Episode 097: What to Do When Summer Feels Lonely

Summer is supposed to be the easy season. Long days. Cookouts. Vacation photos. And here you are, on a Monday in June, and the house feels emptier than it does in February.If you are a solo woman, a widow, an empty nester, or simply someone whose friends are traveling with their families this summer, you already know that the thinner calendar stings in a way other seasons do not. Culture says June is social. Your week says otherwise. That mismatch is exhausting.In this episode, we walk through the surprising difference between solitude and loneliness - and the one small thing that shifts how a summer afternoon feels, whether anyone else is in the room or not. What you'll walk away with:— A fresh way to hear Isaiah 41:10 when the house is still— The psychology research that reframes time alone— One doable step to claim summer on your own termsSCRIPTURE HIGHLIGHT:  "So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)Research note: This episode references Long and Averill's foundational work on the distinction between solitude and loneliness, published in the Journal for the Theory of Social Behaviour (2003), along with the 2023 U.S. Surgeon General's Advisory on loneliness.Ready for your next step?FREE 5-Minute Daily Reset (instant download):YourNextBestStep.com Weekly encouragement + practical tips:YouTube @CoachJanetJ Instagram: @janetjjaecksIf this episode resonated with you, please follow/subscribe and share with a friend who needs their next step.  One small step. One day at a time.