're overwhelmed. Is it helping, numbing, or both?

• Try journaling without a goal, just to see what comes out.

• Consider what you might need more of: rest, connection, boundaries, or simply time to think.

Slower seasons can feel strange, but they can also be meaningful. Sometimes they offer a chance to reconnect with yourself, not by doing more, but by noticing more. There is value in the quiet, even if it feels unfamiliar at first.