This post is your ultimate guide to a mindful and memorable Summer.
If you find yourself already feeling exhausted and overwhelmed with Summer plans and things to do, you’re not alone. As a mom, the pressure to fill the Summer up with camps, events, trips, etc can be incredibly overbearing. There is one question in particular that I have more this year than ever before…“got any big plans this Summer?”.
Ugh. I can’t stand this question.
Even though my days are already absolutely full, I can’t help but feel the nagging thought in my mind “am I doing enough?”
Then by divine intervention, I came across an old post I had written about the art of truly savoring the Summertime. I was reminded that Summer is meant to be savored, to be relished, used as a time to relax and to reconnect with your inner child for nourishment and joy.
So, I grabbed my Summer journal and began writing a list of the ways that I intend to make the most of my Summer this year. To resist the temptation to fill my days and to make an intentional list of how and what I want to experience this beautiful season.
Listen to the podcast episode here:
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15 tips for a memorable and mindful Summer:
Lower your cortisol. Your main priority this Summer should be on getting rid of the stress your body is holding on to. Prioritize a massage over a party.
Tip: Be less available. Instead of booking yourself a vacation, book a chunk of time where you simply relax at home without guilt, without a to do list. Resist the urge to fill the void with travel and summer plans and just allow yourself to be.
Focus on slowing down and savoring the moment. Make each little moment of your day much more intentional. One place to begin is making your morning coffee routine a full on production. Why not create a gorgeous coffee corner that makes you feel like having coffee at home is a luxurious experience.
Put down the phone. - Instead of constantly keeping up with what everybody else is doing, its important to intentionally build your own life. You can download my free guide to building your personal brand, step-by-step. Focus on cultivating your own style, direction and fill your life with things that keep you present versus following others on social media.
Start a summer journal. I like to fill my journal with lists of things that I am manifesting, things I want to do to my home, things I need to do. I love my Paperblanks floral journal. It’s very light, flexible and easy to carry around in my Summer tote.
Create an outdoor oasis. This year I created a little corner garden in my backyard. There is nothing more exciting that having an outdoor area that comforts you. I love to step outside in the early morning and water my plants and my beautiful herb garden. You can truly calm your mind when you connect with nature in this way.
Invest in a straw summer hat and summer tote. Do I need to say more?
Be a tourist in your own town. Pick up the summer guide for your city. Spend some time cultivating a list of places you have never been and things you have never done in your city versus planning a big out of town getaway. I think you will find there is so much more to do in your city than you think.
Try something new.
Some things you might try: write a book, paint a portrait, visit a pottery class, try yoga, join a run club in your city. The important thing here is to step outside the box.
Host a rose soirée. Have friends bring a dish. Play around with decor and dishes.
Curate a cozy home nook for reading. Why not try adding a new chair in your bedroom or getting a new pillow and table for a corner of your sofa that you love.
Make a book reading list. There is nothing better than getting lost in a really delicious book during the Summertime. I like to grab my pool floatie and head to the pool for a little book reading so I can really just relax. You can see my complete book library list here.
Make a show / movie watch list.
I’ve become obsessed with the entire Bridgerton series on Netflix, next on my list is Queen Charlotte. Find a type of show that you adore that has several seasons to binge and allow yourself to relish in the beautiful stories.
Buy a new cookbook and try a new recipe.
Declutter your kitchen. Areas you will want to look at are the pantry, kitchen utensils drawer, tupperware, spices and the fridge. Throw old old, unused or expired things and replace them with fresh things that make your kitchen feel happier.
Let yourself get bored. Boredom can motivate you to break out of your routine, learn new skills, or improve your life. It can also push you to seek new challenges and experiences. Boredom may also make you more empathetic and charitable. For example, one study found that people were more likely to donate to charity when they were bored. There are countless benefits to getting bored that I am fully excited to experience this Summer.
I hope you enjoyed this episode and blog post. Let me know if you have any fun Summer ideas in the comments.