There’s a shift that seems to happen every spring. It stays light later, your energy starts to come back online, and suddenly you’re a person who has plans again—dinner here, a workout class there, maybe even a casual yes to something on a Tuesday night. It all feels good. Expansive, even. Until, somehow, it doesn’t.

Because alongside that fresh energy is something harder to name: a low-level sense of overstimulation. You’re sleeping a little worse. Your calendar fills up faster than you expected. You feel both energized and slightly on edge, like your body hasn’t quite caught up to the season yet.

I was just saying to my boyfriend the other night that, as we move into spring—and into a season of life that already feels full in its own way—I want to pay closer attention to my energy. Not just how much I have, but how it feels: when it’s aligned with the life I’m building, and when it starts to drift.

Featured image from our interview with Mary Ralph Bradley by Michelle Nash.

The Spring Nervous System Reset Your Body and Mind Have Been Craving

Here’s an example. The other night, after a few days of that first real stretch of Portland sunshine, I fell asleep at 8 p.m. without meaning to. Nearly eleven hours later, it became a little harder to ignore what my body had been asking for all along: less.

And that’s the thing about this time of year. The world begins to open quickly—more light, more plans, more possibility—but your nervous system doesn’t necessarily follow at the same pace. It adjusts more gradually, in response to the signals it’s given.

“After the slower pace of winter, spring can feel like a sudden surge of input for the nervous system,” says Clara Schroeder, an ecotherapist, speaker, and author of Re-Nature: How Nature Helps Us Feel Better and Do Better. “More daylight means you can do more after work, and suddenly we feel pressure to fill up our social calendars, or add on activities to the end of our days.”

What feels like a lack of discipline or energy is often something else entirely: a body that’s still learning how to meet the moment it’s in.

Clara Schroeder

Clara Schroeder is an ecotherapist, speaker, and best-selling author of Re-Nature: How Nature Helps Us Feel Better and Do Better. Clara’s expertise has been trusted by leading organizations, including UCSF, Microsoft, Women in Cloud, Terumo Neuro, and Aura Health. She holds a Master’s in Psychology and Education from Columbia University’s Spirituality Mind and Body Institute, led by renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Miller. As a Certified Ecotherapist, Institute Certified Mindfulness Teacher, Co-Active Professional Coach, and a Wilderness First Responder through NOLS, she offers a grounded, science-backed pathway to sustainable transformation.

What a Spring Nervous System Reset Actually Means

Spring is a season of expansion, but your nervous system doesn’t instantly match that pace. It responds to what it’s given, recalibrating in real time. Which is why trying to force more energy, more output, or more structure too quickly can leave you feeling even more out of sync.

Instead, this season’s reset looks a little softer. It’s paying attention. It’s noticing when something feels like too much, even if it’s something you were looking forward to. It’s allowing your capacity to build, rather than assuming it’s already there.

Or, as Schroeder puts it, the goal is to be “gradual and gentle with this seasonal transition”—so you can actually enjoy it, instead of becoming overwhelmed by it.

Why Spring Can Feel Surprisingly Overwhelming

Part of what makes this time of year feel so disorienting is the mismatch between what’s happening around you and what your body is ready for.

The external world speeds up quickly. There’s more light, more activity, more opportunity to be out in it all. Your calendar fills in faster, and there’s a subtle pull to step back into everything all at once.

But internally, the shift is more gradual. Longer days begin to recalibrate your circadian rhythm, influencing everything from your sleep to your energy levels to your mood. Cortisol patterns adjust in response to increased light exposure, and your body starts receiving more sensory input—often before it’s fully caught up to the change in season.

“Our bodies are more attuned to the cycles of nature than we often are aware of,” says Schroeder. “We tend to feel seasonal changes physiologically as well as emotionally.” Which is why even positive change can feel like too much.

It’s all good—until it isn’t. Because your nervous system doesn’t distinguish between good stress and bad stress in the way you might expect. It simply registers input. And when that input increases quickly, it responds accordingly.

Spring often brings with it a subtle sense of urgency—the feeling that you should be doing more simply because you suddenly can. As Schroeder explains, that increase in light and activity can create pressure to fill your time in ways your body isn’t always ready for.

Which is how you can find yourself in a moment that feels both energizing and overwhelming at the same time.

The Subtle Signs Your Nervous System Is Overstimulated

Overstimulation tends to surface quietly—through small shifts in how you feel, how you move through your day, and how you respond to things that normally wouldn’t faze you.

You feel more tired, but less rested. You might notice it in your sleep first. You’re more tired than usual, but somehow sleeping less deeply. There’s a kind of restlessness that lingers, even when you’ve technically had enough rest.

You feel wired and drained at the same time. There’s energy, but it doesn’t feel grounded. It might be sharper or more reactive. Like your body is running slightly ahead of you.

Your reactions feel slightly amplified. Irritation comes a little faster. Your threshold feels lower. Not enough to name as anything significant, but enough to notice that everything feels a little louder than it should.

Plans start to feel heavier than expected. Things you were genuinely looking forward to begin to feel like something to get through.

As Schroeder explains, even positive changes—more plans, more activity, more stimulation—can create a sense of urgency in the body that it’s not always ready for. None of this means something is wrong. If anything, it’s your nervous system doing exactly what it’s meant to do: responding to an increase in stimulation, and asking for a little more space.

A Spring Nervous System Reset: 5 Ways to Feel More Regulated

If the shift into spring has been feeling a little faster than expected, a reset doesn’t need to be dramatic. Start with these small adjustments. You can think of them as ways of working with the season instead of against it.

1. Start Your Day With Light (Before Input)

Before your phone or your inbox, step outside. It doesn’t have to be long. Even a few minutes of morning light is enough to begin anchoring your circadian rhythm, signaling to your body that it’s time to wake up, focus, and gradually build energy throughout the day.

As Schroeder explains, morning light plays a key role in regulating sleep, mood, and hormone patterns—helping the nervous system move toward a more balanced state.

But more than anything, it’s the feeling of it. Light on your skin. Air that hasn’t been filtered through a screen yet. A moment where nothing is being asked of you. Think of this as a cue to your nervous system: you’re safe to begin.

2. Take Your Movement Outside

Spring makes everything feel a little more alive—and your body responds to that, too. You don’t need a perfectly structured workout. What matters is the combination of movement and environment. The rhythm of your body in motion, paired with the sensory cues of being outside, helps shift the nervous system out of that low-level fight-or-flight state and into something more grounded.

And it doesn’t have to be all or nothing. As Schroeder notes, even small, consistent moments in nature can meaningfully support stress reduction and emotional balance.

3. Pace Your Social Energy (Even When You’re Excited)

Spring invites you back into everything all at once, but your capacity doesn’t expand overnight.

It’s easy to mistake excitement for readiness—to assume that because something sounds good, you have the energy to hold it. And sometimes you do. But sometimes, what your body needs is a little more space between the things you’re looking forward to.

Schroeder suggests a simple check-in: Is this going to drain me or energize me? Not as a rule, but as a way to stay connected to yourself as the pace of life picks up again.

You don’t need to become your most social self overnight. (I’ve had to tell myself this many times already this spring.) Give yourself time, space, and the intention to make plans that align with your energy.

4. Create Small Anchors in Your Day

Have you noticed a pattern yet? When it comes to a spring nervous system reset, the most supportive shifts are often the smallest ones.

A cup of coffee outside instead of at your desk. A walk without headphones. Even just a few minutes to let your mind wander between tasks.

These moments can feel almost insignificant, but to your nervous system, they register as something else entirely: safety. A signal that you’re not in a rush. That there’s space to move at your own pace.

Schroeder emphasizes the importance of cultivating a more mindful relationship with your environment—slowing down enough to notice what’s around you, rather than moving through it on autopilot.

Small things, repeated often, have a way of shifting everything.

5. Let the Season Be Enough

Spring is not immune to social or environmental pressure. You might have the sense that this is the time to reset everything. Your habits, your routines, your energy, your life.

But expansion doesn’t require exhaustion. You don’t need to optimize your way into the season or match the speed of everything around you. And you don’t need to prove that you’re making the most of it.

Sometimes, the most supportive thing you can do is let what’s already here be enough. To meet the season as you are, rather than who you think you should be in it.

Because here’s what regulation is really about: staying connected to yourself as life starts to expand.

What a Regulated Spring Day Can Actually Look Like

Morning starts before the world gets loud. You step outside before checking your phone. Even a few minutes is enough—your body gets a clear signal: it’s time to wake up. You haven’t done anything impressive, but something already feels more grounded.

Movement happens, but it’s not forced. Maybe it’s a walk after your coffee or 10 minutes of stretching with the window open. The point isn’t intensity—it’s that your body is moving in a way that feels responsive, not performative.

Your calendar has shape, not just volume. There are plans, yes—but there’s also space around them. You’re not rushing from one thing to the next without pause. There’s time to reset between moments, even if it’s just a few minutes to walk, breathe, or sit without input.

You check in before you check out. At some point in the day—making coffee, closing your laptop, getting ready to leave—you pause long enough to ask: What do I actually need right now? Take the time to notice if something feels off, and adjust where you can.

Evening feels like a transition, not a crash. The day winds down gradually. Lights soften, and your energy follows. You’re not squeezing in one last thing just because there’s time. You’re letting your body slow down for the day.

As Schroeder suggests, the goal isn’t to match the pace of the season—it’s to stay connected to your own rhythm within it.

A Gentler Way to Move Through Spring

Spring is a season of expansion, but it doesn’t have to be rushed. The energy will build, the days will lengthen, and life will naturally begin to open up around you. You don’t need to match its pace to be part of it.

Regulation, in this season, looks like staying connected to yourself as things shift—paying attention to what feels aligned, and noticing when it doesn’t. It’s allowing your capacity to grow gradually, rather than assuming it should already be there.

Because spring will keep unfolding either way. The shift is learning how to move with it, instead of being carried away by it.

The post Your Nervous System Needs a Spring Reset—Here’s Where to Start appeared first on Camille Styles.

I’ve always loved the months that sit between seasons—the ones that feel like a quiet turning point. April is one of those rare moments in the year when everything seems to wake up at once. The light lingers a little longer in the evenings, the farmers’ markets start filling with color again, and suddenly the world feels full of small invitations to start fresh.

While January gets all the attention for new beginnings, spring has always felt like the real reset to me. It’s easier to imagine new habits and rituals when the days grow warmer, and the world outside begins to bloom again.

