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Summer is a time of slowing down for many people. Work comes to a halt, calendars are emptier, and even daily life follows a different rhythm. The alarm clock goes off later, evenings last longer, and space is created. Space to let go, but also to look back and look ahead. In that silence, you sometimes hear things you normally wouldn’t notice. You suddenly realize how tired you really are. Or that your work keeps going, but the satisfaction has been missing for a while. Summer is then not only a time to rest but also to reflect.
For people who often think deeply, feel intensely, and are self-critical, that reflection time can sometimes come naturally. At the same time, it can also feel overwhelming: where do you start? What do you actually want to change? That’s why below are five powerful questions to help you organize your thoughts and give direction to the period after summer.
Where have I grown in the past year?
In a world that often focuses on what can be better, we sometimes forget what has already changed. Growth usually happens gradually, not in big leaps. Maybe you dare to set your boundaries more often. Maybe you have endured a difficult situation or learned something new about yourself. Maybe you have become gentler. Or more clear.
Take a moment to reflect on the past year. Not just on achievements or milestones, but especially on inner shifts. What used to be difficult for you but now comes naturally? Where do you feel more stability, space, or confidence? By naming this, you acknowledge your own development. That not only brings satisfaction but also helps you look ahead with more peace.
What drains my energy on a structural level?
Some things drain your energy without you immediately noticing. A colleague who constantly pushes your limits. A task you keep doing “because it must,” but that leaves you empty. A pattern where you shrink yourself or carry too much responsibility.
Vacation is a good time to feel what disappears when the daily structure stops. What do you feel relieved from? And what do you absolutely not miss? That says a lot. If you notice that you only breathe freely on vacation, it’s time to examine what drains you structurally.
Ask yourself: what causes me stress that I have already gotten used to? And what can I change about it, even if it’s something small?
What do I really long for?
This question sounds simple but is often the hardest to answer. Especially for people who are used to doing what is “expected,” who are loyal, responsible, or have kept going for years through sheer willpower. You then lose contact with your own longing. Not the longing that comes from dissatisfaction (“I want to get away”), but the longing that speaks from your core. That soft, curious knowing: that’s where I want to go.
Maybe you long for more freedom, creativity, calm, or meaning. Maybe you want to spend more time outside, learn something new, or finally make space for something you’ve been postponing for years. You don’t have to immediately know how you will do that. Just start by listening. What calls out? What beckons?
Tip: write ten sentences starting with “I would actually like to…” without weakening or arguing them right away. Just let them exist for a moment.
What do I need to take myself seriously?
Many people are good at taking others seriously: expectations, responsibilities, systems. But taking yourself seriously is another matter. What you need sometimes feels like “luxury,” “making a fuss,” or “not necessary.” Yet every sustainable change begins with recognizing what you need to function well.
Do you need more autonomy? Silence? Creative space? Mental challenge? Or fewer stimuli? By clarifying that, you can make more conscious choices after the summer. Sometimes that means adjusting something at work, having a conversation with your manager, or giving your agenda a different shape. Not everything has to change radically right away – but small changes can have a big impact when they come from what you truly need.
What first step do I want to take?
Reflection is valuable, but without action it remains stuck. The art is to choose a first step that is small enough to do, and big enough to make a difference. What could you do in the first weeks after summer that aligns with what you discovered? That brings you closer to what you need or long for?
Maybe you want to keep one morning per week free in your calendar. Or plan a conversation with someone you’ve been meaning to reach out to. Maybe you want to start writing, walking, painting, or exploring a course. Whatever it is, choose something that moves you. Not a performance, but a gesture to yourself.
Summer as an in-between space
Reflection is not only for people who want to change. It’s a way to tune in to yourself so you can move forward more consciously. Summer is especially suited for this: it’s an in-between space where you break free from everything that “must” be done and can listen to what is going on inside.
Sometimes you discover that you’re already doing well. That you mainly needed to rest. Sometimes you notice something is bothering you that you can no longer ignore. In both cases, it helps to pause with these questions. They give direction without needing to know everything right away.
Give yourself that moment. On a terrace, on a mountain, in your own garden, or on the couch. Not as a to-do, but as an invitation. Because it is precisely in that pause that you can hear the beginning of something new.