Summer is here! To think that 6 months of the year has already passed =O With how hard times have been recently, and how hard everyone has been working in the first couple of months, it’s time to unwind a little, chill a little and let our hair down.
Let’s spend our next 3 months being present in our day-to-day, savoring each tiny moment, engaging in joyful activities that nourish our bodies, minds and spirit, and making the most of this season!
Read on for some ways to enjoy a mindful, joyful summer!
#1 Create a Summer bucket list
I tend to feel like every Summer, the season just flies by. I usually have some ideas as to how I want to spend it, but never seem to be able to get around to it, and suddenly it’s already Fall and there’s only 3 months of the year left!
So let’s be intentional about our days this summer. How would you like to spend it? What would you like to do? Who do you want to meet? Where would you like to go?
Make a whole list of everything you’d like to do (no filtering or judging!) and pick at least 1-3 activities from it that you could do per week. Bucket lists are a great way to inject some fun and excitement into your life, and they guarantee that you will never have a dull summer moment!
How mindful are you?
#2 Learn something new
Self-improvement is never a bad idea and if there has been something sparking your curiosity recently and that you’d like to learn more about, go right ahead! It could be anything – cooking a specific dish, painting, how to fix something at home, comparing housing prices (as I am now). Just anything to feed your intellectual hunger.
Also! If you are up for learning more about yourself and on key personal development topics (i.e. how to pick the right friends, how to date “right”, how to build up one’s intuition/self-esteem, just about anything under the sun), I’ve love to have you at my mini monthly courses. They are all FREE and are based off a monthly theme, that we will explore in 3-4 weeks!.
Do you TRULY know your SELF well?
This FREE checklist will help you determine if where you are struggling with your identity and sense of self. ALL issues in life (dating, friendships, career, money, limerence etc) comes down to truly knowing and listening to yourself. Find out how self-aware and connected you are in this workbook.
#3 Spend time in nature
What is summer without a bit of fun in the sun, eh? It’s time to put on those hiking boots, swimwear, etc and spend some time outdoors! Go for a swim or a hike or just sit with a book in your garden or a park! Enjoy the pleasant weather and just take in all the natural, calming beauty around you.
#4 Go off the online grid
Consider taking technology break this season. Unplug, stop the scroll and go and meet someone for a chat, go out and people-watch, read a book. Being so plugged in like our entire society has been wired to be these days, has affected us in so many ways – mental health issues, body image issues, self-esteem issues and just being so overwhelmed we cannot hear our own thoughts and tune into our intuition.
I’ve stopped being on Instagram months ago and the difference is just drastic. I’ve gotten so much done in a short amount of time and I feel so clean and clear mentally – it’s like suddenly I have the capacity and energy to accomplish so much.
#5 Start a mindfulness meditation practice
If you haven’t already, summer is a great time to ease yourself into a gentle meditation practice. There are loads of mindfulness meditation apps and playlists on YouTube. Just explore, take your pick, find a comfy spot and get settled in!
Meditations and even breathing exercises (another mindfulness practice) can help to soothe frayed nerves and calm down a dysregulated nervous system – something we all suffer a little from. I personally do a guided chakra healing meditation or a sound bowl healing session just to realign my energy centres and relax. If you’d like to find out more about energy healing, chakras and how it affects our well-being, grab my book at a discounted price below!
#6 Engage in mindful movement
What types of movement intrigue you? Is it yoga, taichi, dance? Physical activity doesn’t all have to be done in a gym, they can be fun and relaxing too. Activities like yoga focus alot on posture, movement, stretches and awareness of your breath – perfect for a mindful summer. Sign up for free trials and classes near you to get started. Or, just get on YouTube for some free lessons! There are many comprehensive video tutorials on there.
#7 Do something creative and fun
What do you love? Writing, playing an instrument, painting, gardening, cooking? It’s time to immerse yourself in a creative process fully, no judgment allowed. Creativity is a form of play, freedom of expression and is a way of tending to your inner child. It’s also a great way to re-discover yourself and be fully focused and present during the process.
#8 Set up a reading bucket list
What better time to get into some fun new genres than summer? Relax on the beach with a good book in hand! There are so many fun fiction titles to explore, and why not kill two birds with one stone and work on a little self-improvement too? Here are my 10 recommended self-improvement books for a summer read. And in the vein of self-improvement, if you happen to know someone who is struggling with limerence or if you are right now, check out my new book, Breaking Up with Limerence below and grab it at a discount!
#9 Engage all 5 senses
Many of us usually go about our days plugged in all the time – on our phones or our airpods. We rush from one place to another and eat quickly, usually using meal-times to multi-task. This season, let’s focus on one thing at a time. Let’s pay attention to what our sensory experiences are and savor them! Chew slowly, take note of the tastes, the texture of the food. Look at the vibrant colors of flowers, take in the sights and sounds of the places that you travel through. Be completely present when you are engaging with someone.
#10 Prioritize self-care
It’s time to prioritize self-care! Look into adjusting your diet – how can you incorporate more light, healthy, nourishing foods? How can you move more? Can you get in extra hours of good-quality sleep? Where can you start to give yourself a break and relax more? Make time as well for fun physical activities that help rejuvenate your spirit, mind and body.
#11 Re-connect with loved ones
Summer is a great time (and excuse) to just be around the people you love. Organize parties, mini gatherings, dinners, BBQs, picnics, where you can just enjoy each other’s company and create beautiful memories together. Engage in meaningful conversations and be fully present with your loved ones!
#12 Clear your mind with automatic writing
This is an almost-daily practice I engage in to clear my mind, tap into my intuition and get ideas for various things. It helps me come to terms with my fears and worries too. It’s pretty simple – grab a book or open up a Word doc, put the timer on for 5 minutes (not too long), and just – write. Write whatever comes to mind – there’s no need for proper grammar, coherent thoughts and filtering out of what is improper. Automatic writing is always incoherent in sone wat. At the end, take some time to read back what was written and circle out the areas that stood out to you. If you require some reflective prompts to get started, these ones I’ve written for the summer will help.
Remember, the key is to be present, appreciate the simple joys of summer, and cultivate a sense of awareness and gratitude for the experiences you encounter. Enjoy the season mindfully and make the most of each moment. Have a fun summer!!
