Our culture surrounding summer can be a bit ironic. On the one hand, we picture ourselves sprawled out on the sand with a beach read and mint mojito. On the other, we end up creating bucket lists, scheduling events, and signing up for commitments of all sorts.
Soon enough, making it to the beach feels daunting– just another thing to check off.
Why do we do this?
First, because we can. Those who can’t are currently giving the rest of us the proverbial (perhaps literal) eye-roll, because not everyone gets a “summer”. Sure, the season comes and goes, but work marches on regardless what the temperatures are outside or what they’re trying to sell you at Target.
So, those of us who get a “summer”– a length of time during which our obligations are lightened– have to live it up for everyone else, right? Isn’t that what Instagram is all about? (10 reasons to toss FOMO out the window)
No. Those of us who get a summer need to use it well. And using it well is not the same as stuffing our schedules and lists until they burst at the seams. Quite the contrary, really.
If you’re one of few individuals in this world blessed with leisure time in the summer months, then perhaps you’ll join me in a quest for creating the summer you actually want— not the summer you think you need to have.
Because the truth is, somewhere between lazing around and adventuring abroad is the sweet spot: the balance required for feeling truly rested, refreshed, and ready to pursue our goals again. (How to stay focused and achieve your short-term goals). Isn’t that what most of us want from an ideal summer?
6 Ways to Simplify Your Summer (and have the summer you really want)
1) Choose the gatherings that matter.
It’s summer, so there’s an endless supply of barbecues, lunches, and lawn parties. While it might be uncouth to turn down every invitation, ask yourself which ones you really, honestly want to attend. So often we tell ourselves that these things are mandatory– but they rarely are. If summertime is limited, we need to spend it with people we love.
2) Protect the blank spaces in your calendar.
Resist the temptation to fill those empty days; leave yourself time to be spontaneous. When that day arrives, do whatever suits your fancy (and the weather), and don’t worry about not accomplishing anything. Sometimes spontaneity leads to an activity we’ve needed all along.
3) Prioritize ahead of time.
Write down 3-5 important things you wish to prioritize this summer (hint: shopping and waterparks are not an option). Perhaps this is improving your health, cultivating a new habit, or getting enough time with your loved ones. Limit those priorities– only write down the most important. Keep this list somewhere you’ll see it often.
4) Relax on social media and unsubscribe from promotional emails.
Can we look away from other people’s adventures for just one second? If FOMO is not destroying you yet, it might bother you in the summer. For whatever reason, it’s easy to want others to approve of what we’re doing with our free time. But we don’t need their approval, do we?
And while you’re not checking Instagram, go through your “Promotional” inbox and actually unsubscribe. It’s likely that companies are trying to sell you everything from sale swimwear to sweat-resistant makeup to grilling tools. To resist the temptation, repeat after me: I have enough. I do enough. I am enough.
5) Re-evaluate that “bucket list.”
The idea of a bucket list can be stressful, if not a bit morbid. A bucket list that induces anxiety so that you run around checking off each item is hardly the way to enjoy time off. If there are a few things you hope to accomplish, then great. Just don’t let the list rule your life.
6) Intentionally spend time alone.
When we’re busy during the rest of the year, it’s likely that we don’t have much time to ourselves. Having time to be introspective, explore new places or reflect on months past is a luxury. Don’t miss the opportunity; it will make you feel more relaxed and self-aware when schedules pick back up again.
[Tweet “Create the summer you actually want- not the one you think you should have via @daisylinshih”]
The bottom line is, I hope you’ll create the summer that your body and mind have been waiting for– regardless of what others are doing. Having leisure time at all is a privilege, and one that we shouldn’t squander.
This summer I’ve really been trying to transition into a more minimalist lifestyle. I know that right now maybe my wardrobe isn’t the place to tackle, but I’ve been trying to get rid of things that I’ve been holding on to for a while for no reason.
Shaguna
gold&hearts
YES to #5 – I wrote out a bucket list one time and it took all the joy out of my life because I was burdened by all I hoped to do that year/summer. Instead of enjoying the spontaneous moments and the adventures that did come way, I felt like a failure for not getting to everything on my list.
#2 is so, so, so important! Sometimes you need those empty spaces more than you know. They’re not long spans of boredom that must be filled up by activities, they’re necessary recharge and recovery times, and sometimes that room for spontaneous adventures that can be equally refreshing!
I don’t get summers anymore, but it’s taught me to really make the most of my weekends! Great list! <3
Love this! I unfortunately don’t get a summer so sometimes feel I can’t do all these amazing summer things. But that’s totally not true and I should appreciate that I do get to enjoy a simplified summer!
Thanks girl!! I appreciate that! 🙂
Thanks Lane! I really appreciate you stopping by 🙂
Thank you Gina!! I think health and fitness are a great focus. I’ve also had summers where I felt off-balance. I would go back and make some real goals!