30 Small Ways to Make the Most of April

So instead of a traditional bucket list, think of this as a gentle guide for the month ahead: 30 small ways to refresh your space, reconnect with yourself, gather with the people you love, and spend a little more time outside. Take what inspires you, skip what doesn’t, and let April unfold from there.

Refresh Your Space

April has a way of making our homes feel different almost overnight. The light shifts, the air warms, and suddenly you notice all the small ways your space could feel lighter and more alive. These ideas are simple ways to reset your surroundings and welcome the season inside.

1. Clean out your closet. Spring is the perfect excuse to let go of pieces that no longer feel like you. A lighter wardrobe can shift your mindset just as much as your space.

2. Refresh one corner of your home. Rearrange a shelf, swap pillow covers, or add a new candle. Sometimes the smallest change can make a room feel entirely new.

3. Buy yourself flowers. A bouquet on the kitchen counter or bedside table instantly brightens a space—and feels like a small act of care for yourself. Here’s how to DIY a stunning Trader Joe’s arrangement at home.

4. Find the perfect vase for your spring blooms. The right vessel can make even a handful of grocery store flowers feel special.

5. Make your home smell like spring. Swap winter’s warm spices for something lighter—citrus, herbs, or soft florals. These are our favorite spring scents.

6. Detox your cleaning routine. Consider swapping one conventional product for a non-toxic alternative that’s gentler on your home and the environment.

7. Organize your photo library. A rainy afternoon is the perfect excuse to declutter your camera roll and rediscover a few forgotten memories.

Reconnect With Yourself

Spring isn’t just a reset for our homes—it’s a chance to reconnect with ourselves, too. As the days grow longer, there’s a little more room for reflection, creativity, and rituals that help you feel grounded again.

8. Write a “spring reset” list. Instead of journaling pages, jot down what you’re leaving behind from winter and what you want to welcome this season.

9. Revisit your vision board. Check in with the intentions you set earlier this year and notice what still resonates—and what might be evolving.

10. Change up your breakfast routine. Try something new for the week: yogurt bowls with berries, soft-boiled eggs on toast, or a smoothie packed with spring fruit.

11. Celebrate National Poetry Month. Pick up a new poetry collection or revisit a poet you love. Even reading a few lines before bed can feel grounding.

12. Pick up a new spring hobby. Gardening, painting, hiking, or learning to identify wildflowers—spring is the perfect season to try something new.

13. Make a simple “spring tonic.” Sparkling water with lemon and mint, iced green tea with honey, or a refreshing drink that signals the shift into warmer days.

14. Create a cozy rainy-day ritual. When April showers arrive, lean into them: simmer soup, light a candle, and spend an afternoon reading or journaling. Here are 25 things to try when the weather’s keeping you indoors.

Cook & Gather

One of the best parts of April is the return of simple, seasonal food. Farmers’ markets begin to fill with color, dinners stretch a little later into the evening, and gatherings start to move outside again.

15. Host a picnic. Pack a blanket, a few easy snacks, and invite a friend to meet you in your favorite park. These picnic recipes have you covered.

16. Eat dinner outside. Even if it’s just takeout on the patio or your balcony, fresh air has a way of making a meal feel special.

17. Make your own yogurt. It’s easier than you think—and once you start, you may never go back.

18. Bake something lemony. No flavor captures the spirit of spring quite like lemon. Get zesty.

19. Make a spring pasta. Think asparagus, herbs, lemon, and parmesan—simple ingredients that shine this time of year.

20. Learn one signature spring cocktail. A grapefruit Paloma, Lillet spritz, or elderflower tonic you can make all season long.

21. Build dinner around the farmers’ market. Instead of arriving with a plan, let one beautiful ingredient guide the entire meal.

Get Outside

If winter encourages us to slow down indoors, April gently nudges us back into the world. Even small moments outside—a walk, a picnic, a sunny afternoon—can shift the energy of an entire day.

22. Work out outside. Swap one indoor workout for fresh air—whether it’s a walk, tennis match, or a yoga class in the park.

23. Take a sunrise walk somewhere new. April mornings feel like the beginning of something.

24. Visit a farmers’ market. Romanticize your grocery shopping a little while exploring all the fresh produce the season has to offer.

25. Go to a baseball game. Few things feel more like spring than sitting in the stands on a warm afternoon.

26. Choose one “summer anchor.” Instead of planning an entire trip, pick one moment to look forward to—a lake day, concert, or long weekend with friends.

27. Read outside. Even 20 minutes with a book on a bench or balcony counts.

28. Leave notes of kindness in unexpected places. A simple reminder that someone’s presence in the world matters.

29. Call someone you love. Not a text—an actual conversation.

30. Spend one afternoon with no agenda. Let the season guide the day and see where it takes you.

This post was last updated on April 1, 2026, to include new insights.

The post 30 Small Ways to Make the Most of April appeared first on Camille Styles.

Long-distance relationships ask a lot of you. When you live in different cities, staying connected takes intention—especially during the days between visits. My boyfriend lives in San Francisco, and I live in Portland. While we’re lucky enough to see each other a couple of times each month, there are still long stretches when we’re living our daily lives in separate places.

Over time, we’ve learned that staying close from afar isn’t about doing something elaborate. It’s about finding simple ways to stay present in each other’s days.

A quick voice note on a walk home. A shared playlist that keeps evolving. Planning the next visit before the current one ends. These small habits make the distance feel manageable—and remind you that you’re still building a life together, even when you’re apart.

Long-Distance Relationship Ideas That Actually Help You Stay Connected

While every relationship looks different, the goal is the same: finding ways to feel present in each other’s lives even when you’re apart. Some are romantic, some practical, and some simply fun. The best ones become small rituals you return to again and again—the kind of habits that make the time between visits feel a little easier.

The truth is, long-distance relationships don’t have to feel like something you’re simply getting through until circumstances change. With the right rituals, they can deepen communication, create anticipation, and make the time you spend together feel even more meaningful.

Ahead, you’ll find our favorite long-distance relationship ideas—from romantic surprises to cozy virtual rituals to modern tech-friendly habits that help you stay connected from anywhere.

The Everyday Habits That Make the Distance Easier

My boyfriend and I have found a few small habits that make the distance feel easier. None of them are complicated, but they help us feel like we’re still sharing the everyday parts of life.

1. Send photos from your day. A quick photo from a morning walk, a favorite coffee shop, or your neighborhood farmers’ market helps your partner feel included in your everyday life—even when you’re in different cities.

2. Keep a shared playlist. Start a playlist you both add to over time. It becomes a running soundtrack to your relationship and gives you something to listen to when you’re missing each other.

3. Plan the next visit before saying goodbye. Before one visit ends, put the next one on the calendar. Having something to look forward to makes the time apart feel much more manageable.

Romantic Long-Distance Relationship Ideas

4. Plan a surprise visit. If schedules allow, an unexpected reunion can be one of the most memorable ways to reconnect.

5. Send something that brightens their space. Flowers are classic, but a favorite candle or fresh bread from a bakery you love can feel just as thoughtful.

6. Exchange your signature scents. Wearing or spraying your partner’s favorite fragrance can be a surprisingly comforting reminder of their presence.

7. Send a favorite book with notes inside. Mail them a novel, poetry collection, or essay book you love—highlighting passages that remind you of them.

8. Write a handwritten letter. There’s something special about receiving real mail that isn’t a bill (lol). A handwritten note instantly feels more personal than a text.

Relaxing Ways to Stay Connected From Afar

9. Share an end-of-day check-in call. Instead of texting throughout the day, set aside time in the evening to talk through your highs and lows.

10. Go on a walk and talk. Call each other while you’re both out for a walk. It almost feels like you’re exploring together.

11. Send a small “thinking of you” package. A favorite snack, a book you loved, or something that reminded you of them can make an ordinary week feel special.

12. Take a meditation or breathwork class together. Apps like Headspace or Calm make it easy to share a relaxing ritual, even from afar.

Long-Distance Dinner Date Ideas

13. Cook the same meal together. Choose a recipe you’re both excited about and cook while video chatting.

14. Send delivery from their favorite restaurant. Ordering dinner for your partner from afar is a simple way to show care.

15. Order the same coffee subscription. Signing up for the same subscription makes it easy to enjoy something together each month.

16. Take a virtual cooking class together. Many chefs now offer online classes, making this a fun shared activity.

Thoughtful Gestures That Show You Care

17. Gift them a plant. A low-maintenance plant becomes a living reminder of your relationship.

18. Create a shared watch list. Keep a running list of shows and movies you want to watch together so you always have something lined up for your next virtual movie night.

19. Plan your next trip together—even if it’s hypothetical. Pick a destination, research hotels, and build a shared list of places you want to try. Planning something together keeps the future feeling shared.

20. Stock their fridge before you leave. If you’re visiting, leaving behind a few groceries is a sweet and practical gesture.

Fun Long-Distance Activities to Do Together

21. Take a virtual workout class together. From yoga to dance workouts, moving together (apart) can be surprisingly fun.

22. Start a two-person book club. Pick a book each month and talk about it on your next video call.

23. Listen to the same podcast. Choose a podcast series and discuss episodes as you go.

24. Play an online game together. Whether it’s chess, Mario Kart, or a puzzle game, a little friendly competition keeps things light.

Tech-Friendly Long-Distance Relationship Ideas

25. Keep a shared notes app. Use it to jot down ideas, future plans, or things you want to talk about later.

26. Send voice notes instead of texts. Hearing your partner’s voice—even briefly—can instantly make the distance feel smaller.

27. Start a daily photo ritual. Send one photo from your day each evening. It’s a simple way to stay connected to each other’s routines.

Final Thoughts

Long-distance relationships aren’t always easy. There are missed dinners, quiet apartments, and plenty of moments when you wish you could reach across the couch instead of across a screen. But distance also has a way of sharpening what matters.

When you live in different places, connection becomes something you practice intentionally. You learn to communicate more clearly, plan time together thoughtfully, and appreciate the ordinary moments you might otherwise take for granted.

My boyfriend and I still count down the days until our next flight between PDX and SFO. But in the meantime, these small rituals help us stay present in each other’s lives.

Because ultimately, long-distance relationships aren’t about closing the miles between you. They’re about continuing to choose each other, wherever you are.

This post was last updated on March 18, 2026, to include new insights.

The post 27 Long-Distance Relationship Ideas to Stay Close—Even When You’re Miles Apart appeared first on Camille Styles.

Maybe it’s the change in seasons, but lately I’ve been thinking a lot about how to get out of a funk—that in-between state where nothing is exactly wrong, but everything feels slightly off. I was more tired than usual, a little unfocused, and strangely unmotivated by things I normally enjoy. It wasn’t dramatic enough to name, but I felt it in everything.

Sometimes it’s there the moment you wake up—a heaviness you can’t quite explain. Other times, it builds slowly, almost imperceptibly, until you realize you’ve been moving through your days at half-capacity. You’re getting things done, technically, but without your usual clarity or energy. And the more you try to push through it, the more it seems to linger.

Featured image from our interview with Mary Ralph Bradley by Michelle Nash.

My instinct is always to fix it. To reset, optimize, get back on track. But I’ve learned—through much trial and error—that getting out of a funk is about interrupting the pattern with something that shifts your energy just enough.

It’s not a full reset, but more like a pivot. Stepping outside for a few minutes longer than usual. Putting on music while you make dinner. Letting yourself move a little slower instead of trying to catch up. The kind of choice that doesn’t feel like a solution, but changes something anyway.

When I feel this way, I don’t try to overhaul my routine or suddenly become a different version of myself. I look for a small opening—a moment where I can re-enter my day with a little more presence. And usually, that’s enough to start changing the tone of everything that follows.

How to Get Out of a Funk, Stat

When you’re in a funk, even deciding what to do can feel like too much. There’s a tendency to overthink it—to search for the perfect reset, the right routine, the thing that will fully snap you out of it. But often, the fastest way to feel better is simply making a choice and following where it leads.

Again, we’re trying to create a small shift—something that interrupts the loop you’re in and brings you back into your body, your environment, and your life as it actually is. Even a slight change in energy can be enough to build momentum.

If you’re not sure where to start, start here:

• Step outside for five minutes—no phone, just light and fresh air
• Drink a full glass of water and eat something with protein
• Text or call someone you trust, even just to say hi
• Take a short walk (around the block counts!)
• Put your phone in another room for 10 minutes and notice how you feel

The goal isn’t to fix everything. It’s to feel a little bit better than you did five minutes ago.

1. Do One Thing That Supports Your Body (Right Now)

When I’m in a funk, my first instinct is to figure out why. I need a mental explanation of what’s off, what needs to change, what I should be doing differently. But more often than not, the issue isn’t something I need to figure out. It’s something I need to support.

A low mood can come from surprisingly simple places: not enough sleep, not enough water, blood sugar dips, too much time inside… And when your body feels depleted, your mind follows. What feels like a lack of motivation or clarity is sometimes just your system asking for something more basic.

I’ve learned to start there first. Not with a full reset or a perfectly structured routine, but with one small, immediate act of care. Something that doesn’t require overthinking—just a way of telling my body I’m paying attention.

Try this:

Before you reach for your phone or try to push through the feeling, pause and do one thing to support your body. (Check out the list above.) Start with what feels easiest, and notice what changes.

2. Move Your Body (Even a Little)

There’s a version of this advice that feels easy to ignore—the one that suggests a full workout or some kind of structured routine when you’re already low on energy. That’s not what this is.

When I’m in a funk, movement works because it shifts something almost immediately. It changes my environment, my breathing, my pace. It interrupts the mental loop just enough to create a little space between me and whatever I’m feeling.

And it doesn’t have to be much. Truly: the smaller it is, the more likely I am to actually do it. A short walk. A few minutes of stretching. Even just standing up and moving around instead of staying in the same spot where the mood settled in.

There’s something about changing your physical state that reminds you you’re not as stuck as you feel.

Try this:

Step outside and walk for five minutes. Or put on one song and move your body for the length of it. Let it be brief, and let it shift your state rather than your schedule.

3. Get Out of Your Head

One of the quickest ways I know I’m in a funk is how inward everything becomes. My thoughts loop, my perspective narrows, and I start overanalyzing things that wouldn’t normally hold that much weight. Even when nothing is technically wrong, it can start to feel heavy just from sitting with it too long.

What helps, almost every time, is shifting my attention outward. There’s something grounding about connecting with another person—stepping into a conversation, even briefly, that isn’t centered on your own internal dialogue.

Try this:

Reach out to someone you trust—a quick text, a voice note, or a short call. Ask them how they’re doing, or share something small from your day.

4. Name What’s Actually Going On

Sometimes what feels like a vague, all-encompassing funk is actually something more specific that hasn’t been fully acknowledged yet. I’ve had days where I thought I was just off, only to realize—once I slowed down enough to notice—that I was anxious about something, avoiding a decision, or carrying around a thought I hadn’t fully processed.

A shift happens when you put words to it. It doesn’t necessarily solve the problem, but it takes away some of the weight of not knowing.

Try this:

Take a few minutes to write down what’s been sitting in the background of your mind. No structure, no filtering—just get it out of your head and onto the page, and see what becomes clearer.

5. Change Your Environment (Even Slightly)

It’s easy to underestimate how much your surroundings shape your mood—especially when you’ve been sitting in the same place for hours. I notice this most on days when everything starts to feel a little stagnant. But even a small environmental change can interrupt that feeling. A different room. A cleared surface. Fresh air. We’re not going for anything dramatic. It just needs to be enough to signal that something is moving again.

Try this:

Open a window, step outside, or move to a different space entirely. If you’re staying put, clear one small area—a desk, a nightstand, a corner—and notice how it changes the way the room feels.

6. Step Away From Your Phone

There’s a specific kind of funk that sets in after too much time on your phone. Your energy dips, your focus scatters, and your mood starts to feel a little flatter than it did before.

It’s not just the time spent, it’s the constant input. You’re taking in more than you can process, often without realizing it. And when you’re already feeling off, that added noise doesn’t help—it just makes it harder to hear yourself think.

Try this:

Put your phone in another room for 10 minutes. I’m talking fully out of reach. Then do something simple and analog: make tea, stretch, sit by a window. Pay attention to how the shift in input changes your energy.

7. Do Something Slightly Different

A funk can sometimes come from sameness—the same routine, the same inputs, the same pace day after day. Even if everything is technically working, there’s a point where it starts to feel a little flat. Instead, explore introducing something small and unfamiliar—just enough to break the pattern and bring a little curiosity back in.

Try this:

Side quests are trending for a reason! Take a different route on your walk, listen to something you wouldn’t normally choose, or swap one part of your routine for something new. Just a small change that reminds you there are other ways to move through your day.

8. Create a Small Anchor in Your Day

When everything feels a little scattered, it helps to have something steady to return to. I think of these as anchors—simple rituals that gently bring you back into yourself.

It’s less about what you do, and more about giving your day a point of connection. Something that feels consistent, even when everything else doesn’t.

Try this:

Choose one small moment in your day to treat differently. Sit outside with your coffee. Step away between tasks and take a few slow breaths. Let it be brief, but intentional and notice how it shifts the pace of your day.

9. Let Yourself Rest Intentionally

Not all rest is the same. I’ve had plenty of moments where I’ve tried to relax by defaulting to scrolling or zoning out, only to feel just as off (if not worse) afterward.

What actually helps is a different kind of rest. The kind that feels chosen, not passive. Something that gives your mind a break without overstimulating it—where you’re not consuming more, just allowing a little space.

Try this:

Set a timer for 10–15 minutes and step away from screens. Lie down, sit somewhere quiet, or do something simple with your hands. Let it be unproductive on purpose, and see how you feel on the other side.

10. Shift Your Focus Forward

When I’m in a funk, it’s easy to get stuck in the immediacy of how I feel. Everything narrows to the present moment, and it can start to feel like it will last longer than it actually does.

Don’t try to force optimism or map out a full plan. Explore creating a small sense of forward movement. Something that reminds me this moment isn’t permanent, even if it feels that way.

It can be as simple as thinking about what might feel good later today, or later this week. Not in a way that adds pressure, but in a way that reintroduces a little momentum.

Try this:

Write down one thing you’re looking forward to. Keep it simple and specific, and let it be something you can return to when you need a reminder that this feeling isn’t the whole story.

This post was last updated on April 18, 2026, to include new insights.

The post This Is What I Do When I Feel Off (and Can’t Explain Why) appeared first on Camille Styles.

There’s a Frog & Toad page that’s been living on my Pinterest feed lately—Frog, sitting alone on a rock, telling Toad: “I am happy. I am very happy. This morning when I woke up I felt good because the sun was shining. I felt good because I was a frog. And I felt good because I have you for a friend. I wanted to be alone. I wanted to think about how fine everything is.”

For most of my 20s, I lived a life of relentless breadth. Hopping from city to city, saying yes to everything, collecting experiences the way some people collect stamps—enthusiastically and without much consideration for whether I actually had room for them. It was exhilarating, and it was also, eventually, exhausting.

Featured image from our interview with Jessie De Lowe by Michelle Nash.

30 Things to Do in June to Stay Energized This Summer

This June, I’m doing something different. I’m staying put. I’m enjoying the fruits of my labor (said labor: signing my first solo lease), and I’m spending this summer turning my space into the sanctuary I’ve always imagined—sewing machine humming, acrylic paints cracked open, a sweater on the needles that I may or may not finish before fall. I’m trading breadth for depth. And the more I share that with people, the more I hear: same.

Fuel prices are high, Euro summers feel a little out of reach, and I think collectively, we’re rediscovering what’s already here. Not as a consolation prize—as an upgrade.

June, this year, feels less like a departure and more like an arrival.

So here are 30 ways to lean into that. To picnic and create and slow down and notice. To feel, as Frog would say, that everything is fine.

Stay Close to Home

This is the summer of staying put, and finding out just how much is already here. June in your own city has more to offer than you think. All it takes is leaving the house with a little intention and no particular agenda.

1. Go to the farmers market and let what you find shape your week. Instead of going with a list, go with an open basket. Strawberries, snap peas, fresh herbs—let the season decide the menu, and you might discover a new favorite ingredient or recipe you wouldn’t have thought to look for.

2. Pack a picnic and head to your favorite park. Text three friends, assign dishes, and don’t overthink it. A blanket on the grass and food from your own kitchen is genuinely one of the best things summer has to offer.

3. Take a sunrise or sunset walk this week. There’s something about the quality of light at either end of the day that makes even familiar streets feel worth paying attention to. Pick a direction you don’t usually go, leave your phone in your pocket for at least half of it, and see what you notice.

