1.Creating a Bucket List of Activities
I don’t know if you’ve ever gotten to the end of summer and realized that instead of doing all these fun activities, you just kind of sat around all the time. I have, but that’s NOT HAPPENING TO ME THIS TIME. This summer, I made a list of activities so that each weekend I can choose one or more to do. Some of the ideas are for myself and my baby, some for myself and my husband, and some for a group of friends. The activities vary in length of time and simplicity. For example, one week might just be to go get ice cream with the fam, another week might be a day trip of shopping or hiking. My husband and I already have a system for planning weekend activities, so at the beginning of the week, I will choose an activity that fits our energy levels and schedule.
I have found that the trick to a good time, especially since having the baby, is to PLAN AHEAD like crazy. Then anything is possible. The goal is to make the most of the short summer season we have before returning to school in the fall.
My Summer Bucket List
- Go to the beach
- Go for a hike
- Go out for ice cream
- Sunset walks
- Take Gia to the playground
- Make Ice cream sandwiches
Want to create your own summer bucket list? I made a cute printable one for you! Sign up below to get your own summer bucket list printable!
2. Getting (MORE) Active
During the winter and cooler months, I did a lot of indoor workouts to try to stay active between long bouts of sitting to study. However, nothing quite beats getting outside to get a dose of fresh air and vitamin D with your sweat sesh. I have been running using the couch to 5k app since the beginning of April and wow did I need that. Getting more active has improved all aspects of my life especially my confidence, and assurance that I can maintain an active lifestyle post baby.
Summer Ways to Stay active:
- Take long walks early morning and evening to catch the sunrise/sunset
- Swim! Hit the beach or pool
- Hikes- go catch the views
- Biking trails
- Sunset Runs
Getting outside and being active is such a good way to take advantage of the nice weather AND do something for your health and mind. I did my best to stay active during the winter, but getting outside while its cold is really not my favorite. This summer, I plan to continue running while adding walks and hikes into the week.
3. Replacing Screen Time with Outdoor Time
I’ll be the first to admit that I spend a little too much time in front of my phone/computer. All winter I was in front of my laptop for HOURS, studying or in virtual class. And when I wasn’t, all I wanted to do was scroll Instagram or watch another cringe compilation on Youtube. Fun for a little, but not cute when it was my only “hobby”.
This summer, the phone is staying out of my hands for longer so I can truly relax and stay present. BUT all that phone time is going to be replaced with outdoor activities, spending time with others, and getting organized! Which brings me to my next point:
4. Getting Organized
In addition to relaxing this summer, I also want to accomplish my goal of gettin organized. To anyone wondering how I did it all over the last semester, watching a baby/toddler and keeping my GPA afloat, I didn’t. Turns out, being a SAHM is enough of a job, and adding homework and a full-time class schedule on top of that meant that keeping my house apartment clean and running was at the bottom of the to-do list on more days than I care to admit. Turns out, it’s kind of an important task!
While I maintained some order in the house over the past couple of semesters, this summer I want to get to a place where most of my housework is automated, so that by the time I return to school in the fall, it’s a little more manageable.
Some ways I am doing that are:
- Sorting through ALL my clothes. I am giving away anything that doesn’t fit me, and boxing up my winter clothes
- Creating a daily chore list I can stick to. I use the Clean Mama routine as a base and then adapt it to my specific needs
- Getting rid of clutter- like ruthlessly
5. Slowing Down
I get a little, ok, a LOT antsy when I’m not constantly busy. I’ve been this way since high school, where I always needed a full schedule and to be doing “something.” My definition of productivity and busyness has changed significantly, especially since having a baby. Last summer, I was pretty much forced to slow down, to learn how to take care of a newborn and push aside doing stereotypically “productive things” in exchange for long periods of time, sitting, rocking a newborn.
I certainly don’t think there is anything wrong with being busy or productive. I talk about productivity extensively on my blog, but I do thin it’s important to understand what it means to truly be productive, and how that changes in every season of life. Summer naturally leads to a slower pace, at least for me since I go to school in the fall. However, I am realizing that I still need to CHOOSE to slow down. If I am not careful, I will easily fill my schedule with things just to feel busy, but aren’t necessarily adding to my life.
This summer I am hoping to slow down by:
- Carefully choosing my commitments– which means saying no to things I’m not 100% all in for.
- Intentionally setting aside time to be with family and make memories!
- Creating space to just BE. During the school semester, I didn’t have time to bump into a friend and chat, or sit down at a coffee shop unless I was studying. This summer, I plan to take that extra-long walk just because I can.
These are just a few ways I plan to make the most of this summer, and I hope they inspire you to make your own summer plans. don’t forget to get your free bucket list printable below!