Enduring & Embracing The Speed Of Summer

Photo by Ionela Mat

Like many of us, the magic of summer has been ingrained deep within me since childhood. Growing up on the coast made my summers all the more memorable and special to me, rising and sleeping with the sun and only coming inside for sleep.

Long days of endless sunshine (except for the fierce afternoon storms that force all into a cozy place, ideally with a book in tow), iced lemonade, homemade popsicles, vibrant sunsets and sunrises, playing in the river and ocean… that’s how summer was defined.

Now, I am recently married and working more hours teaching ballet and nannying than I ever have. I find myself spending these summer days rushing from one place to the next, haphazardly throwing on whatever clothes are nearest and somewhat cool, and falling into bed with barely enough energy to read (a tragedy beyond belief).

I’m tiring of the quick-paced schedule I’ve created — even of the things I’m most enjoying — simply because I’m never rested enough to give them the best version of myself. I am not just physically tired, but facing a real lack of the deep inner peace that comes from caring for your body, mind, heart, and soul.

What I mean is, cherishing and taking genuinely good care of myself, not the “self-care” marketing that’s being pushed down our throats.

I’ve been reflecting on this and decided to write this article as a love letter to help myself and any of you who feel the same way. I feel certain that there are countless women facing this struggle, maybe hopelessly.

The question I hope to answer is put simply: how do you make summer magical and fun while being an adult juggling homemaking, work, and relationships?

I hope that this article is not a dead-end for these thoughts, but a beginning into your own reflection on how to make your summer days both practical and aesthetic, but above all, enjoyable to you.

I have thoughtfully compiled a few ways we can be present this summer, enjoy it to its fullest, and savor this fleeting season. Maybe these new habits and quiet moments will last through summer and into fall!

Join me in celebrating this time and using it to our benefit. Above all, make it yours.

01 | Set the tone.

Create a summer playlist that captures the energy summer radiates — a list of songs that puts you in an upbeat, sunny, ready-for-anything mood!

Think up creative titles like “Scripted in Sunshine,” “Sun-kissed,” “Enchanted Afternoon,” or “Main Character Summer” — whatever matches your personality and vibe!

Utilize Google to show you suggestions based on songs you already love, but make sure these lists feel fresh!

Explore different genres and styles, even creating a few playlists if you have the time.

Examples:
• A nostalgic mix of songs that remind you of past summers.
• A strictly instrumental list (covers or orchestral classics—you pick!).
• A list of songs that make you want to throw open the curtains and embrace the sun.

These playlists take only a few minutes to make, but will root these summer days in fun sounds you’ll look back on and remember. Turn on these songs as you clean, drive, shower, or do anything else to make these next few weeks feel like a summer-themed movie!

02 | Beat busyness with preparation.

As much as we avoid it, Sunday sprints on by and Monday arrives again. A quick Google search suggests that preparing ahead can save five or more hours a week!

Preparing ahead of time for food, clothes, or anything else sounds boring at best, but the reward is great. Peaceful mornings, less rushing and stress, and the mental load of things to do reduced to only checked boxes all sound like a win to me!

And the strange thing is, preparing in advance doesn’t even take very long.

Here are a few ways to make this time both productive and enjoyable:
• Put on one of your fun new playlists.
• Listen to a podcast or audiobook (more on this later!).
• Use this as a time for quiet — just you and your thoughts.
• Light candles or turn on a diffuser and dim the lights for a calming mood.

Prepping for the week ahead is an essential way to keep your days low-stress and give yourself precious minutes or even hours you wouldn't have had before.

Preparing for your week or even days ahead can look like:
• Making sure your laundry is clean.
• Making food ahead of time.
• Getting gas for your car.
• Pre-making a bag with anything you’ll need for your activities.
• Prepping your tea or coffee.
• Setting out an outfit that makes you feel confident and comfortable, but aiming for colorful and fun.
• Reviewing your calendar and setting any alarms or reminders to help keep you on time.

These are just a few ways to get you started! Think of what things take up time or stress you out (for me, it’s finding my keys), and make a new habit to give yourself peace. I’ve found that if I just set aside my keys in the spot where they belong, my next morning feels nicer.