4. Go on a wildflower walk. Download an app like iNaturalist or PictureThis so you can identify what you’re seeing. It turns a walk into something closer to wonder.

5. Explore a neighborhood, bookstore, or coffee shop you’ve never visited. Novelty doesn’t need a flight. Sometimes the most interesting version of your city is just a few blocks outside your usual radius—you just have to actually go.

6. Create an outdoor nook at home. A chair, a throw, and a dedicated spot outside signals to your brain that this is a place to rest (not scroll, not plan, not produce). Give it a week and see if it becomes your favorite part of the day. Trust me, it will.

Create Something

There’s nothing quite like the satisfaction that comes from making something with your hands—something that didn’t exist before you sat down. The goal isn’t perfection—it never is. It’s just to remember how good making feels.

7. Pick up a creative hobby you’ve been putting off. Knitting, sewing, painting, ceramics… whatever’s been sitting on the “someday” list. Someday is June. Someday is now. A $4 thrift store canvas and a little money thrown to acrylic paint is all you need to get started.

8. Sew something wearable. A tote bag, a skirt, a simple dress. Start small, follow a beginner pattern, and wear the thing you made. There is no better feeling. (Sew It Yourself is my favorite book for getting started! The patterns are forgiving and so fun.)

9. Make something from scratch in the kitchen. Not a recipe you’ve made a hundred times (though those recipes have their time and place). We’re going for something new here: fresh pasta, homemade bread, or a sauce that takes all afternoon. The process is the point.

10. Start a creative journal. Not a diary or to-do list. I’m talking about a place for clippings, sketches, color swatches, and half-formed ideas. Skip the rules and ditch the audience. This is for you.

11. Make wildflower or farmers market bouquets at home. Arranging flowers is a creative act that takes 10 minutes and changes the entire feeling of a room. Trader Joe’s blooms absolutely count as well.

12. Try abstract painting. No skill required, no outcome expected. Put on a playlist, pick three colors you love, and see what happens.

Gather Around the Table

Summer changes the way we eat together. Our meals move outside, the pace slows down, and hosting stops feeling like a production (and more like a part—ay!). This month, lean into the kind of gathering that’s less about impressing anyone and more about actually being together.

13. Plan a Friday night al fresco dinner. Just a few friends, a simple table, and a menu that takes less than an hour to make. The long June evenings do most of the work for you.

14. Host a cookbook dinner club. Pick a book (consider Camille’s favorite cookbooks), assign recipes, and let everyone bring a dish. It’s the easiest way to try new food and have a good conversation starter built in.

15. Try a new non-alcoholic drink. Summer is peak season for interesting NA options—shrubs, botanical sodas, adaptogen drinks. Mix something new (I’m starting with these non-alcoholic spritzes) and see if it becomes your go-to for the season.

16. Make a summer dessert board. Fresh fruit, something creamy, something crunchy, and a little chocolate, obviously. It comes together in 15 minutes and looks like you planned it for days.

17. Organize a neighborhood potluck. Assign categories—mains, sides, desserts—keep it low-key, and let your community do the rest. The best gatherings are usually the least planned. (Proof.)

18. Set a table worth lingering at. Linen napkins, something seasonal in a vase, candles even if it’s still light outside. Small details signal to everyone at the table: we’re not rushing. Here are the table-setting tips to make it happen.

Tend to Yourself

Depth over breadth applies here, too. We’re not overhauling your wellness routine or adding 10 new habits to your morning. This month, we’re paying closer attention to what your body and mind are actually asking for, and letting yourself answer.

19. Start walking outside without your phone. Try it just once this week. The thoughts that surface when you’re not filling the silence are usually the ones worth having.

20. Refresh your skincare routine for the season. Lighter layers, more hydration, daily SPF. Summer skin is its own thing—here’s how to get the ultimate glow-up.

21. Book a massage or spa treatment—no occasion needed. Rest is not a reward for productivity. Schedule it like you would anything else that matters.

22. Do a one-week home reset. Focus on one small area each day—a drawer, a shelf, a corner of your closet. The cumulative effect is disproportionate to the effort. These decluttering tips are the perfect place to start.

23. Clear the mental clutter. A 7-day mental reset is the most effective way to create more clarity, focus, and ease in your day—and summer is actually the perfect time to do it.

24. Build an evening wind-down practice. Some evenings, replace the Netflix spiral with something that actually signals your body to downshift: stretching, reading, tending to something (for me, that’s my little container garden). Dim the lights 30 minutes before bed and see what changes.

Find the Delight

This is the Frog & Toad section. The part of the list that doesn’t need to be productive, optimized, or justified (though really, none of this does). June has a kind of magic in the small things—and the whole point is to notice it.

25. Make your summer bucket list. Write it down, keep it somewhere you’ll actually see it, and let it be aspirational without being a to-do list. I know you know: there’s a difference.

26. Build your summer playlist. The one you’ll want on repeat from now until Labor Day. Start with one song that already feels like summer and let it lead you somewhere good.

27. Visit a local gallery, pop-up, or art show. Put yourself in the path of something you didn’t create and didn’t expect. You never know what you’ll connect with.

28. Pick up a summer page-turner. The kind you read in two sittings because you can’t stop. Bring it to the park, the bath, the backyard. Wherever you do your best disappearing.

29. Go to the movies. When the heat gets to you, the theater is the perfect place to cool off and completely check out for two hours. I consider it an underrated summer luxury.

30. Do one thing this month just because it sounds fun. Not because it’s good for you, not because it’ll make a good story, and not because someone else suggested it (even me!). Just because you want to. That’s always enough.

This post was last updated on June 1, 2026, to include new insights.

The post 30 Simple Delights to Add to Your June Calendar appeared first on Camille Styles.

I used to think water retention was just one of those things you were forced to deal with—something that showed up in the heat, around my cycle, or after a long flight. But over time, I started to notice a pattern I couldn’t ignore: the more hours I spent sitting at my desk, the worse it felt.

By the end of the day, my legs felt heavy, tight, and noticeably swollen—like my body was holding onto something it couldn’t release. And despite doing all the “right” things, it wasn’t going away.

So I did what most of us do: I went down the internet rabbit hole. But most of what I found about water retention felt generic at best—and at worst, completely disconnected from what I was actually experiencing. Because here’s what I’ve come to understand: water retention from sitting all day is its own thing. It’s not just about hydration or sodium—it’s about circulation, movement, and how your body responds to long stretches of stillness.

Once I started approaching it that way, everything shifted. Over time, I experimented with small changes—some intuitive, some backed by research—and slowly started to notice what actually made a difference. Ahead, I’m sharing the habits that helped relieve water retention, and why they work—so you can build a routine that supports your body, especially if your days look anything like mine.

What Causes Water Retention From Sitting All Day?

To understand why this happens, it helps to look at the lymphatic system. “Think of the lymphatic system as the body’s drainage network,” Sabrina Sweet noted previously. “It transports lymph—a fluid containing immune cells and waste products—through your tissues and eventually back into your bloodstream.”

Unlike the circulatory system, which has the heart to keep blood moving, the lymphatic system depends on movement—muscle contractions, walking, even breath—to keep fluid flowing.

When that movement slows, fluid can begin to collect, especially in the lower body. Over time, that buildup can show up as the heaviness, puffiness, and water retention so many of us feel after a day spent sitting. It’s not that your body is holding onto water at random—it’s responding to stillness.

Why Sitting Makes Water Retention Worse

Sitting for long periods doesn’t just make you feel stiff—it changes how fluid moves through your body.

Research has shown that prolonged sitting can reduce circulation and contribute to fluid buildup in the lower body. In one study, extended periods of sitting led to both decreased blood flow and measurable swelling in the lower limbs—especially when movement was limited. Without regular muscle contractions—like walking, stretching, or even shifting your weight—fluid can begin to pool in the legs, ankles, and feet.

Over time, this creates a pattern that’s easy to recognize: swelling that builds throughout the day, a feeling of heaviness, and skin that looks or feels slightly tighter by evening.

But it’s not just about circulation—it’s also about what’s not happening.

When you’re moving, your muscles act like a pump, helping push fluid back up through the body. When you’re sitting still for hours at a time, that system slows down. The result is subtle, but cumulative: fluid lingers longer than it should, and your body has a harder time clearing it efficiently.

Even small interruptions in that stillness can make a difference. Try breaking up long periods of sitting with short bouts of activity—standing, walking, or stretching. It can help support circulation and reduce fluid buildup over time.

Here’s a mindset that helped me make this a habit: your body isn’t designed for stillness—it’s designed for flow.

The Small Shifts That Actually Helped My Water Retention

Once I stopped looking for a quick fix, I started noticing something else: it wasn’t one big change that made a difference, but a series of smaller ones that worked together. Over time, these low-lift habits created a shift: less heaviness, less swelling, and a sense that my body was actually able to keep things moving.

I Stopped Sitting for Hours Without Moving

This was the biggest one. I used to move in extremes—either fully sedentary at my desk or fully active during a workout. But what my body actually needed was something in between: consistent, low-effort movement throughout the day.

Now, I break up long stretches of sitting with small resets: standing up to stretch, walking around my apartment, and even just shifting positions more often. It’s enough to remind my body to keep things moving, and the difference between fluid building up and fluid flowing through.

I Started Elevating My Legs (Even Briefly)

This felt almost too simple to make a difference, but it did. At the end of the day, I’ll lie down and prop my legs up against the wall or on a pillow for a few minutes. (Pro tip: My favorite manifestation app has a ‘legs up the wall’ series I listen to at the same time.) It’s one of the quickest ways to counteract gravity and give your body a chance to redistribute fluid more evenly.

The effect is immediate: less heaviness, less pressure, and a noticeable shift in how my legs feel.

I Made Hydration More Intentional

I thought I was already good at drinking water, but I started to notice that how I was drinking it mattered just as much as how much.

Instead of reaching for a glass only when I felt dehydrated (or trying to catch up at the end of the day), I began spacing it out more evenly—small, consistent sips rather than large amounts all at once.

As Camille Styles Wellness Editor and Nutritionist, Edie Horstman previously noted, “Don’t chug—it overwhelms your system.” That shift alone changed how my body responded. When hydration felt consistent, I noticed less of that end-of-day heaviness, the kind that can come from your body holding onto fluid instead of moving it through.

I Focused on Gentle, Daily Movement

If you haven’t embraced it yet, now’s the time: not every day calls for an intense workout.

Walking, stretching, and low-impact movement ended up being just as impactful (if not more) when it came to reducing that heavy, swollen feeling. It supports circulation without adding stress, which, over time, helps the body regulate more efficiently.

One study found that just a couple of hours of uninterrupted sitting significantly increased calf swelling, and that it took about 20 minutes of walking to return fluid levels back to baseline.

Don’t get me wrong, I still love my 6 a.m. barre3 classes. But this was an important lesson for my overall wellness: movement doesn’t have to be intense to be effective. It just has to be consistent.

I Tried Dry Brushing and Lymphatic Massage

Dry brushing before a shower, light self-massage, or even just slowing down enough to take deeper breaths—all of it supports the body’s natural ability to move fluid through its systems.

None of it is complicated. But together, it creates momentum that your body responds to.

The Takeaway

It’s true for almost anything you’re trying to improve in life: the biggest shift is rarely in adding more. You find it by paying attention to what your body actually needs.

Water retention stopped feeling like something random or frustrating, and started to feel like feedback. A sign that I’d been still for too long, or that my body needed a little more support to keep things moving. Once I started responding to it that way—through small, consistent shifts instead of quick fixes—everything changed for the better.

This post was last updated on March 30, 2026, to include new insights.

The post I Have Water Retention From Sitting All Day—This Is What Actually Helped appeared first on Camille Styles.

In my ideal world, I’d have a full vegetable garden—raised beds overflowing with tomatoes, greens, and herbs that I could wander out and snip from while cooking dinner. But right now, I live in an apartment in Portland with very little outdoor space, which means my gardening ambitions have had to get a little more creative.

Luckily, herbs are incredibly forgiving. You don’t need a backyard—or even much space at all—to grow them. A single planter on a balcony, a few pots by the kitchen window, or a small corner of a garden bed can produce more fresh herbs than you’ll know what to do with. And once you start cooking with herbs you’ve grown yourself, it’s hard to go back. A handful of basil tossed into pasta, mint tucked into sparkling water, or dill scattered over roasted vegetables somehow makes everyday meals feel a little more special.

If you’ve been curious about herbs to grow at home, these are five of the easiest to start with—whether you’re planting them in a backyard garden, a patio planter, or a sunny kitchen window.

The Best Herbs to Grow at Home—Even in a Small Space

If you’re starting an herb garden at home, the goal is simple: choose herbs that are easy to grow and that you’ll actually use in your cooking. These five herbs are incredibly versatile, forgiving for beginners, and adaptable whether you’re planting a garden bed, filling a planter, or growing herbs indoors.

Basil

If there’s one herb that makes summer cooking feel complete, it’s basil. It thrives in warm weather and grows quickly, which means you can harvest it often throughout the season.

Best for: Garden beds or sunny outdoor planters

How to use it: Basil is best enjoyed fresh. Think pesto, caprese salads, sandwiches, and pasta tossed with olive oil and tomatoes.

What to make:

• Strawberry Caprese Salad
• Vanilla Panna Cotta with Strawberries, Basil, & Almonds
• Summer Spaghetti with Tomatoes, Burrata and Basil

Mint

Mint is one of those herbs that almost grows too well. In a garden bed it will happily spread anywhere it can reach, which is why many gardeners prefer growing it in containers. The upside? Once it gets going, you’ll have more mint than you know what to do with.

Best for: Outdoor planters or pots

How to use it: Mint instantly brightens drinks and salads. I love adding it to sparkling water with citrus, tossing it into grain bowls, or using it in sauces like tzatziki.

What to make:

• Lime-y Chicken Tacos with Jicama, Avocado, & Mint
• Grilled Zucchini with Chile Mint Vinaigrette
• Pea Salad with Mint and Microgreens

Rosemary

Rosemary is one of the most resilient herbs you can grow. It’s woody and shrub-like, which means once it’s established it can last for years with very little maintenance.

Best for: Backyard gardens or large outdoor pots

How to use it: Rosemary shines when cooked. Add it to roasted vegetables, marinades, or infuse it into olive oil or honey.

What to make:

• Roasted Cauliflower and White Bean Soup with Rosemary
• Rosemary and Apple Zucchini Bread with Ginger
• Roasted Honeynut Squash with Hot Honey, Pecans, and Rosemary

Cilantro

Cilantro is a little polarizing—some people love it, others think it tastes like soap (it’s not their fault… genetics play a role)—but if you’re in the first camp, it’s one of the most useful herbs to grow at home.

Best for: Small garden beds or outdoor planters

How to use it: Cilantro is best added fresh at the end of cooking. Sprinkle it over tacos, grain bowls, soups, or hummus.

What to make:

• Green Chutney
• Roasted Cauliflower Tacos with Cilantro Pesto
• Sheet Pan Chicken With Japanese Sweet Potatoes & Tahini Drizzle

Dill

Dill feels very spring to me. It’s light, fresh, and pairs beautifully with vegetables, fish, and creamy sauces.

Best for: Garden beds or sunny kitchen windows

How to use it: Chop dill into yogurt sauces, scatter it over roasted potatoes, or add it to salads and seafood dishes.

What to make:

• Roasted Cauliflower Recipe With Garlic Tahini, Chimichurri, and Dill
• Smoked Salmon Breakfast Bowl
• Fennel Salad

How to Grow Herbs at Home (No Matter Your Space)

If you have a garden: Plant herbs along the edges of raised beds or alongside vegetables. Most herbs love full sun and well-draining soil.

If you have a small outdoor space: A single planter can support multiple herbs. Basil, mint, and cilantro are especially happy growing in pots.

If you’re growing herbs indoors: Choose a sunny window and pots with drainage holes. Basil, mint, and dill tend to adapt well to indoor growing.

The Takeaway

Growing herbs at home is one of the easiest ways to bring more freshness into everyday cooking. Even a few small plants can completely change the way you cook—suddenly you’re reaching for fresh basil, snipping mint for drinks, or scattering dill over dinner.

Start with one or two herbs you use most often. Once you see how easy they are to grow, it’s hard not to keep adding more.

This post was last updated on March 21, 2026, to include new insights.

The post Want to Start an Herb Garden? These 5 Are Almost Impossible to Kill appeared first on Camille Styles.

In putting together this list of the best-ever summer appetizers, two key guardrails guided my selections. The dishes that made the cut had to 1) reflect the season’s vibrant hues and 2) be filled with fresh summer flavor. I’m talking herby dips, crisp, crunchy, and colorful salads, and light but satisfying finger foods that are perfect for warm-weather hosting.

Of course, I’m all about easy prep and make-ahead recipes, too. Whether you’re planning a backyard dinner party, a casual happy hour, or a laid-back al fresco meal, the best summer appetizers should feel effortless, seasonal, and special. Essentially, the following 10 picks had to be nothing short of perfection—and delicious perfection they definitely are.

10 Summer Appetizers for Easy Entertaining

These summer appetizers are just the thing to whet your palate before the main course is served. Of course, I wouldn’t blame you if you fill up on these bites and delights. They’re that good.

Tartines with Heirloom Tomato, Blue Cheese, and Golden Beets

A great tartine is all about contrast, and this one gets it exactly right. Think crisp, golden bread, juicy heirloom tomatoes, creamy blue cheese, sweet roasted beets, and crunchy pepitas—all layered into a simple recipe that’s as beautiful as it is satisfying.

Get the Recipe

The Whole Stalk or Bulb Salad

For a salad that can actually hold its own at a warm-weather gathering, this one checks every box. It’s crisp, tangy, and layered with unexpected flavor, made with sturdy vegetables that stay fresh and vibrant long after they’re dressed.

Get the Recipe

Zucchini Ribbon Salad

Consider this your reminder that zucchini doesn’t always need to be grilled, roasted, or baked into bread. When shaved thin and tossed with fresh herbs, cucumber, goat cheese, and a little lemony sweetness, it becomes one of the simplest and most elegant summer salads.

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Rainbow Summer Beet Salad

There’s a reason beets and tomatoes work so beautifully together. One brings earthiness, the other brings acidity and sweetness, and when finished with olive oil, lime, and a textured sprinkle of dukkah, the result is bright and balanced

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Hummus Toast With Tomatoes, Feta, and Za’atar

Think of this as the summer version of your favorite open-faced sandwich. It’s quick enough for a weekday lunch but pretty enough to serve as an appetizer, especially when finished with olive oil, flaky salt, and a generous dusting of za’atar.

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Roasted Red Pepper Caprese Pasta Salad

This recipe is caprese in its most laid-back form. Instead of a composed salad, everything gets tossed together with pasta and sun-dried tomatoes for a dish that’s unfussy, flavorful, and exactly what we want next to anything grilled.

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Spring Pea Gazpacho

This is the kind of no-cook recipe that summer hosting dreams are made of. The gazpacho comes together quickly, chills until guests arrive, and brings a fresh green moment to the table before the main course begins.

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Bruschetta with Slow-Roasted Tomatoes and Ricotta

Sweet, slow-roasted tomatoes and creamy ricotta sit atop toasted slices of sourdough (a personal fave). In other words, layer upon layer of summery goodness.

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Artichoke & Spring Pea Crostini

These crostini ask for nothing more than 15 minutes of your time. Broil your baguette slices and blend the pesto in the food processor. Assemble and enjoy. The good news is that once you’ve served up your crostini for a crowd, any of the pea pesto leftovers pair perfectly with crisp summer crudités or are delicious spread on a veggie-lover’s sandwich.

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White Bean & Radicchio Salad

This salad is nothing short of mind-blowing. Let it kick off the meal or enjoy this salad alongside grilled meat or fish. However you serve it, light summer goodness awaits.

Get the Recipe

This post was last updated on May 20, 2026, to include new insights.

The post 10 Summer Appetizers You’ll Want to Make for Every Gathering This Season appeared first on Camille Styles.

Whenever a gift-giving holiday rolls around, my mom goes one of two routes: the classic “don’t get me anything,” or a list of practical staples she’ll end up buying herself anyway (think: notepads, a fresh tube of mascara—you know the type). Which makes finding 2026 Mother’s Day gifts for her feel like a challenge I’m determined to get right. The truth is, she doesn’t need a gift to feel my love—she gets that in the countless FaceTimes, texts, and love notes that keep us connected between coasts. But that’s exactly why I want to find one that feels worthy of it. (Is my overthinking showing?)

