Summer is around the corner, and this is a season that can offer a unique opportunity to catch up, create balance, reprioritize, rest, reconnect, and have fun. No matter your age or what stage of life you’re in, summer can be a wonderful season to enjoy. Here are nine things you can do to make the most of this summer.
Envision Your Summer
Before spring transitions to summer, take some time to think about and picture what a wonderful summer might look like for you in the season of life you’re presently in. Will you get a break from work or school? Will you spend more time with loved ones? Will you get outside more often? Will you travel? Will you find time to do the things you’ve struggled to fit into your schedule? Will you finally take the time to rest and nourish yourself?Ask yourself: What could I do (or not do) this summer that I’ll be so glad I did come September? Write down three things you’ll focus on this summer and why it’s important to you that you take action on them.
Map out Your Weeks
Practically speaking, summer is a handful of weeks, depending on how you look at it. If your summer runs from Memorial Day to Labor Day, you’ll enjoy 14 weeks of summer this year. Perhaps you need to wait until the kids are out of school to take full advantage of all that summer has to offer, so this season may be a little shorter.However many weeks you get, make a list numbering each week. Consider the things you want to do over the summer, the obligations you are committed to, and the amount of time you want to remain free, and pencil in when these things will happen. It’s one thing to think about your goals; it’s another thing entirely to schedule them. By identifying when you’ll focus on your priorities, you’ll actually make them happen.
Design Your Routine
Routines can easily fall apart in the summertime. School’s out, you’re on vacation, the alarm clock has been disabled, and the routines that ran like clockwork beginning last fall seem to have been completely forgotten in a number of days.While taking the time to free-wheel it for the first day or two may be super delightful, consider reining in the routines sooner rather than later. A free-for-all very quickly begins to feel like chaos and can cause more stress and even sadness than you might think.
Rather than tossing the whole idea of routine altogether, design a summer routine for yourself and your family (if applicable) that you absolutely love and can thrive in. Concepts like regular wake times, daily exercise, regular time outside, or even an afternoon nap can make routine not something to dread, but to enjoy.
For example, define one day a week to be your grocery shopping and errands day. Another day could be dedicated to a project that’s important to you. A third day could be a fun day. A fourth day could be spent organizing and paying bills. And so on.
You’ll set yourself up to be able to enjoy summer while staying on top of things.
Strengthen Good Habits
Summer is a great time to either establish a new habit or double down on the good habits you have. Commit to practicing a new habit each day, even if it’s the smallest possible version of that habit—it might become the best thing you do all summer. Habits impact our lives in significant ways.If you’re focusing on habits this summer, make “Atomic Habits: An Easy & Proven Way to Build Good Habits & Break Bad Ones” your beach read.
Lean Into the Season
The beauty and opportunity of summer seem unlimited. Lean into the season by appreciating warm, sunny days; fully blooming trees and flowers; time in or on the water; unfettered schedules; travel delights; and whatever else summer means to you.Stare out at the ocean, feel the warm sun on your face, walk through a quiet wood, talk for hours to a close friend, read a good book as a thunderstorm rolls through, visit your family, grill your dinner, eat all the ice cream, and fill your heart with gratitude for the beauty and delights of summer.
Share Experiences
If you’re able to take a vacation with your family, do it. Families tend to live at a frenetic pace these days, and coming together for a week or two to share an adventure provides benefits that can last a lifetime. Disconnect from devices, put work away, focus on one another and go have fun together. It’s one of the best investments you can make.In fact, whenever you can, try to share real-world experiences with your friends and loved ones this summer. Since the lockdowns, relationships have taken a hit. Social media does not offer a real connection. Spend time in the same physical space with the people you love.
Clear out Clutter
If your day-to-day obligations are a bit muted in the summer, take some time to clear out clutter. Many underestimate the weight of the burden of clutter—whether physical, digital, or even mental.Take a little time here and there. Start with a drawer and “make it beautiful,” as psychologist Clear out unneeded belongings, your computer’s desktop, your email inbox, and any worries and anxieties that you’re carrying. How great would you feel if, come September, you could enjoy less clutter?
