A Common Confidential Summer Evening

Summer evenings move slower.

We’re less rushed to get things done before the sun sets. Walks become even longer, dinner happens a little later, and there are a few extra hours in the day.

But, summer has a habit of disappearing before we realize it. We get caught up in vacations and busy weekends all while still clocking into work every morning. 

Sometimes the sweetest moments of summer aren’t the big trips, but the quiet evenings at home when the soft glow of the setting sun pours through the windows and your nightly walk with the dog becomes a slow stroll through warm air. 

Summer nights have a slow rhythm all their own, but when your brain stays trapped in getting-things-done mode it's difficult to find that slower mentality.

At Common Confidential we believe there is a certain cadence you can apply to your evenings to help your brain drift out of work mode and into the present moment.

This is the Common Confidential summer evening routine. 

It’s not another productivity task or a list of evening hacks, but a loose rhythm that helps you carve out some intentional time and enjoy one of the best parts of the day during one of the best times of year. 

Around 5:00 | Leave Work at Work

Sometimes your nervous system doesn't realize the workday has ended. Because throughout the day, your attention is constantly being directed somewhere else. You are solving problems, making decisions, responding to messages, and keeping track of everything that needs your attention. Even if you enjoy your job, that level of sustained focus asks a lot from your mind and body.

That is why transition matters. When you get home, create a small ritual that tells your body the workday is over. Change into comfortable clothes, walk the dog, sit outside with a cold drink, spend time on a hobby, read, or do something that helps you settle back into your body.

The ritual itself is not the important part. What matters is having something you look forward to as the clock inches toward five. 

It reminds your brain and body that there is a clear separation between the part of your day that requires constant output and the part of your day that belongs to you. 

6:00-6:30 | Let Dinner Become Part of the Evening

Dinner sometimes becomes another task on the checklist, but those long summer evenings are the perfect opportunity to make it dreamy again. 

Open the windows, turn on some music, get everything prepped, and enjoy the subtle rhythm of chopping, measuring, and putting it all together. Let yourself create a nourishing meal for yourself. 

Cooking asks your hands to slow down, and sometimes that is exactly what your mind has been waiting for. 

We like an early dinner during our normal summer routine and try to eat around 6, but every night is different. This is a rough schedule, so make it fit your evening. 

7:30ish | Spend Some Time Outside

Summer gives us longer evenings. We might as well enjoy them.

One of the easiest ways to wind down is to get outside. We love this after dinner, because it’s good for your circadian rhythm and your digestion.

Fresh air and natural light help reinforce your body's internal clock while quietly reminding your brain that the workday has ended. Just as importantly, they invite you back into the present moment.

Movement after you eat, gets your digestive system working a little quicker and processing what you just had for dinner. This is also helps you sleep more efficiently later.

Take a walk through your neighborhood, head to the park with a book, water your plants, sit on the porch, or play outside with your kids.

Do whatever helps you feel grounded and peaceful outside.

Around 8:00 | Spend Time Doing Something That Gives Back

One of the easiest habits to fall into after work is passive consumption.

We sit down intending to relax, only to spend the next hour absorbing the emotional state of the entire internet.

Throughout the workday, so much of your value is measured by productivity. During this part of the evening, the only thing that matters is enjoying your hobbies, friendships, family and routines. 

Spend some time with an activity that pours into you. This part of the evening can also overlap with your time outside, just make sure to spend time on both energies. 

Read the book that has been sitting on your nightstand. Practice an instrument. Tend to the garden. Create art. Write. Call your sibling. Play cards with your partner while listening to your favorite album. Or work on your latest hobby. 

None of these activities need to accomplish anything, rather they create a moment for you to just be still. 

Around 8:30 | Help Tomorrow's You

By now, you’ve quieted your evening and nervous system a lot. Do the same for your environment.

Turn off the big light, put your phone on airplane room or in the other room, play a frequency, stretch a little, take a bath or shower, and move through your bedtime routine slowly.

This is a great time to get your Massage Butter out or throw your Intimate Blanket on the bed, so that when your partner gets out of the shower they’ll see what you have in mind. Completely step away from the other things and completely focus on the sleep that’s ahead of you. 

Have your Mouth Tape and magnesium spray next to your bed. Turn on the soft lamp or light a candle. Have your kindle or book handy, to read a few pages before closing your eyes. 

Your body already knows how to prepare for sleep. When you create a calm environment, you support your natural circadian rhythm while giving your nervous system permission to shift into its rest-and-digest state. 

Those small rituals may not seem like they are making a huge difference in the moment, but they often become the difference between lying awake replaying the day and waking up feeling genuinely rested. The slower your evening becomes, the easier it is for your body to recognize that the day is coming to a close. 

Summer Evenings Are Worth Protecting

There will always be another email, load of laundry, errand to run, and another notification asking for your attention. The key is to let them go by the end of the day, because even if you do the next thing that comes to mind, another one will pop-up. 

Long summer days are only around once a year. Use your 5-9 to take advantage of this time and fill your cup. These are the hours when you reconnect with the life you live and the people you live it with.

This week, try to let your evenings operate with this sort of rhythm. Stretched out chunks of time with routines you look forward to. Practice the art of staying present during those routines and really enjoying what they offer. 

Take the long way home. Watch the sunset. Connect with the people you love.