I’m not a mom myself, but Mother’s Day still feels personal. It’s about the women in my life who show up, care deeply, and somehow make it all look effortless: my sister, who doesn’t just run marathons but wins them; a dear friend who hosts with the kind of ease I’m still trying to master; and my own mom, who deserves something far more thoughtful than anything she’d ever ask for.

The best gifts are the ones she wouldn’t splurge on herself—but once she has them, they elevate her everyday. Ahead, I’ve rounded up the gifts I’m actually giving this year. My style of Mother’s Day gifting is focused on thoughtful, beautiful finds for every kind of mom in your life.

For the Mom Who Has Everything

This is where things get interesting. The best gifts here are the ones she wouldn’t buy for herself, but once she has them, she can’t imagine living without them.

Knesko Skin

The Luxe Face Mask Kit

This is what you get her instead of telling her to “take some time for herself.” Each mask comes with a meditation. I’m currently on my third set of these (obsessed) and I’ve started to tuck the little meditations into everything from letters to care packages for my loved ones.

$150 at Knesko Skin

Bed Threads

Coast Bedding Set

Bedding, for Mother’s Day? Actually groundbreaking. She’d never buy this for herself, but she definitely has a Pinterest board dedicated to the color. It’s the kind of upgrade she’ll think about every night once she has it.

$450 (reg. $500) at Bed Threads

Bio-Therapeutic

bt-sculpt GEN2

If she’s even a little into skincare, this is the tool she didn’t know she was missing. It’s quick, effective, and makes a visible difference. (This skincare-obsessive writes from experience.)

$343 at Amazon

OSEA

Undaria Body Glow Trio

If she’s the type to reapply lotion three times a day and still not be satisfied, this is the upgrade. Skin feels softer, looks better, and actually stays that way.

$68 at OSEA

Friend of Mine

Friend of Mine Aprons

A nostalgic, beautifully printed apron that turns everyday cooking into something you actually look forward to. (Shout out to everything Friend of Mine does—it’s Mother’s Day gifting gold.)

$48 at Friend of Mine

Juniper Books

Jane Austen Book Set

Same stories, better presence. If she organizes her bookshelves by color, this is an easy win.

$149.99 at Juniper Books

Drowsy

Silk Sleep Eye Mask

Most sleep masks are… fine, but this one actually works. It blocks everything out and makes her feel like she’s sleeping in a hotel.

$55 (reg. $79) at Drowsy

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Beautiful, Personal Keepsakes

For when you want something that feels a little more personal—without veering into anything overly precious. These are the pieces she’ll actually always keep.

Casa Zuma x west~bourne

The Sunday Salad Set

For the mom who can throw together a simple meal and still make it feel like a whole thing. A beautiful set that makes even a quick lunch look intentional.

$248 at Casa Zuma

Quince

14K Gold Diamond Bezel Necklace

This is the one she’ll wear every day and forget to take off. (Exactly the point.)

From $198 at Quince

Wilde House Paper

Pieces of You Journal

Thoughtful, but not intimidating. No prompts to overthink—just a place she’ll actually want to come back to. It has a following for a reason.

$28 at Wilde House Paper

Casa Zuma x Limor Pinz

Topanga Mug

A good mug is weirdly personal. Maybe that’s why I have 20 and always come back to the same one? This mug has just enough weight and shape to make it feel like hers from the first sip.

$42 at Casa Zuma

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For Her Daily Rituals

Nothing she exactly needs, but everything that makes her day run a little smoother.

Maison Louis Marie

Liane de Tomate Candle

Not sweet, not predictable. I’ve told everyone to buy one—it’s the scent of spring and summer. (I’m stocking up.)

$40 at Maison Louis Marie

Bare Hands

The Dry Gloss Manicure Kit.

She wants to feel polished, and not spend two hours doing it. This gets her there faster.

$42 at Bare Hands

Dr. Deepika Chopra

The Power of Real Optimism

Not overly positive, not unrealistic—this is about staying grounded when things are hard. It’s the kind of book she’ll read slowly, underline, and come back to when she needs it most.

$27.95 at bookshop.org

Anima Mundi

Immortelle Face Cream

I trust Anima Mundi with pretty much every part of my routine, so this was an easy yes. It’s rich in botanical ingredients like helichrysum, aloe, and jojoba, so you actually wake up with hydrated, calmer, noticeably better-looking skin—not just the idea of it.

$45 at Anima Mundi

kai

Eau de Parfum (1.7 oz.)

This is the one people stop her for. It’s light, floral, and somehow always reads as her skin, but better—not overpowering, just unmistakably good. The kind of scent she’ll wear every day and still get asked about.

$86 at Dermstore

Anthropologie

Eden Stoneware Tea Cups, Set of 4

The cups she’ll pull out when she’s not drinking her coffee standing up.

$56 at Anthropologie

Stephen Orr

Gardener’s Mindset

For when she wants to slow down, but needs a reason to do it. This is the kind of book she’ll pick up, read a few pages of, and always keep on the nightstand.

$27.95 at bookshop.org

Three Peaks

Manuka Honey

One of those small additions that makes her feel like she has her life together—at least in the morning. Rich, slightly earthy, and packed with real antibacterial benefits, it’s the kind of upgrade she’ll actually stick with.

$34.99 at Amazon

Loftie

Alarm Clock

If she’s still waking up to her phone, this is the upgrade. It’s softer, calmer, and makes her mornings feel noticeably less chaotic. (Bonus: It doesn’t require a phone to operate—so she has no excuses for keeping it out of the bedroom.)

$169.99 at Nordstrom

Effortless Style Upgrades

Some gifts just slip seamlessly into her life—no occasion required. These are the pieces that elevate her everyday style with ease, blending function, comfort, and just the right amount of polish.

Clare V.

Baseball Hat

The easiest way to pull herself together on the go. (While still looking undeniably chic.)

$60 at Clare V.

The Jacket Maker

Rumy Black Leather Biker Jacket

I’m fully convinced every woman needs one incredible leather jacket, and this is it. It’s timeless, slightly oversized in the right way, and works with everything—from a clean, minimal look to something softer and more feminine.

$285 at The Jacket Maker

July Luggage

Juliette Soft Work Tote

You know them for their luggage—this is just as good. If she’s the kind of mom who leaves the house with no less than seven things in her hands, this bag is the answer. Big enough to carry everything without collapsing into chaos.

$255 at July Luggage

Kat the Label

Olivia Pant Set

Feels like pajamas, looks like she has plans. She’ll wear it more than she expects.

$160 at Kat the Label

Haven Well Within

Faux Fur Criss Cross Molded Slippers

Not just a house slipper. These are the ones she’ll put on in the morning and realize she never took off.

$148 at Haven Well Within

Sézane

Dorotha Dress

The kind of dress that makes every day feel a little more romantic. She’ll throw it on, add nothing else, and still feel put-together.

$215 at Sézane

This post was last updated on April 20, 2026, to include new insights.

The post The Mother’s Day Gifts She Won’t Ask For (But Will Love) appeared first on Camille Styles.

Spring makes you want to become someone slightly different. Someone who wakes up early, wears linen, goes to the farmer’s market, and casually arranges tulips like it’s second nature.

And honestly, I love that version of things. My Pinterest is proof that I’ve been waiting for this season all year—pastels filling my saved boards, spaces that somehow always have the perfect light, and every kind of flower that blooms between March and May. I’m the person who will happily spend a weekend afternoon wandering Portland (where life is “weird” but good), chasing cherry blossoms and magnolias in every shade of pink, white, and yellow, like it’s a completely reasonable way to spend three hours.

What It Actually Means to Romanticize Your Spring

Sure, there’s something a little precious about it. But romanticizing spring was never meant to be about perfection—or turning your life into a curated mood board you can’t actually keep up with.

Because in reality, most days don’t look like that. You’re answering emails, running errands, checking your phone more than you’d like—and still wondering why the season doesn’t feel as magical as you thought it would.

That’s where romanticizing your spring gets misunderstood. It’s not about becoming a different person or suddenly living a life that looks beautiful from the outside. It’s about paying closer attention to the one you already have, and letting it feel a little softer and slower—and taking the time to notice the magic all around you.

Why Spring Makes You Feel Like You Should Have Your Life Together

Spring shows up, and suddenly the bar shifts. The days are longer, the light is better, and people are outside again—walking more, making plans, and generally acting like they have a handle on things. Your group chats come back to life. Your weekends start to fill in. And without really deciding to, you start holding yourself to a slightly higher standard.

You should probably be working out. Getting outside more. Cooking something fresh instead of defaulting to the same three meals. Becoming, somehow, the version of yourself who just thrives this time of year.

None of this is explicit, but it’s easy to internalize. Spring doesn’t just bring new energy—it brings the expectation that you should be doing something with it. And if you’re not paying attention, that expectation can turn what’s meant to feel light and expansive into something that feels just a little bit like pressure.

Romanticize Your Spring: Simple Rituals That Actually Feel Good

You don’t need to overhaul your life to make spring feel more beautiful. Most of the time, it’s about small shifts: the way you start your morning, how you move through your day, and what you choose to notice. These aren’t things to add to your list—they’re ways of moving through what you’re already doing, just with a little more intention.

Morning

1. Open the windows before you check your phone. Let the air and light in before anything else has a chance to set the tone. Even a minute of this—before texts or email—creates a different starting point for your day.

2. Step outside for five minutes, and don’t bring anything with you. No phone, no coffee, no agenda. Just stand there for a minute longer than feels necessary. Let your body register: we’re here, it’s spring.

3. Wear something that feels like spring (even if no one sees you). Something lighter, softer, a color you’ve been waiting to wear. Not for the aesthetic, but because it subtly shifts how you move through your day.

Daytime

4. Take one walk without headphones, and follow what catches your attention. Instead of your usual loop, let yourself wander a little. Turn when something looks interesting. Stop when your eyes pick up on color. It turns a walk into something you’re actually aware of.

5. Choose a spring errand, and make it unnecessarily enjoyable. Walk to get your coffee instead of driving. Take the longer route home. Stop to look at flowers like you’re not in a rush—because, for five minutes, you aren’t.

6. Borrow a cookbook from the library and cook something you’ve never made before. Not for productivity, not to “get good at cooking”—just to try something new. There’s something romantic about following a recipe you didn’t find on TikTok. (Say it with me: I will resist AI slop.)

