I love the idea of a carefree summer. In theory, summers should be filled with bright, active days and long, lazy nights. But in practice, summer can be just as busy and as filled with cares as any other time of the year. 

For me, achieving a carefree state of mind requires a bit of effort. I’ve found that engaging in something physical helps. Luckily, the sensory pleasures of summer make it easier to get outside and move in more fun and relaxing ways.

My favorite way to detach is by riding a bike. When you get on a bike, you’re one step removed from the activity on the ground, so it’s different than walking. But you’re not as removed as you are in a car because it’s still just you, the air, and a simple machine.

I bike in different ways throughout the summer, and each has its’ own character:

Commuting
I have two different bikes. One is a cruiser that I ride around the city to get to meetings or run errands. It’s sturdy and a little clunky, but it’s my trusty steed. Riding around the city is a more exhilarating version of driving. You have to follow the same rules as cars, but you rely on your own strength to pass other riders or get up hills. You’re not protected by a metal shell, so you’re up close and personal with exhaust fumes, the sun or the rain and the crescendos of blaring music, sirens and conversation. You invest bodily trust in he flow of traffic, and you engage your gut instincts to get you safely from one place to the next. Bike commuting is like a fun and absorbing game that stimulates your brain and your body.

An Exercise Break
When I need a break from a stressful day, or I want to get a bit of exercise in before settling into the evening, I ride laps around Prospect Park in Brooklyn. For this purpose, I have a lighter-weight road bike. As soon as I get on my bike and start pedaling towards the park, I feel the tension release from my body. The muscles in my legs start to unfold after being stagnant at my desk for too long. My arms stretch into the handlebars and let the kinks in my neck and shoulders go. I look ahead and relish seeing the world in three, rich dimensions again instead of the two, pixelated dimensions of my computer.

Once I get into the park and merge into the gentle traffic of other riders, walkers, and joggers, I relax into the familiar loop of the park road. I like riding laps because it eliminates any mental work required to navigate, and it allows my mind to wander freely. I spend the first lap warming up and taking stock of the sensory pleasures. The breeze against my skin. The welcome tension of my muscles coming to life. The full trees and green lawns—a soothing contrast to the gray and brown swatches of concrete and brick outside of the park.

After the first or second lap, my legs work harder, and my thoughts get looser. I pick up speed and drift between visual observations and internal contemplations. The structure of the loop lets me be unstructured in my thoughts, and even a little carefree.

Full Day Rides
When I can, I like taking full-day rides outside of the city. For the past several years, I’ve done a week-long bike tour with my family called Cycle Oregon. Days on Cycle Oregon go like this: wake up at sunrise, force yourself into spandex, eat as much oatmeal as you can stomach, get on your bike, and then ride until late afternoon. You stop along the way to eat, use port-a-potties and apply more sunscreen, but mostly you just ride. You sweat your way up long, tough hills, and then you fly downhill as a reward. You see thick forests, open plains, high desert, rivers and snow-capped mountain tops, sometimes all in the same day. You fight strong winds and you visualize your next meal in great detail. You chat casually with other riders and you go several hours without saying a word. You feel smooth road and bumpy road. Towards the end of the day, you’re grateful for the gentle downgrade. You’re pissed as hell at that last hill.

Then, you pull into camp, take off your bike shoes and have a cold beer while you set up your tent. The grass on your tired, bare feet is the best thing you’ve ever felt. The first sip of locally brewed IPA is the best thing you’ve ever tasted. Then, you shower, wind down, and do it all over again.

Each day, your only concern is to get from point A to point B. At the end of the week, you feel restored because you haven’t looked at a computer in days. Your body feels strong, alive and truly rested.

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I know summer biking isn’t for everyone. Maybe you prefer walking, running, or dancing. Whatever you enjoy, I highly recommend cultivating a physical, habit that absorbs and rewards your six senses. Be committed to your habit, but also try to be light with it. You can experiment with doing your chosen activity for long stretches as well as in short, casual bursts. See what you like best!

Being physically active will go a long way to elevate the carefree vibes of summer and diminish those pesky worries. What is your favorite way to activate your carefree self?

xo,
Rebecca

Photo by Danny Fowler