Every consultant or coach will have a different approach, personality, and just generally a unique way of doing things. The main thing I try to convey is that being more productive and efficient, for me, isn’t about cramming as much work into the day as possible. It’s great if you want to streamline what you’re doing, but ultimately I want to help people focus on the right things during the work day so that then they can turn it all off. My main motivations for this philosophy stem from the first time I read “The 4-Hour Workweek” by Tim Ferriss. I was working in a 9-5 and it was eating away at my life. I wanted more life! Not more work…
With that, this blog post is about how to have more fun this summer, especially during the current restrictions and circumstances.
Feeling stuck and with little variety, I thought about what summer usually means to me and how I could bring it back in my own way. What could I do to replace the summer BBQs, village fairs, festivals and parades, outdoor concerts, and pool time? How can I make summer feel like summer without having those built-in events and activities to rely on?
For some of you, all of this might be irrelevant. Maybe nothing has closed down where you live, or none of the ideas below sound like fun. But for a small few, I hope these thoughts are helpful and cheer you up. If you’re in a similar situation, please remember to take some time for yourself – unplug and try to participate in a couple of activities that will bring you joy.
I’ll share a few ideas in depth, and leave you with an additional list of ideas below. Have anything to add or a story to share of your own? Share it in the comments!
Create a Summer Reading List
I used to love when the summer reading list was distributed at the end of each school year. I would eagerly get my list and then hang out in the library to read, or take my borrowed book to a park or the backyard. Somehow this annual ritual and school assignment turned into a fond summer memory. I’ve always liked reading and especially enjoy reading outside, listening to the summer sounds, experiencing the season without having to be overly active in the heat.
In our case now, many of the libraries are still closed to the public, but inner-library loans and curb-side pick-up have started up again. If you’re not comfortable taking out books, can you explore your own book shelves? Are there any unread books somewhere in your house that you’ve been meaning to get to and just haven’t had enough time for? There’s also the option to borrow or buy digital books if there’s nothing handy lying around.
My husband and I decided to give this a try together this year, creating a list of 10 books each (2 books from 5 different genres). Our goal isn’t to finish all 10, but to pick a couple from the list and make time to enjoy reading them this summer. At the end, we’ll take time to discuss each of the books we read. This enables us to keep the fun part of summer reading without having to write that report! Summarizing and reflecting together helps us internalize the book, and share a fun conversation about what we read.
Book Club Variation:
You can also do a summer reading group virtually. To make it feel like a summer activity, you can take the call out on your deck or in your yard, sipping a frosty margarita. If you’re able to do a safe socially distanced version of a book group, that could be a way to interact and communicate with friends while maintaining safe distances. If you meet in person, try to find a fun place to do this outdoors.
BackYard Beach Oasis
Put out your lawn lounge chair, beach towel, sun umbrella, and set out the drinks with lots of ice. Add a kiddie pool to the mix. Set yourself up in the yard under the umbrella and read your book, magazines, or just relax in the sun or shade. Make sure you arrange so that you can do this exercise uninterrupted, or alternatively have your family join you. Just make sure everyone is on the same page of this being a “beach day” – no working allowed during this mini vacation. Of course this won’t really feel like being on the beach, but the hope is that it will at least get you out of your every day mindset, and also give you some time to relax and unplug. The key is to read or do something fun while you lounge – even if that’s simply to do nothing at all or just listen to music. Try to turn off your phone or leave it inside. Set aside this time just for yourself and the most important part - don’t feel guilty about the time you take! If you must schedule it ahead to help you let go, mark it as “vacation” on your calendar.
Summer Cleaning – Purge!
Unless you’ve already done this, take a couple of days to do a deep clean and purge of old items you no longer want, need, or use. This will help you feel revitalized in your space. Consider moving some things around to help it feel like a fresh start, and to give yourself a new perspective and jolt to your routine. Having less stuff will equal less to clean up, and less weight (physical and psychological) to hold you down. Although the process itself might not be fun, the result will allow you more time and space to relax.
Have a Safe Bonfire
Remember summer camp when you would sit around the fire, singing songs and roasting marshmallows? Pull out that dusty guitar (or kazoo, or sing, or read poetry) and try this old camping staple. Make sure you set it up in a safe place of course! And don’t forget the s’mores, popcorn, hotdogs, and whatever else you can easily roast on the fire.
