"You Charge Your Phone. Do You Charge Yourself?"
Summer Blog: On Recharging
As I pensively stare out into a giant park, finishing my third pastry of the very early morning, I can’t help but reflect on what recharging truly means.
For some, recharging means finally tackling that never-ending to-do list: cleaning, house projects, and appointments we’ve been putting off. For others, it’s spending as much time at the pool as our skin can handle and racking up as many pruney fingers as possible.
Some people recharge by stepping out of their comfort zone, whether it's trying a new restaurant, exploring a new trail, or venturing into a different part of the world.
Recharging can (and should) look different for everyone.
Time with friends. Time with family. And, equally important, though often forgotten, time with ourselves.
Recharging Around the World
I’ve been lucky enough to spend my summers traveling and watching people recharge in different places.
I’ve seen:
Laughter shared on patios, in bars, and walking through parks in the golden light of evening.
Quiet moments of journaling, where thoughts are sorted like courtroom debates and every inner argument is settled.
Books devoured in bed, entire shows binged, and takeout ordered three times a day with zero shame.
We’re so attached to our phones that they need to be recharged once or twice a day. Yet we often forget to do the same for ourselves.
Why Is Recharging Important?
As someone who hates sitting still, I ask myself this all the time.
I’ll say things like, “I don’t need rest. I just need to play more sports, take on more projects, hang out with more friends, and go to more concerts.”
I try to convince myself that staying busy means I’m energized. But here’s the truth:
Recharging often means facing the discomfort we work hard to avoid.
We live in a world that glorifies productivity. Everyone wants to be doing the most, showing off the best version of their life, and documenting it all online. But that mindset often comes at the cost of actual rest.
While I was in Denmark, I came across the idea of hygge. It's the concept of cozy contentment. Just relaxing, kicking back, and enjoying the moment.
At first, it feels strange. Like you're being lazy. Like you're not accomplishing enough.
But not letting yourself rest is like getting mad at your phone for not working when you haven’t plugged it in.
What Does Recharging Look Like for You?
There’s no single answer. And that’s the point.
Maybe it’s:
Baking alone with music playing in the background
Melting into the couch with your comfort show
Scrolling (not ideal, but let’s be real, sometimes it helps... in moderation)
Stepping into nature, far from sirens, traffic, and notifications
Laughing with your people until your stomach hurts
The answer is probably a mix of all these things.
So make time.
For yourself.
For your people.
If You’re Wrapping Up Summer or Just a Weekend
If you’re an educator and summer break is winding down, or if it’s simply Sunday night and the weekend is almost over, here’s your reminder to recharge.
Try one or two of these:
Sit outside with a cup of coffee or a book
Call a friend just to talk
Go for a walk without your phone
Do something small and pointless, just because it makes you smile
Let yourself rest
You’re human. You’re not a machine.
You don’t have to earn rest.
You just have to take it.