Find Stillness: Midsummer Calm for a Busy Season

Midsummer is a season of light. In Scandinavia it's celebrated with bonfires, flower crowns and long nights that never quite get dark. Everywhere, summer seems to be at its fullest: gardens blooming, holidays starting, calendars bursting.

It's a joyful time. But all that brightness and activity can leave us feeling scattered. In the busiest part of the year, stillness can feel very far away.

The good news is that stillness doesn't need a quiet season. It can be found in small pockets, even in midsummer.

What stillness is

Stillness isn't the same as doing nothing, or having a perfectly quiet life. It's a feeling of inner calm, of being settled and present, even when life around you is lively.

Think of a mountain lake. The wind may blow across the surface, but deep below, the water is still.

Small pockets of stillness

1. Take five minutes in the morning. Before the day fills up, sit quietly with a drink. Look out of the window. Breathe. Just five minutes.

2. Find a still place. A bench in a park, a corner of the garden, a quiet church or library. Visit it when you need to settle.

3. Pause between activities. Before rushing from one thing to the next, stop for three slow breaths. It's like closing one chapter before opening another.

4. Sit by water. Lakes, rivers, ponds, even a fountain. Watching water is a lovely, natural way to slow down.

5. Be still in nature at dusk. Midsummer evenings are long and golden. Sit outside for ten minutes as the light changes. Listen to the evening sounds.

6. Leave gaps in your days. Not every hour needs a plan. Empty time is where stillness grows.

7. Turn off for a while. Put your phone away for an hour, an evening or a whole day.

Stillness when others are celebrating

You can enjoy the parties and gatherings of midsummer and still look after your need for calm. It's okay to step away for a few quiet minutes, to leave a little early or to choose a smaller celebration.

Find your inner lake

When life feels busy, close your eyes and imagine a calm mountain lake. Its surface is smooth, reflecting the sky. Breathe slowly and let your mind settle like that still water.

A still lake for busy days

Our new two-hour video Find Stillness shows golden larches around a calm mountain lake, with soft music for meditation and deep peace:

▶ Watch Find Stillness on YouTube

In closing

Take five quiet minutes in the morning, find a still place, pause between activities and sit by water when you can. Even in the brightest, busiest season, stillness is waiting in small pockets for you to find.

For a beginner's practice, read Be Still: A Beginner's Guide to Sitting in Silence.

Ethnoscape Media shares content for relaxation, inspiration and general information. It is not medical or psychological advice. Please talk to a qualified professional about your health.