JENINE CAMINS
Summer can be a whirlwind of activities, social events, and travel. But with a little planning and intentionality, you can create a season that fuels your well-being alongside the fun!
As a performance and personal development coach, I want to help you make this summer a season of fulfillment and rejuvenation!
Here are 10 tips to help you maximize your summer moments.
1. Know Your Summer (Planning) Style
Identifying your natural tendencies towards summer planning helps you create a structure that works for you, not against you.
The Scheduler: You love exciting activities, keeping everyone busy and entertained. Most days on your calendar are spoken for.
The Adventurer: You thrive on spontaneity! With an open schedule, you embrace the unknown and explore new places with a never-ending list of ideas. You’ve never met an invite you didn’t like. If the opportunity comes up – you’re there!
The Summer Juggler: School’s out for the kids, but your work schedule keeps humming along! You might have some adjustments for longer days or vacations, but overall, you’re still balancing work with summer fun.
The Easy Breezy: Open days are your jam, but sometimes lack of plans leaves you uninspired.
Which one do you identify with? Is it working for you? If so, great! But, if not, and you strive to be a little less regimented or a little more structured, acknowledging your goal is the first step to change.
2. Craft a Summer “Be-ing” Bucket List
Instead of a traditional to-do list, create a “to-be” list that focuses on how you want to show up for yourself and others during the summer season. Do you want to be more adventurous…connected…relaxed…creative… joyful? How can you find opportunities to feel that way? Often we focus on the activities we’re doing, but really, we’re “chasing” a feeling. Figuring out how you want to feel helps you to curate activities that will guide you towards that emotion.
3. Align Activities with Values
What truly matters to you? Family time, personal growth, or adventure? Prioritize activities that reflect your core values to ensure a summer that feels meaningful, not just busy. During those days and weeks that feel especially full, do a mini attention audit. Reflect on whether you’ve been directing your time and attention towards the activities and people that are aligned with your values. With this awareness, you can make changes as needed.
4. Embrace a Loose Structure
While flexibility is important, building some structure into your summer is key. By carving out dedicated time for yourself, you’ll have the energy to enjoy the season and stay aligned with your overall goals for a more fulfilling summer. Can you relate? You have good intentions to meditate, read, or exercise, but with everyone’s busy schedules and unexpected social events popping up, those self-care activities often get pushed aside. Here’s the fix: Be intentional about your self-care. Look at your daily calendar and schedule specific blocks of time for your relaxation and self-care priorities. Treating these activities like any other commitment ensures everyone’s needs are met, including your own!
5. Master the Art of Saying No
Summer is perfect for impromptu meet-ups at the park or backyard BBQs. They can be stiff competition for those quiet nights at home that your body and mind are craving. Making time to reflect on your energy levels and your values, helps you to quickly assess whether you want to accept the last minute invite or reschedule for another time.
6. Embrace the Power of “Micro-Adventures”
Big adventures are great, but don’t underestimate the power of small, spontaneous outings. Have each family member put a bunch of simple ideas in a bowl. Whatever is pulled out, say yes! These micro-adventures can add joy and novelty to your summer.
7. Schedule Time for Disconnection
Digital detox is crucial for relaxation. Choose specific times to disconnect from technology and reconnect with yourself and your surroundings. If screentime is a concern for your children, it’s a great opportunity to model carving out tech-free time.
8. Practice Gratitude
Taking time to appreciate the simple joys of summer can significantly enhance your experience. Research shows that people who practice gratitude consistently experience the benefits of a stronger immune system, less depression, more joy, optimism, and happiness, stronger relationships and more generous behavior and less feelings of loneliness and isolation. Keep it simple and incorporate it into your morning, bedtime or dinner routine. If you like journaling, start a gratitude journal!
9. Embrace Imperfections
Don’t get caught up in the pressure to have a “perfect” summer. Maybe you’re having a staycation instead of a big-blow out getaway. Unexpected events happen, plans change – that’s okay! Embrace the flexibility of the season and find joy in the present moment and the people you’re with.
10. Make Time for Reflection
Regularly take moments for self-reflection. Are you feeling fulfilled, aligned, and relaxed? Adjust your plans as needed to ensure your summer experience aligns with your goals and values.
Summer can be a whirlwind of activity, but with a little intentionality, it can also be a season of growth and rejuvenation. By aligning your actions with your values and incorporating these tips, you can create a summer experience that feels truly fulfilling.
Craft your ideal summer with our free blueprint, “4 Steps to Feeling More Fulfilled: A Guide to Choosing Where to Direct Your Time and Attention,” from UQMindfulness.com. This resource provides additional strategies and exercises to help you choose activities that will bring you maximum fulfillment while reducing being overwhelmed.
Jenine Camins is a certified performance and personal development coach who uses realistic strategies to inspire clients to take consistent and intentional action now while creating a clear path towards their future goals. Learn more at UQMindfulness.com or connect at Jenine@uqmindfulness.com