Always be thinking of your future self — I’m sure she’d love to be fully prepared for her busy day and have time to enjoy the hot drink in hand instead of having to rush and gulp!

03 | Schedule time to savor.

Preparing for the week (or just a few days) ahead dramatically decreases daily rush and stress, and now we have to make sure that those free moments are used wisely!
Reflect on the small things that inspire you, are peaceful, fill you up, and feel like a refreshing, deep breath. Lean into the gentle, lovely side of yourself and give her a few moments to set your day up for success.

Here are some ways that help me, but make it yours! And remember, adding too much of a good thing can be a bad thing. Add one or two things to your morning or evening and go from there!
• Keep a gratitude journal, jotting down a few things that you’re grateful for.
• Go for an early morning or late evening walk to reset your nervous system.
• Take in the scenery around you, noting any changes or seasonal birdsong.
• Hold your face up to the early morning sun before doing anything else.
• Read or listen to a few pages of a summer-themed story (more on this later!).
• Put together an outfit for an upcoming event.
• Commonplace journal anything on your mind — a lyric, a poem, etc.
• Enjoy the candle glow.
• Breathe deeply and think about the day ahead (or, if in the evening, the triumphs of the day).
• Stretch.
• Purposefully release any stress or negative thoughts from your day or from the past.

04 | Seasonal stories.

Pick a story to feed your imagination and enjoy in the sun, in the refreshing AC of your favorite coffee shop, or snuggled in bed after a busy day. Enjoy this book through an audio or physical copy from a library (though I guarantee you’ll want your own!), whichever way feels most relaxing to you!

Here are some must-reads that burst with life and love, perfect for summer.

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth von Arnim

This is considered the “perfect literary vacation,” and with good cause! Follow four women as they impulsively escape their daily lives and go on a trip that changes their lives and relationships forever. This story is certain to spring hope in your soul for the renewal of relationships, and a desperate desire for such friends in your life — however unlikely they prove to be. This is by no means a shallow story of four women on a journey; this book is full of satisfying wit and wisdom, and above all, feminine trial and triumph.

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

If you could live forever, would you? This incredible book begs the question and whisks you into a tale that you’re sure to want to return to again and again. Follow Winnie, the Tuck family, and a man in a yellow suit on an adventure of sincere love, childlike innocence, and the burden of immortality.

Emily of New Moon by L. M. Montgomery

This story is about an imaginative orphan girl sent to live on Prince Edward Island with strict, stiff aunts in an esteemed home named New Moon. Emily is a loyal, caring girl with a tendency to make bad things worse, while somehow only endearing herself to the reader. Somehow, one wouldn’t dare pity Emily; her fierce personality leaves no room. All you can do is admire her spunk and wish the trilogy never ended.

Theo of Golden by Allen Levi

Theo is by far the most remarkable literary elderly gentleman. This engrossing story is a masterpiece of human emotions and complexities while remaining relatable and easy to read. Themes of generosity, redemption, loss, connection, and love are woven throughout this tale in a wonderful place called Golden. I promise that this book will change the shape of your mind in several ways, not least of which is how you will see homeless people and feathers.

05 | Summer bucket list.

Make a simple, short list of feasible summer activities that make you feel like a kid again — without taking too much time or money!
• Go to an ice cream shop and enjoy your treat somewhere outdoors.
• Enjoy a summer fruit.
• Watch the sunset from your balcony, porch, or car, but make it a whole vibe.
• Eat a picnic (even in your backyard) with evening snacks or a light dessert, because it is probably too hot during the day!
• Paint, sketch, or create a summer landscape.

06 | Summer style (on a budget!).

Most of us don’t have the resources to revamp our entire wardrobe every season, but that doesn’t mean we can’t embrace summer style!

Here are a few tips to grab things from your closet or buy a few cheap accessories to make your outfits feel trendy, cute, and entirely you.
• Have a favorite go-to tee? Pair it with shorts (if you have linen or colorful ones, even better!) and sandals, but go for a new hairstyle and different earrings than usual!
• Hair feels heavy and hot all the time, but especially in summer. Get it out of your way in style with a flower clip or a unique clip in muted colors. Even a simple, few-dollar accessory can change your whole vibe — and bonus points if your colors are in the same family!
• