Welcoming Stillness in Summer

There’s a particular kind of stillness that creeps in with summer. A listlessness, even. The days stretch out, full of possibility, and yet sometimes they feel oddly empty. We expect excitement, travel, play, connection, but those moments don’t always come when or how we imagined. As adults, the anticipation for summer fun might even elude us altogether especially since we no longer have the luxury of an extended time off like we once did as children on school break. What arrives instead is a feeling we often avoid: boredom.

In today’s fast-moving world, boredom seems to be an enemy easily avoided but never really defeated. The abundance of content on our devices has trained us to constantly seek the next thing to click, watch, or scroll. We’ve grown unused to silence, to stillness. We say we’re bored, but oftentimes, at the heart of it, the truth is that we’re unaccustomed to being present without distraction.

Consider the quiet in-between moments – waiting in line at the post office or sitting at an airport gate. In earlier days, before smart phones became ever-present companions, those pauses in time were filled differently. Waiting often meant simply that: waiting. Sitting in stillness. Noticing the surroundings. Letting the mind wander, entertained by the gentle whirl of a ceiling fan or the shifting pattern of light on the floor. Or even listening in on the conversations of people around us. We used to let ourselves drift.

And in those moments, without realizing it, we were practicing a version of mindfulness.
Not the kind taught in meditation apps or mindfulness courses – but something quieter, more intuitive. There was no effort to stay present; presence happened naturally, simply because there was nothing pulling awareness elsewhere. The mind had space to breathe, to notice small details, to follow a train of thought to its end (or nowhere in particular). That gentle attention to the here and now. 

These were times when boredom wasn’t something to escape, but something to move through. Looking back, we were often present. We sat in our thoughts. We allowed stillness. And yes, at times we were bored, but it was the kind of boredom that sparked creativity, curiosity, and even calm. The kind that let our minds wander down unexpected paths, not for productivity’s sake, but simply because we were human – alive and open to the world around us.

Perhaps in our boredom, we found joy in tracing shapes in the clouds while sitting in the backseat of a car on a long road trip. Perhaps we noticed a certain cadence in the noise of traffic that sparked the beginning of a song. Perhaps in our boredom, we allowed ourselves to think and feel deeply about the things that truly mattered.

Maybe that’s what we’re missing today. Not excitement, but space.

What would it look like to welcome boredom back? Or perhaps, instead of calling it boredom, these quiet pauses can be seen as gentle invitations to simply be – to rest in stillness without immediately reaching for something to fill the space.

There’s often talk about the need to “unplug” or “disconnect” from the digital world, but it can sound like a daunting task. After all, our devices have become a near-constant presence in daily life. We rely on it for many things and for some, it has become somewhat of a security blanket. There’s comfort in knowing that someone is just a text away or a piece of information is just a Google search away. But maybe this shift toward being more present in our daily lives doesn’t require grand gestures. Maybe it begins in small, intentional moments. Maybe it simply means not reaching for the phone while waiting in line, sitting in the car, or waiting for food to arrive at a restaurant. Or spending a few moments in awe of a beautiful scenery without feeling the need to photograph it. 

Given just a little more space, being still in these moments could reveal unexpected things. Thoughts begin to rise. The mind softens. The inner world starts to stretch and breathe again – quiet, rich, and full of possibility.

Boredom isn’t the enemy. Sometimes, it’s the invitation to return to oneself, to notice what’s there or what’s been overlooked, and to reconnect with a slower, more spacious way of being.

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In the spirit of welcoming stillness and reconnecting with the present this summer, Equinimity offers ESA-approved programs that nurture nervous system regulation, sensory and emotional integration, and authentic connection– through nature, movement, creativity, and community.

As an approved vendor of Arizona’s Empowerment Scholarship Account (ESA), we provide individuals access to educational and therapeutic experiences that honor each child’s unique rhythm and needs.

From horsemanship and Polyvagal-informed listening to parent support and play-based learning, our offerings invite participants of all ages and abilities into spaces of exploration, healing, and joy. Please click here to learn more.