7. Bring something seasonal into your space, and move it until it changes the room. Clippings, branches, a bowl of citrus, even just rearranging what you already have. Treat your space like something you can interact with, not just exist in.

8. Do one everyday task more slowly than feels efficient, and notice what changes. Make lunch without rushing. Wash your face like you’re not trying to be done with it. The goal isn’t slowness for its own sake—it’s seeing how differently it feels.

9. Pick one street you’ve never walked down, and treat it like you’re visiting for the first time. Even if it’s five minutes from your house. Look at the details. Notice the homes, the trees, the way the light hits at that time of day. It’s a small way of interrupting autopilot.

Evening

10. Take a “closing walk” at the end of the day. A short loop around your block to signal that the day is done. It helps your body come down without overthinking it.

11. Let your evening happen outside first, inside second. Before you default to the couch, sit outside—even briefly. Bring your dinner, your drink, or nothing at all.

12. Create a soft end-of-day cue that doesn’t involve your phone. Lighting a candle, turning on a specific lamp, or opening a window again. Something small that signals a wind-down to the day.

13. Romanticize one weekday night like it’s a weekend. Put music on. Cook something slightly more involved than usual—or order something and plate it anyway. Let a random Tuesday feel like it counts.

Energy + Boundaries

14. Say no to one plan, and replace it with something you actually want to do. Not just canceling, but choosing something else: a walk, cooking, doing nothing on purpose. The point isn’t less—it’s better.

15. Leave space in your week on purpose. Not everything needs to be filled. The empty space is often the part that makes everything else feel better.

Awareness

16. Notice what’s blooming (literally or otherwise). The trees, the light, your own energy coming back online. Not everything needs to be changed—some things are already shifting on their own.

The Difference Between Romanticizing and Performing

You can do everything right and still feel like you’re performing your own life. Something that looks good, but doesn’t actually feel good. You buy the flowers, light the candle, put on the dress, and yet you still feel vaguely disconnected from your own life. Like you’re watching it instead of being in it.

That’s usually the difference. Performing your life is external. It’s about how things look, how they might be perceived, and whether they’re good enough to count. It often comes with an unspoken pressure to get it right.

Romanticizing your life is internal. It’s about how something feels while you’re inside of it.

It’s drinking your coffee outside because the air feels good—not because it would make a nice Instagram story. It’s taking the long way home because you want to explore, when the route you usually take is more efficient. It’s making a multi-course meal on a Tuesday night and not telling anyone about it.

There’s nothing to prove here. No version of your life you need to live up to. Just small moments that feel a little more like your own.

A Softer Way to Move Through Spring

Maybe this is what it actually looks like to romanticize your life—not more, not better, not beautifully optimized, but just letting your days feel a little more like your own. Reading before reaching for your phone. Taking the longer way home. A Tuesday night that’s more than a write-off. Spring doesn’t ask you to become a different person—it just offers a little more light, a little more space, and an invitation to meet your life where it already is.

Maybe that’s why I love romanticizing it so much.

Spring makes you want to become someone slightly different. Someone who wakes up early, wears linen, goes to the farmer’s market, and casually arranges tulips like it’s second nature.

And honestly, I love that version of things. My Pinterest is proof that I’ve been waiting for this season all year—pastels filling my saved boards, spaces that somehow always have the perfect light, and every kind of flower that blooms between March and May. I’m the person who will happily spend a weekend afternoon wandering Portland (where life is “weird” but good), chasing cherry blossoms and magnolias in every shade of pink, white, and yellow, like it’s a completely reasonable way to spend three hours.

What It Actually Means to Romanticize Your Spring

Sure, there’s something a little precious about it. But romanticizing spring was never meant to be about perfection—or turning your life into a curated mood board you can’t actually keep up with.

Because in reality, most days don’t look like that. You’re answering emails, running errands, checking your phone more than you’d like—and still wondering why the season doesn’t feel as magical as you thought it would.

That’s where romanticizing your spring gets misunderstood. It’s not about becoming a different person or suddenly living a life that looks beautiful from the outside. It’s about paying closer attention to the one you already have, and letting it feel a little softer and slower—and taking the time to notice the magic all around you.

Why Spring Makes You Feel Like You Should Have Your Life Together

Spring shows up, and suddenly the bar shifts. The days are longer, the light is better, and people are outside again—walking more, making plans, and generally acting like they have a handle on things. Your group chats come back to life. Your weekends start to fill in. And without really deciding to, you start holding yourself to a slightly higher standard.

You should probably be working out. Getting outside more. Cooking something fresh instead of defaulting to the same three meals. Becoming, somehow, the version of yourself who just thrives this time of year.

None of this is explicit, but it’s easy to internalize. Spring doesn’t just bring new energy—it brings the expectation that you should be doing something with it. And if you’re not paying attention, that expectation can turn what’s meant to feel light and expansive into something that feels just a little bit like pressure.

Romanticize Your Spring: Simple Rituals That Actually Feel Good

You don’t need to overhaul your life to make spring feel more beautiful. Most of the time, it’s about small shifts: the way you start your morning, how you move through your day, and what you choose to notice. These aren’t things to add to your list—they’re ways of moving through what you’re already doing, just with a little more intention.

Morning

1. Open the windows before you check your phone. Let the air and light in before anything else has a chance to set the tone. Even a minute of this—before texts or email—creates a different starting point for your day.

2. Step outside for five minutes, and don’t bring anything with you. No phone, no coffee, no agenda. Just stand there for a minute longer than feels necessary. Let your body register: we’re here, it’s spring.

3. Wear something that feels like spring (even if no one sees you). Something lighter, softer, a color you’ve been waiting to wear. Not for the aesthetic, but because it subtly shifts how you move through your day.

Daytime

4. Take one walk without headphones, and follow what catches your attention. Instead of your usual loop, let yourself wander a little. Turn when something looks interesting. Stop when your eyes pick up on color. It turns a walk into something you’re actually aware of.

5. Choose a spring errand, and make it unnecessarily enjoyable. Walk to get your coffee instead of driving. Take the longer route home. Stop to look at flowers like you’re not in a rush—because, for five minutes, you aren’t.

6. Borrow a cookbook from the library and cook something you’ve never made before. Not for productivity, not to “get good at cooking”—just to try something new. There’s something romantic about following a recipe you didn’t find on TikTok. (Say it with me: I will resist AI slop.)

7. Bring something seasonal into your space, and move it until it changes the room. Clippings, branches, a bowl of citrus, even just rearranging what you already have. Treat your space like something you can interact with, not just exist in.

8. Do one everyday task more slowly than feels efficient, and notice what changes. Make lunch without rushing. Wash your face like you’re not trying to be done with it. The goal isn’t slowness for its own sake—it’s seeing how differently it feels.

9. Pick one street you’ve never walked down, and treat it like you’re visiting for the first time. Even if it’s five minutes from your house. Look at the details. Notice the homes, the trees, the way the light hits at that time of day. It’s a small way of interrupting autopilot.

Evening

10. Take a “closing walk” at the end of the day. A short loop around your block to signal that the day is done. It helps your body come down without overthinking it.

11. Let your evening happen outside first, inside second. Before you default to the couch, sit outside—even briefly. Bring your dinner, your drink, or nothing at all.

12. Create a soft end-of-day cue that doesn’t involve your phone. Lighting a candle, turning on a specific lamp, or opening a window again. Something small that signals a wind-down to the day.

13. Romanticize one weekday night like it’s a weekend. Put music on. Cook something slightly more involved than usual—or order something and plate it anyway. Let a random Tuesday feel like it counts.

Energy + Boundaries

14. Say no to one plan, and replace it with something you actually want to do. Not just canceling, but choosing something else: a walk, cooking, doing nothing on purpose. The point isn’t less—it’s better.

15. Leave space in your week on purpose. Not everything needs to be filled. The empty space is often the part that makes everything else feel better.

Awareness

16. Notice what’s blooming (literally or otherwise). The trees, the light, your own energy coming back online. Not everything needs to be changed—some things are already shifting on their own.

The Difference Between Romanticizing and Performing

You can do everything right and still feel like you’re performing your own life. Something that looks good, but doesn’t actually feel good. You buy the flowers, light the candle, put on the dress, and yet you still feel vaguely disconnected from your own life. Like you’re watching it instead of being in it.

That’s usually the difference. Performing your life is external. It’s about how things look, how they might be perceived, and whether they’re good enough to count. It often comes with an unspoken pressure to get it right.

Romanticizing your life is internal. It’s about how something feels while you’re inside of it.

It’s drinking your coffee outside because the air feels good—not because it would make a nice Instagram story. It’s taking the long way home because you want to explore, when the route you usually take is more efficient. It’s making a multi-course meal on a Tuesday night and not telling anyone about it.

There’s nothing to prove here. No version of your life you need to live up to. Just small moments that feel a little more like your own.

A Softer Way to Move Through Spring

Maybe this is what it actually looks like to romanticize your life—not more, not better, not beautifully optimized, but just letting your days feel a little more like your own. Reading before reaching for your phone. Taking the longer way home. A Tuesday night that’s more than a write-off. Spring doesn’t ask you to become a different person—it just offers a little more light, a little more space, and an invitation to meet your life where it already is.

Maybe that’s why I love romanticizing it so much.

The post How to Romanticize Your Spring—No Spending Required appeared first on Camille Styles.

When I want to feel better, I go for a walk. It’s so ingrained at this point—a habit built somewhere in the fog of pandemic years—that the association is almost Pavlovian: outside, lifted. It works every time, and I’ve stopped questioning it.

But I wanted to understand the why behind it. What’s actually happening in the brain and nervous system when you step outside? So I went looking for the science to back up what I already suspected: that stepping outside doesn’t just shift your mood, it transforms your entire physiology. It’s fractal patterns signaling safety to your amygdala. It’s cortisol dropping in real time. It’s your nervous system doing something it genuinely cannot do indoors.

To go deeper, I spoke with Clara Schroeder, an ecotherapist and bestselling author, who introduced me to an idea I hadn’t considered: that our mental health crisis might be, at its root, an ecological one.

Clara Schroeder

Clara Schroeder is an ecotherapist, speaker, and best-selling author of Re-Nature: How Nature Helps Us Feel Better and Do Better. Clara’s expertise has been trusted by leading organizations, including UCSF, Microsoft, Women in Cloud, Terumo Neuro, and Aura Health. She holds a Master’s in Psychology and Education from Columbia University’s Spirituality Mind and Body Institute, led by renowned clinical psychologist Dr. Lisa Miller. As a Certified Ecotherapist, Institute Certified Mindfulness Teacher, Co-Active Professional Coach, and a Wilderness First Responder through NOLS, she offers a grounded, science-backed pathway to sustainable transformation.

