Let’s be honest—summer can be a little...extra.
Between the longer days, nonstop activities, travel plans, and all the social things, our rhythms get thrown out of sync. We go from eating fresh salads on patios one minute to stress-scrolling at midnight the next. If you’re feeling a little fried, foggy, or emotionally scattered—you’re not alone.
Full disclosure: I’ve fallen off track, too.
The acupuncture needles have been calling my name, my herbs are staring at me from the kitchen counter, and don’t even get me started on the laundry pile. Life happens. But the beauty of working with the body—not against it—is that it’s never too late to come back to center. So I’m using the same tools I’ve given my patients over the years to reset... and you can, too.
The TCM Take on “Off Track”
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, when we’re overstimulated, overextended, or even just a little too "yanged-out" (yes, that’s a clinical term in my book), we often see:
- Liver Qi stagnation (irritability, mood swings, PMS)
- Yin deficiency (night sweats, anxiety, insomnia)
- Spleen Qi deficiency (digestive issues, fatigue, foggy thinking)
Translation: we’ve been in go-go-go mode too long, and our bodies are gently asking (or maybe screaming) for a reset.
Simple Steps to Come Back to Balance
If your nervous system feels frayed or your energy feels scattered, try these gentle TCM-inspired practices to ground and restore:
Nourish with warm, simple foods.
Soups, congee, roasted root veggies—think easy-to-digest meals that comfort your digestion and rebuild Spleen Qi. Now, I know what some of you are thinking. "But Kerry, it's 90 freaking degrees outside! Are you crazy?! I don't want hot foods right now!" I get that, and that is okay! Chop up those roasted root veggies, let them cool a bit and add them to a salad. We try to avoid cold, raw foods when we need to support our Spleen qi, but if you really want a salad, just add some warm, nourishing foods to it. Roasted beets are another great option!
Go to bed earlier.
Even 20 minutes earlier can help rebuild Yin and soothe your Shen (spirit). Also, put your damn phone down and actually GO TO BED. We're all guilty of this -- saying "I'm going to bed early tonight for my mental health!" and then what do we do? Sit there and doom scroll until we snap out of it at 3am and realize we screwed up big time! Phone down. Close your eyes. Breathe.
Acupressure reset: SP6 + ST36.
Massage these points for 1–2 minutes each to support digestion, calm stress, and harmonize hormones.
How to Find ST36 (Stomach 36):
Location: Below your kneecap, on the outer side of your shin.
How to locate it:
Sit down and place four fingers (horizontally) just below the bottom edge of your kneecap.
Feel along the outer edge of your shinbone (tibia).
Move your fingers slightly to the outside until you find a tender spot in the muscle.
That’s ST36! If it feels a little sore when you press—it’s a good sign you found it.
What it supports: Boosts energy, supports digestion, strengthens immunity, and calms the mind.
How to Find SP6 (Spleen 6):
Location: On the inner lower leg, above your ankle.
How to locate it:
Start at the tip of your inner ankle bone (medial malleolus).
Measure four finger widths up your leg from that point.
Press gently on the back edge of your shinbone—you’ll find a tender area in the soft muscle tissue.
That’s SP6!
What it supports: Hormonal balance, menstrual health, sleep, digestion, and relaxation.
How to Use Them:
Apply gentle pressure with your thumb or fingertips.
Massage in slow, circular motions for 1–2 minutes on each point.
You can do this daily or a few times a week, especially during your evening wind-down routine.
Let’s Reset—Together
You don’t need a perfect plan. You just need a moment. A decision. A cup of warm tea instead of double espresso loaded with sugar. A stretch instead of a scroll. A tiny act of self-care instead of more pressure to perform the way we think we "should".
Let’s normalize the wobble. Let's laugh a bit at the stumble. Let’s celebrate the comeback.
I’m right here with you, using these rituals to find my footing again—because healing isn’t linear and it isn't about perfection. It’s about coming back, again and again, to what restores us.
Cheers to living a more intentional life filled with love (and maybe some sweet potato congee).