Making Summer Fun + Productive
Summer is here, and the traditions of summer are generally heavily leisure-focused. With the sun out and the warmer temperatures, people gravitate towards outdoor activities. Some companies offer “Summer Fridays” and kids are out of school for the summer. The weather in most parts of the country is at its prime for outdoor activities. It’s a wonderful time to enjoy a vacation, some time for yourself, or outdoor activities that are easily best done during the summer.
While the propensity for leisure increases in the summer season, it doesn’t mean that your personal productivity (at work or at home,) needs to take a dip. By making choices that help further your personal and professional priorities, you can have get things done WHILE having fun. Let’s look at some of the ways that you can take your personal leisure time to the next level for the warmest months of 2021.
Make a To Do List for FUN
Take some time to make a list of the things you want to achieve this season. You may want to learn a new skill, some sort of water activity, like stand-up paddleboarding. Maybe, it’s to get a tan (but be sure to wear sunscreen!) Maybe you want to cross off a few of the books on your reading list. Here’s a thought – combine some of these together!
By putting your potential down onto paper, you can frequently find ways to cross more than one item off your list. When you take a moment to identify ways to combine the things you’re aspiring to achieve, there are often efficiencies with those items. I know that to do lists can feel more like a burden than a helping hand, especially if there are a lot of incomplete items on that list. But, if you take some time to write it all down, it’ll create an accountability system, allow you to streamline your dreams, and cross off all of the fun as you have it.
Make a SUMMER Bucket List
Maybe you don’t want to make a To Do List. I get it, they’re “boring” and associated with a lot of the things we have to tackle as responsibilities instead of aspirations. So, let’s take a different approach. What would YOU put on your Summer Bucket List?
Take some time to think about all that the summer/season has to offer. Think about the things you’ve always wanted to do, but found a reason to pass it up in the past. What are the things that you’re a little scared of, but also a little excited to overcome fear for? Write it down! Make it your mission to tackle that whole bucket list this summer.
Bonus: If you don’t finish it this summer, now you have some ideas for next summer! Or maybe, some of the things you write down can be done just as easily (with just as much enjoyment) in another season.
Create a Summer Reading List
One of the best parts of summer vacations is to be able to take the time to sit back and just relax. Maybe you want to take a siesta in a hammock, but if your goal is to relax and escape, reading is a great way to stay stimulated without being stressed. When it comes to reading and literature, there’s LITERALLY something for everyone. With every genre under the sun, both fiction and nonfiction, covering pretty much any topic that might tickle your fancy – you can find something to read that will interest you.
Don’t know where to start with a summer reading list? Head to Google! Here are some of our top suggestions:
- Find a local bookstore. Ask the folks working at the store what they would recommend. Most local bookstores feature their staff picks, and in many cases have these listed on their website. Here’s an example from one of the local bookshops in my area, Tombolo.
- One of my personal, all-time favorite places in the whole world is Powell’s City of Books in Portland, OR. This locally-owned bookstore is a happy place for any bookworm. They have a variety of Staff Picks lists on their website. Definitely highly recommended.
- Want to go with a well-known, national brand? You can check out Barnes & Nobles picks here.
Get Outdoors and Get Some SUN
We all know that summer is the season to be outdoors and there is an abundance of things you can do outdoors. From taking advantage of your local resources to getting out of your comfort zone with a new activity you’ve never tried, being in the sunshine is so beneficial for us. From the simple things, like enjoying the sunset (or sunrise for you early birds) at your favorite local spot, to day-long activities that keep you busy from sun up to sun down – start enjoying the outdoors!
From local parks, to parks in surrounding areas, to national parks – there are beautiful spaces all around us. These public spaces are a resource that everyone has at their fingertips and should take advantage of. If you feel like you’re not doing enough of this, make a list of the local parks that you want to explore. Go explore them. Enjoy the little moments of peace, quiet, and natural beauty that surrounds you.
Many local parks feature amenities that can be used for additional recreation and leisure. In Florida, for instance, many will have kayak or boat launches to enjoy the waters of the area. Many have picnic areas to enjoy a nice meal outdoors. Sports fields and courts are available at others. Hiking trails are another great way to enjoy the natural spaces around you.
Now go ENJOY the summer!
Take some time to reflect on the things you want to do. Even better, take some time to reflect on the WHY. Why do you want to do these things? How will they help you grow? Why do you enjoy them? If you have a good reason WHY, you’re being productive for your own self.
Get your to do list, bucket list, reading list, or dream activity wish list together and tackle some summer fun!
