With summer just around the bend, we can welcome it slowly with intentionality and purpose. For most, summertime shifts us from a frenzied school/work schedule to a lighter workload and no school-related activities. Summer is when our rhythms change to a slower pace allowing us to become more energized and restorative. The warm weather can challenge us to fill up our days to the brim with stuff and do more, but that would defeat the intention of taking it slow.

 

 

Here are 11 activities to help you capture your summer slowly. 

 

1) Soak Up The Sun

A slow lifestyle is independent of whether you live in the city or the countryside. As a former city dweller and, at present, small town resident, I have taken advantage of both locales to get outside to soak up the sun. Some of us live in states that experience the four seasons, so there is a greater appreciation for being outdoors, absorbing all the sun’s rays (safely, of course). Whether it is a city park, beach, mountain, or woodland setting, catching the rays means seizing all the sights, sounds, and smells the scenery provides.

 

2) Say Yes To Flowers

Why should spring and fall have all the fun with color? The benefits of plants and flowers decorating the home are numerous. A bouquet of hydrangeas sprinkled about does wonders for beautifying the house and lifting the mood. Flowers are an easy way to set the stage for the carefree days of summer. Go beyond the selection of flowers, be creative in choosing the vessel to place the flowers in. The sky is the limit when adorning our environment with flowers. Desire a less costly alternative? You can pick some wildflowers while out walking and soaking up the sun. Artificial flowers offer a great option if allergies don’t permit real flowers. 

 

3) Reading-What A Novel Idea 

Reading ranks high on the hobby list of favorite things to do. Summer is the perfect time to peruse the library or ask friends or family for recommendations for good summer reads. To create more of a reading experience, try a new spot. Perhaps a blanket in the backyard, a hammock on a tree, or a quiet corner in a coffee shop; there is limitless potential. Switch up your genre and choice of material, like reading a magazine. Read out loud to your children. Why not take a chance on the classics? 

 

4) Plan A Block Party

You might be thinking nothing about this tip seems slow. You can make this as simple and stress-free as possible. A couple of people or the whole block, you decide. A block party isn’t a privilege for those living in the suburbs. Having a stoop party or a roof party is just as easy. Meeting neighbors, breaking bread, playing music, and games in the background pays dividends in building community connections and new friendships. 

 

5) Make Your Own Ice Cream 

Summer is synonymous with heat. Ice cream is the perfect sweet treat to refresh during hot days. Think of the endless flavor profiles and the cherished memories from gathering around the kitchen to make homemade ice cream. No machine, no problem. You can use a hand mixer or a freezer bag. The kids will get a kick from making it old-fashioned in a bag. Pinterest offers a variety of recipes. 

 

6) Minimize Screen Time

This tip applies to both children and adults. We all know that time is a precious commodity we often waste. Slow-living summer invites the opportunity to minimize distractions for everyone. One of the biggest distractions is the “need” to be on some electronic device constantly. It may take creativity to encourage some family members to stay off their screens, but it is doable. Make a small goal, like an hour a day off or half a day in the week. The significance is showing that there are other worthwhile activities. An unpopular opinion, but a little boredom is not necessarily bad. The old saying goes, “Necessity is the mother of invention.” Why not make it necessary to think of other creative ways not to be looking at a screen? Build a fort, picnic in the living room, or journal. The possibilities are endless if we stop offering the only entertainment as tv or a phone. 

 

7) Take A Dip

If you don’t live by a beach or have access to a pool, why not try an ice bath or shower? This cold water immersion alternative may take some getting used to. However, the perks are tremendous, from what research shows. Swimming, in general, promotes improvements to our overall health. It helps with circulation, heart strength, and flexibility, to name a few. Ice baths have a positive impact on our overall well-being. According to Goodrx.com, a decrease in inflammation, a mood booster, and supports immunity await those willing to try ice baths. Please consult your physician before taking an icy plunge.

 

8) Try Something New

Routine is vital to productivity and performance. Having a summertime routine may differ from other seasonal patterns. It will be more lax. So it is the perfect time to switch it up, try a new recipe, hobby, or place. If you have gone to the same coffee shop, try a new one in a different part of town. A swamped routine throughout the year, perhaps something new you try is to have no appointment, no activity type of day. Make it enjoyable by having the whole family vote on a collective new thing to do or not do. 

 

9) Take A Tour

Look around your town, and visit an attraction that requires a slower pace to tour. A local flower or butterfly garden, an aviary, or a museum are good places to start. They encourage self-paced viewing without the need to be in a group. Some are free, while others may charge a small fee. Another great place to tour is a family farm that grows specialty fruit, vegetables, or flowers. Again, these may offer a self-paced option and schedule as early in the morning or early evening to avoid overheating. 

 

10) Lighten The Load

A bit surprising to include this one on the list, but decluttering any part of your environment will have a long-lasting ripple effect. Not an ideal activity to overexert yourself when it is so hot outside. But to quote Marie Kondo, is your space or items “sparking joy”? It may be time to do an accurate assessment if it isn’t. No need to go over the top from the attic to the basement, tackle one closet, purse, or drawer. The idea is to start. Slow living is the objective for enjoying the summer, which is hard to savor if you are stumbling or overwhelmed by your surroundings. 

 

11) Make It Pretty

Tip #11 goes in tandem with tip#10. Since the decluttering process is going, taking the extra step to make it pretty is the cherry on top. Once you have decided what you want to declutter, take inventory of what you may have to make it pretty. If it is a pantry, purchase new or consider upgrading baskets or containers. A divider will help corral the items into categories if it’s a drawer. If it’s a purse, using a purse organizer where everything has a place will help when looking for something in a hurry. Paint and fabric are great ways to spruce up the area. I’m not a proponent of minimalism; however, I advocate minimizing the unnecessary and unused. 

Summertime is the prime time to enjoy a focused, intentional pace of living. Summer isn’t about time having to stand still, but appreciating the time and finding fulfillment in the less. For me, slow living has become about curating a home and lifestyle that invites a soft place to fall, a quiet place to listen, and one that engages all the senses. 

I would love to hear if you have suggestions of slow-living plans you have tried or plan to try this summer. 

XO,

Katherine