Pockets of Peace: How to Find Moments of Calm in a Busy Reality This Summer

Summer in Soho is anything but slow. With longer days and brighter evenings, our neighbourhood pulses with energy – from family outings and freelance gigs to festival season and jam-packed social calendars. For many locals who live, work and play here, the pace can feel more overwhelming than restorative. So how do we find space to breathe when life speeds up?

In this special feature, wellbeing expert and sustainable lifestyle founder Nadine Hummert shares her tips for reclaiming calm amidst the chaos. As a qualified iRest Yoga Nidra teacher and founder of Equilibrium Lifestyle, Nadine draws from both her professional background and personal journey navigating work, parenting and wellness.

Breathe on Purpose
One of the most accessible ways to reset during a busy day is with a simple breathing break. Whether you’re stuck in traffic, on hold during a phone call, or waiting at the school gates, you can gently close your eyes and bring attention to your breath. Inhale slowly for a count of four, then exhale for four or six counts.

This kind of pause calms the nervous system, clears mental clutter, and brings you back to the present moment—no matter what’s happening around you.

If you’re able to take things a step further, allow your mind a mini holiday. Visualise yourself in a peaceful setting: a beach, a forest, a favourite place. Engage all your senses. Just a few minutes of mindful visualisation can melt away stress and help you reconnect with a sense of ease.

Stretch With Intention
Mindful movement offers both physical release and mental calm. You don’t need a full yoga class—just a few minutes of slow, intentional stretching can make a difference. Whether you’re standing at the kitchen counter, sitting at your desk, or pausing in the garden, use the moment to tune into your body.

Move gently. Breathe deeply. Let each stretch become a mini reset.

Make Routine a Ritual
Establishing a calm start or end to your day can be transformative. A morning or evening ritual—even five or ten quiet minutes—can help you feel grounded amidst the busyness. This might include light stretching, journaling, sipping tea in silence, or simply breathing in a scent you love.

Adding soothing tools like an eye pillow or essential oil blend can enhance the experience. When you approach daily moments as acts of self-care, they become opportunities for rest and reconnection.

Reach Out
During demanding periods, connection is often the best medicine. You don’t need hours—just a quick message, a five-minute catch-up, or a shared coffee can lift your spirits and lighten emotional load.

Talking through your feelings, even briefly, reminds you that you’re not alone—and that shared understanding creates a ripple effect of calm.

Release Perfection
Summer can come with heavy expectations: perfect plans, picture-perfect memories, high productivity. But relaxation doesn’t live in perfection—it lives in flexibility.

When things don’t go to plan, meet the moment with curiosity and compassion. Releasing pressure gives you space to savour the experience for what it is, not what you think it should be.

And wherever you are—at home, by the pool, or in the middle of your usual routine—the practices above are portable. You can take deep breaths, stretch, and connect no matter your surroundings.

Calm isn’t something we have to chase – it’s something we can create in the quiet moments we carve out for ourselves. True peace isn’t about escaping life’s demands; it’s about finding relaxation within them.

Discover more from Equilibrium Lifestyle
Nadine’s brand Equilibrium Lifestyle offers beautifully handcrafted products to support daily self-care—such as sustainable eye pillows with removable wool felt strips, designed for use with your favourite essential oils. Thoughtfully designed and made in small batches, they’re a gentle reminder to slow down—and breathe.

Discover the collection at: www.equilibrium-lifestyle.co.uk

Intro by the My Soho Times Lifestyle Team | Words by Nadine Hummert