The Nature-Mental Health Connection, Explained

The research on this goes back further than you might think. In the 1990s, Japanese scientists began studying what they called “forest bathing”—the practice of spending intentional time in nature—and found something striking: stress hormones dropped, blood pressure fell, heart rate slowed. The results were consistent enough that follow-up studies replicated them across different populations and methodologies. Even a fifteen-minute walk outside was enough to move the needle.

Why Nature Feels Safe to Your Brain

But why? Clara points to something most of us have never heard of: fractal patterns. “Fractal patterns are repeated rhythmic patterns found in nature,” she explains—ocean waves, tree branches, flower petals. “They signal predictability to the amygdala, which in turn reduces stress hormones such as cortisol.” In other words, your brain recognizes nature as safe. The amygdala, which is responsible for detecting threat, quiets down in green spaces in a way it simply cannot in a city environment overstimulated by noise, traffic, and crowds.

The Implications Go Beyond Stress

Studies on depression found that patients who walked in nature reported significantly reduced symptoms compared to those who walked through urban environments. Research on post-operative patients found that even images of trees and water reduced pain medication needs and anxiety during recovery. And for people living in cities—where mood and anxiety disorders are measurably more common—Clara’s framing lands differently: “The amygdala is often overstimulated and always ‘on’ in city environments.” Chronic nervous system dysregulation, she says, is one of the ways disconnection from nature manifests physically.

A More Personal Argument

Clara’s own path into this work adds another dimension. During her recovery from a traumatic brain injury, most of her normal wellness routines were taken away. What remained was attention—to the way sunlight moved through a window, to birdsong, to the slow arrival of spring. “The bigger teaching that nature reflected back to me while I healed,” she says, “is that nothing stays the same, and not everything needs to be rushed.” It’s a quieter argument for nature than the cortisol studies, but in some ways a more persuasive one.

What the Mental Health Crisis Is Really About

That quieter argument extends into something larger. Clara offers a reframe that’s worth sitting with: our mental health crisis isn’t just psychological—it’s ecological. “We are living in a society that’s becoming more and more disconnected from the natural world,” she says. The more digitally connected we become, the more ecologically disconnected we are. That’s not an argument against technology, she’s quick to clarify, but an argument for balance—for returning, with intention, to what’s real and alive outside our doorstep.

The good news, she says, is that the solution doesn’t have to be dramatic. “It can be as simple as going for a walk at the end of the day or caring for an indoor plant inside your apartment. Any step towards nature connection will inevitably boost mood and improve wellbeing.”

How to Bring Nature In When You Can’t Get Outside

This is where Clara’s work gets most practical—and most accessible. For anyone who can’t easily reach green spaces, whether because of where they live, how long they work, or other barriers entirely, she offers a different entry point: bring nature to you.

One of her favorite tools is a grounding nature meditation, in which you visualize being in a nourishing natural setting. She’s made one available for free on her website. But if meditation isn’t your thing, there are other ways in. Clara suggests creating a nature altar at home—a small arrangement of natural elements, shells, stones, dried flowers, seasonal branches, that you tend and change out over time. It’s a simple practice, but it does something significant: it makes you a participant in the seasons rather than a bystander to them.

She also points to something most of us overlook entirely. “Remember that weather is a part of nature, as is the water in your faucet. Everything is part of a larger ecosystem to which we belong as well—the trick is to actually pay attention and expand our awareness to include nature’s cycles.”

Casa Zuma

Las Flores Vase

$168 at Casa Zuma

Casa Zuma

Daybreak Candle – 14oz

$64 at Casa Zuma

Casa Zuma

Reclaimed Wood Dough Bowl

$245 at Casa Zuma

---

Ecotherapy as a Way of Life

What Clara wants people to understand most is that ecotherapy isn’t a wellness intervention you schedule and then move on from. “It’s also a way of life,” she says. “Ecotherapy practices will teach you to re-evaluate how you belong to the greater planetary ecosystem—and if you really lean into the work, also reveal things about your purpose and dreams.”

Nature, in this framing, becomes something you turn to the way you might turn to a therapist or a coach—except it’s available every morning, every season, every time you notice the light shifting through a window. The practice is less about adding something new to your life and more about paying a different kind of attention to what’s already there.

Your Sign to Step Outside

I came to this research looking for a scientific explanation for something I already knew to be true. What I found was bigger than that—a whole framework for understanding why the walk always works, why the light through a window can shift something, why a handful of wildflowers on a counter changes the feeling of a room. The science backs it up. But honestly? You already knew.

This post was last updated on June 14, 2026, to include new insights.

The post What an Ecotherapist Wants You to Know About Nature and Your Mental Health appeared first on Camille Styles.

So many of my favorite quotes hinge on the energizing, transformative beauty of spring. But Rilke’s words might be my favorite: “It is spring again. The earth is like a child that knows poems by heart.”

I always come back to poetry in moments of wanting—when I’m searching for language that can hold what I’m feeling. And in May, that feeling is unmistakable. The season has fully arrived: longer days, vibrant blooms, and warmer air that draws you out and keeps you there. There’s an alchemy to this time of year. Something shifts. I’m the same person, but I feel newly awake to my life, to my routines, and to all the small things that suddenly feel worth noticing again.

31 Things to Do in May to Welcome the Warmer Season

May, more than any other month, invites us to begin again. And with it comes the perfect opportunity to fill our days with things that feel as good as they are simple. Think of this as your invitation: 31 ways to lean into the season, romanticize your days, and make May feel truly yours.

Step Outside (and Stay Awhile)

May changes how you spend your time. The light lingers, the air softens, and suddenly your evenings stretch a little longer than planned. Even the smallest plans—a walk, a farmer’s market run, a last-minute picnic—start to feel like something more.

1. Plan a backyard garden party. String up lights, set a simple table, and let fresh blooms do the decorating. Start with a few easy outdoor dinner party menu ideas to set the tone.

2. Take a sunrise or sunset hike. Choose one golden hour this week and follow it.

3. Host an outdoor movie night. Blankets, snacks, and a projector are all you need.

4. Organize a neighborhood picnic. Keep it potluck-style and low effort—it’s the easiest way to build community.

5. Try a new water activity. Paddleboard, kayak, or just float (maybe my favorite?). May is your moment to jump in.

6. Play tennis! As a collegiate player, I’ll argue: it’s the best of the racquet sports. (Ping pong is a close second.)

7. Go on a wildflower walk. Bring a basket or a guidebook and make an afternoon of it.

8. Visit your local farmer’s market. Let what you find—strawberries, asparagus, herbs—shape your week’s menu. Make a note of the in-season produce and keep your sights set on filling your basket with exactly that.

Gather, Cook, Celebrate

This time of year lends itself to gathering. Meals move outside, ingredients feel fresher, and hosting becomes something you ease into rather than plan to perfection. A few thoughtful details go a long way.

9. Host a Mother’s Day brunch at home. Keep it simple, seasonal, and a little celebratory.

10. Try a new non-alcoholic drink. Start with NA recipes that feel just as festive as your favorite cocktail.

11. Set a signature Memorial Day table. Keep it relaxed but intentional—linen napkins, something seasonal in a vase, and a menu that feels easy to share. Get all the table-setting inspo you need.

12. Make a spring salad worth craving. Think crisp greens, herbs, something creamy, something crunchy. These are the kinds of salads you’ll come back to all season.

13. Pack a picnic and head to the park. Assign dishes, bring a blanket, and keep it casual.

14. Plan a Friday night al fresco dinner. A few friends, a simple table, and made-for-golden-hour recipes that don’t overcomplicate things.

15. Create a summer dessert board. Fresh fruit and bite-sized sweets are all you need.

16. Host a cookbook dinner club. Pick a book (these are Camille’s favorite cookbooks), assign recipes, and let the inspiration flow.

Refresh Your Space & Style

There’s a natural urge this time of year to shift your surroundings. Windows open, drawers get cleared, and small updates start to change how your home feels day to day. Even a single project can reset the tone.

17. Try a one-week home reset. Focus on one small area each day and let the progress build.

18. Make spring cleaning feel lighter. Set a timer, play music, and keep it moving. Decluttering these six areas of your home makes the task way less intimidating (and so much more joyful).

19. Start a windowsill garden. These are the easiest herbs to grow at home.

20. Build your warm-weather capsule wardrobe. Focus on pieces that feel easy, repeatable, and entirely you. Our style editor shares tips for curating your dream spring closet.

21. Create an outdoor nook. A chair, a throw, and a quiet corner can become your favorite place to just… be.

Focus on Feeling Better

May brings a softer sort of reset. Your energy returns, and it feels like there’s more room to check in with what you actually need. Small shifts tend to stick the most.

22. Spring clean your mind. Clear the mental clutter. This 7-day mental reset can create more clarity, focus, and ease in your day.

23. Start walking outside without your phone. Trust me on this: it’ll quickly become a habit you look forward to.

24. Book a massage or spa treatment—no occasion needed.

25. Refresh your skincare routine for the season. Think lighter layers, more hydration, and daily SPF. Here’s how to get the ultimate glow-up.

26. Begin a morning walk ritual. We all swear by it.

Add a Little Joy

Some things this month are worth doing simply because they sound fun. A new show, a spontaneous plan, a change of scenery… These are small choices that shift your mood in ways you don’t overthink.

27. Start a new show and let yourself fully unwind into it. I’m loving season 2 of Your Friends and Neighbors. If you’re not into watching hours of Jon Hamm and James Marsden—I’m sorry, I can’t relate.

28. Visit a local gallery, pop-up, or art show. I’ve found that one of the simplest joys in life is to put yourself in the path of novelty. You never know what you might uncover or connect with.

29. Plan a Memorial Day weekend getaway. It doesn’t have to be far to feel like a reset.

30. Build your summer playlist. Something you’ll want to play on repeat all season long.

31. Make your summer bucket list. Write it down, return to it often, and see what unfolds. (Hint: revisit your vision board for an idea of what you want more of this season.)

This post was last updated on May 1, 2026, to include new insights.

The post Your May Bucket List: 31 Things to Do for a Fresh Start This Spring appeared first on Camille Styles.