You are so wise, Daisy! So intentional and achievable – love this ways to simplify your summer. Pinning for sure!
I totally believe in all of this. These are great tips for honoring yourself and your personal timeline. Great post!
xx Lane
Such a great post, Daisy! This summer is going to be a summer like no other for me, since I’m starting to work (so I guess that means I don’t really have a “summer”) but I love the summertime season to focus on a couple of personal goals like health and fitness. I loved what you say about thinking about the summer you want versus the summer you think you should have. I have done that in the past and it is stressful sometimes. I definitely will need to take your advice to protect blank spaces in my calendar and make time for things that truly matter this summer outside of work! Thanks so much for this post! 🙂
Thanks Laura Jean. Yes, those moments when we can just breathe with nothing else on our plate… I love them.
Thanks Katherine! Yes, when it comes down to simply checking off a list, I feel like I lose the joy of doing those things in the first place! We are traveling as well and definitely relaxing this summer. Possibly figuring out how to plant something in our patch of dirt. 😉
Thanks Jo-Anne!!
Thank you Sheryl!!
Thanks Marcella that means a lot! Leaving room for spontaneity doesn’t come naturally to me but I’ve really enjoyed it!
Glad this was helpful! Unscheduled time can be such a relief between outings and events.
Hahaha good call, Brittany! We’re able to skip out on things when we’re not around, but it can be hard to say no. Any event where I’ll meet a new person that I’ll never see again is definitely one I would skip too. 😉
Hahah yes! Lots of junk and notifications… ugh.
Thanks Chelsea!! 🙂
Thanks Nina! 🙂
Thank you Jenna!! Ooh sitting in the patio with an iced coffee sounds like the perfect afternoon. And you deserve to relax a bit Jenna, it really has been a great year for you!:)
Oh gosh I’m so excited for you though! It’s coming up so soon!
Thanks Christina! Yes, bucket lists like yours are perfect– especially for a free day! I’m a list maker too, so I understand. 🙂
Oh gosh, 5 emails a day is TOO MUCH! I can deal with maybe one or two per week…
Yes, those blank spaces are precious!
Amen to this post. With us moving over the summer we are trying our best to preserve the “blank spaces” and allow life to sink in. This summer will be filled with transitions, but when we allow ourselves to rest and enjoy this slower season of life we will be so much healthier.
I love this post so much. I don’t use the term “bucket list” too much; very morbid as you mentioned. I get all anxiety ridden thinking about the future and knocking things off my “list” that I forget to live in the moment. But anyway, I don’t have that much plans other than traveling a bit but taking the time to really relax. Thanks for sharing this post!
Katherine Lou
http://www.wanderhour.com
A bloody great post…………………
I love this post! Particularly love protecting the blank spaces – something that is so important.
I’m so glad that I recently discovered your blog, I’m loving reading all of your posts. I love these points as you’re right about it being so easy to just make too many plans, when spontaneous plans are the best! 🙂
I’m trying to balance out planned family trips/outings and unstructured times within our monthly calendar and daily schedule. Thanks for these reminders Daisy!
Yes! It’s so easy to sucked into the whirlwind of summer activities. I couldn’t agree more with #1 — it’s okay to say no to invitations! I recently passed on a “cousin” reunion with all of Dan’s second cousins because I’ve never met them and will likely never see them again. 😉
Oh, I definitely need to unsubscribe from promotional emails. About 95% of my inbox is junk mail, haha.
Yessssss. Love this. I’m definitely applying these challenges to my summer. Thanks for sharing friend. 🙂
I love your approach to things! And summer is no different.
This is such a great post, Daisy! I look forward to the summertime when I can have ample amounts of alone time. It’s what I crave during the school year. I love sitting on my back patio, sipping iced coffee, and doing blog stuff and flower things. 🙂 This summer my goal is to make goals for my floral business, thrift for fun vases, and RELAX. It’s much needed after this crazy year. 🙂
Wedding planning already has me thinking of the end of summer when the stress will diminish, so these reminders were much needed! 🙂
Luci’s Morsels | fashion. food. frivolity.
Great points Daisy! I actually did make a summer bucket list, but mostly just as a reminder to myself of fun things we can do this summer to have some options all in one centralized place. I think you make a great point that it shouldn’t be something that causes anxiety or stress to check items off, otherwise it becomes a little bit contradictory to the whole premise of summer! I’m just naturally a list maker, so I take pleasure in even making lists for fun things I want to do 🙂
I’m finding more an more those promo emails just stress me out. Really Carter’s, 5 emails in one day promoting your sale?? I always protect those blank calendar weekends. My fiance and I make time for ourselves, go on a date, or “veg.” It’s the little things in life. (:
http://www.accordingtokiki.net
I like tip number two on protecting blank spaces on the calendar. I always have this need to feel like I’m being productive every second of the day. But sometimes I might just need rest or time alone!
The Runaway Journal