As I sit on my deck enjoying my breakfast and coffee, I think, “Ah, summer really is here at last.” Breakfast on the terrace is one of the luxuries I enjoy in summer.
One of the challenges of being a home-based career professional is that if I don’t have a networking meeting or lunch date, it’s easy to go an entire day without going out. So I make it a point to spend a part of each day outdoors. Since it may well be too hot to sit down for lunch, summer means having breakfast on the terrace.
This is just one of the rituals I employ to make sure summer is truly a unique part of the year. We wait for it all winter, and then it passes very quickly. I want to make sure that in September when they ask me “How was your summer?” my answer will be “Great!”
So often I hear others respond, “It was good. You know, work like any other time of year.” That’s an unfortunate answer, because summer is different. There are opportunities that present themselves in the summer that will not appear again, unless, of course, you are lucky enough to live in a climate with pleasant temperatures throughout the year. But even then, with a little effort, it’s possible to create summers that really stand out from the rest of the year and are filled with fun and healthy activities.
1. Visualize your last summer. What would you like to do this summer that you couldn’t do during the rest of the year? Write down your ideas both big and small. Go to the beach, have a barbecue, have a picnic or learn to surf! Think about the things you did as a child that made summer special. Riding a bike, treats from the ice cream truck, reading in a hammock! Keep the list visible and start scheduling some of these things on your calendar. If you only think about them, it is very likely that the summer flies by without them happening.
2. Spend as much time outdoors as possible. Research has shown that sunlight can improve your mood by activating secret mood-enhancing chemicals and slowing or stopping the secretion of mood-producing hormones. The options are endless. Outdoor meals, coffee breaks outside the office, walks after dinner. Change your indoor exercise sessions to outdoors. Maybe even try something new, like rollerblading, playing tennis, or swimming in the city pool.
3. Savor summer fruits and vegetables and support your local farmers market. The abundance of seasonal produce available at this time of year makes eating healthy during the summer a doddle. If you’re lucky enough to have a local farmer’s market, it can make grocery shopping fun instead of a chore. Vendors love to share recipes, so don’t be afraid to ask around and experiment with some of the lesser-known varieties of produce you’ll find.
4. Plan a vacation, even if it’s just for a day. There’s nothing like free time to refresh and rejuvenate you, as long as you really make it a vacation. Set up your out-of-office email autoresponder, leave the trade magazines behind for a juicy novel, and let your office and colleagues know you’re unavailable. If you can’t get away for an extended vacation, take a mini. A day out can do the trick, and local hotels often charge a minimal fee to spend the day at their pool and spa. Take a long weekend at the beach or in the mountains. Check the parks and recreation departments in neighboring cities, and you may find some hiking and biking trails you didn’t know existed.
5. Light up! Swap your favorite perfume or cologne for a light fruit or citrus scent. Replace heavy makeup with tinted moisturizers and lip glosses. Enjoy easy or no-cook light meals such as salads, cold soups, sandwiches, or even breakfast for dinner. Put away the heavy duvets and treat yourself to a lighter blanket or nice sheets. On cooler nights, open the windows and turn off the air conditioning. You’ll save on electricity and reap the benefits of fresh air. And if possible, take advantage of customer and associate vacations and lighten your workload.
6. Stay healthy. Be sure to wear sunscreen, exercise early in the morning or at night to avoid excessive heat, and increase your water intake. If you are biking, hiking, or camping in wooded areas, use insect repellent sprays and check your body from head to toe when you return indoors. When gardening, wear light long sleeves, pants, and gloves. Know what poison ivy looks like and check the area before you dive. Pay attention to high tide or jellyfish warnings on the beach, and do not dive into lakes or streams that are not clear for swimming.
Come September, I hope you look back and have memories of a great summer. Remember, they don’t magically happen. Plan it out and the next two months will be filled with good health and lots of fun.