Drive-In Movies
See if your town or one nearby has opened up a temporary drive-in movie theater. These have made a comeback as indoor theaters have remained closed. Retro summer fun!
Virtual Photo-Based Scavenger Hunt
It can be a social media campaign or just something fun to do with family or friends. Set up some riddles for a local scavenger hunt and see what photos come of it.
Take a Bike Ride
Pull those dusty bikes out of the shed, garage, or basement and fill those tires up with air. You don’t have to go far, but this activity reminds me of so many fond childhood summers.
Go Fishing
If you don’t want to buy all of the gear, just head to the nearest body of water (lake, river, ocean, stream, puddle) and futz around the shore. Enjoy the view. Draw a picture. Take a picture. Watch the ducks or geese. Watch the ripples in the water. Dip your feet in to cool off. Let your dog fetch a ball. See how many different plants and animals you can spot. Bring your summer reading book. ;-)
Meal Plan Exchange
Create a family meal plan, where you can cook summer dishes with seasonal foods (purchased at a local farmer’s market or grown in your new garden?) together with your family/housemates/friends. Try new recipes that look interesting, or ask family and friends for their favorites. You could even turn this into a fun family cook-off exchange. (And I don’t mean cook while your family watches or does something else, try to make it an activity that involves everyone!)
Host Your Own Concert
Did you play an instrument as a kid? Still have it sitting in the closet? Try to pull it out again and practice to give your family a recital, or try learning a couple of songs together.
Not a DIY music fan? What about a dance party (by yourself is perfectly fine) in your house to your favorite album or streaming channel? Guitar Hero night? Find a way to bring some summer songs into the mix.
Stare at the Stars
There was a comet shower one year around when I was in high school. A group of friends decided to all meet at the local football field and set out a blanket so we could watch it. We brought snacks and sipped coffee as we looked up at the night sky. The comet shower wasn’t that impressive, but the time spent together there remains vividly in my memory. The last time I was somewhere where you could truly see the stars took my breath away. Sadly you can’t see them well where I live, but I should still remember to take a moment and go outside to view the universe. Doing this has as a similar impact for me as looking out onto the ocean – endless and massive. It makes my problems seem smaller, and my worries a little less significant. This perspective helps me realize that this is life, now. I love my work, but I also love my family, friends, and free time hobbies. Making time for those needs to become a top priority for me.
With that, I’ll leave you with the following additional summer ideas:
Go camping, even if you only feel comfortable going as far as your backyard
Catch and release fireflies in a mason jar
Listen to the cicadas
Have a guilt-free movie/TV show marathon
Social distanced BBQ with fewer people, BYO food
Make homemade popsicles
Have picnics in parks that are open, or overlooking a body of water or local vista
DIY Adult Summer Camp (i.e. design your own summer camp curriculum for yourself and enjoy doing something your kid-self would have loved)
Take some random days off to explore the world, even if it's just your local neighborhood
Wash your car by hand
Board game night with your immediate family
Find a boat, take it on the water
Put on a play in your back yard
Shinrin yoku – walk, hike, forest bathe, call it whatever you want. Take a notebook and jot observations or sketch. Bring your camera (not just the camera on your phone) and take some photos.
Go fruit picking
Climb a tree (but please don’t fall)
Eat lots of seasonal fruit and veggies – raw and cold
Start a flower garden, herb garden or vegetable garden
Blow bubbles outside
Let your clothes air dry on a clothesline (and watch them blow in the wind)
Put a wind chime on your porch or in your window to hear the breeze
What else have you done to make summer this year feel a bit more summery?
The main themes for making summer feel a bit more real this year:
Find excuses to be outside
Be with the people you love (however you can)
Explore and do something new or fun (no matter how small)
And take time OFF – to relax and slow down with the world without feeling guilty for doing so
I look forward to seeing your ideas, and hope that some of the above will bring you some peace and joy this summer.
If you want to talk about ways to make more time for yourself for the ideas above, don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here for you!
Sincerely,
If you are interested in getting additional one-on-one help, sign up for a coaching inquiry with Lana. You’ll discuss ideas specific to you for making more time and space for the things you love.