Do you get summer guilt too?

Enjoying some patio time with my family

Hello again, friends! I know it’s been a minute (or since 2025), but I’ve really missed writing. I’ve been in full-time-learning-how-to-improve-as-an-emergency-physician mode for the last eight months, which has been amazing. I’ll write another post about what it’s been like to transition from medical training to a full-time staff physician in the emergency department at some point.

But for now, I have some summer guilt. I thought I came up with the term, but the internet tells me it’s a thing – the pressure to make the most out of this brief period of good weather.

I love summer. A beer on a patio, hikes with my family, reading outside, watching my son explore in nature… so many things to enjoy. But despite all the fun to be had, I also feel like I’m doing something wrong if I curl up on my couch while the weather is gorgeous. It’s the fear of missing out on time I could be spending outside before the weather gets bad again.

I’ve been managing summer guilt in a few ways:

1. Staying in the Moment

When I’m outside, I try to stay mindful. I listen to the birds, feel the sun on my face, and notice the flowers and greenery. If you ever think that time goes by too fast, mindfulness is an excellent solution.

2. Enjoying Small Moments Outdoors

A few times a day, I step outside for a minute. I take a few deep breaths and enjoy the fact that I don’t need a jacket right now.

3. Taking Lots of Pictures

I take a lot of pictures, especially in the summer. This helps my summer guilt significantly; I can look back and see how much time I got to spend with my friends and family enjoying the outdoors.

4. Calming Down about the Whole Thing

As with most of my mental blocks, my solution is to calm down about it. If I get time in the day to be on my couch and watch a mindless show on Netflix, then I count that as a win.

I hope you’re enjoying your summer and getting some time to relax both inside and outside.

Stay well friends,

Alexi

Dr. Kuhnow is an emergency medicine physician and former physiotherapist in Ontario, Canada. She writes about healthy habits for healthcare providers on her blog no trophies for perfect. To get healthy habits and practical tips directly to your inbox, sign up for her weekly newsletter.  

This post is meant for educational purposes only, and doesn’t replace advice from your qualified healthcare professional.