Though many people equate long summer days with lounging on the beach or by the pool, others find the extra daylight a boon to their productivity, health, and wellness goals.
After all, it feels like the days are actually longer when the sun stays out to play. So, what do you want to accomplish with all that seemingly extra time?
If you take a laissez-faire approach and go with the flow, you may not get to cross off all the awesome to-do’s on your summer bucket list.
That’s why we’re sharing three easy tips to make the most of these long summer days. A little preparation now will help you make this season the best so far.
3 Easy Ways to Make the Most Out of Long Summer Days
Warmer weather, abundant sunshine, and an optimistic outlook characterize the summer season. Use these tips to put them to good use:
1. Have a Plan Before You Start Your Day
You’ve probably heard Benjamin Franklin’s famous quote, “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail,” and it’s a perfect mantra to keep in mind this summer.
So before the official summer kickoff, it’s smart to sketch a rough outline of how you want your season to go.
Do you want to travel more? Spend more time outside with your family? Switch to outdoor meditations or workouts?
Spend a few minutes to plan your summer wishlist now. Include all the things you want to do, health and wellness goals you want to reach, and anything else you hope to accomplish.
Then, create a plan for each day the night before.
Things may not always go according to your itinerary, but at least you have some guiding goals to focus on each day. You’ll be empowered to jump right into your to-do list without wasting precious time.
Don’t forget to incorporate rest days into your summer schedule too. The last thing you want is to burn yourself out mid-season.
2. Get Up Earlier To Do Your Focused Work; Take the Afternoons and Evenings Off
If you’ve been struggling to turn into a morning person, summer might be the perfect incentive to make this goal a reality.
Sleeping in during the summer is extra challenging with the sun knocking on your window bright and early. And there’s nothing worse than seeing a beautiful summer day outside your window and being stuck indoors to work or do chores.
So use nature’s subtle nudge to get out of bed early and start on your to-do list ASAP.
Schedule your deep work early in the day when you’re most focused. Then use the second half of the day for easy tasks or work you can take outside.
Just picture it: if you got up early and finished everything you needed to complete by mid-afternoon, you’d still have hours of sunlight left in the day to do whatever you wanted.
Thanks to summer’s later sunsets, your afternoons and evenings off will feel like an endless vacation. And this feeling will reward and motivate you to continue your morning lark ways well into autumn and beyond.
3. Try to Get Outside Every Day
What would summer be if you weren’t outdoors soaking it all in? Most people spend more time outside during these sunny months, which is good for the body, mind, and soul.
If you need a list of fun summer activities and things to do outdoors, you can:
- Go on a hike, bike ride, or kayak adventure
- Swim in the ocean, a lake, or in a pool
- Enjoy a picnic or barbecue with friends
- Move your workouts outdoors
- Take a morning, midday, or evening stroll (or all three!)
- Visit the farmer’s market for healthy summer grocery staples
- Plant a pollinator garden
- Find constellations in the sky at night
- Dive into a summer must-read at the park
- Go camping
Summer is the perfect time to just be in nature. And the extra hours of sunlight are especially important for helping you recharge your vitamin D levels. These may plummet during the winter months, depending on where you live.
Plus, getting outdoors can help you feel mentally and physically better, which is why summer just feels so good.
Ready To Enjoy Summer Even More This Season?
Make the most of your long summer days with these tips, and you’ll savor everything the season has to offer. You’ll also continue to make progress on your health and wellness goals and feel fantastic as a result!
This positive momentum will carry you well into the cooler months, when the shorter, darker days may zap your motivation. Then, before you know it, you’ll reach your goals and be eager to set even bigger ones.
Now go get yourself summer-ready! 🌞
Author: Devan Ciccarelli
Email: devan@behappynothangry.com
Instagram/Facebook Group: @behappynothangry/Be Happy Not Hangry
Website: www.behappynothangry.com
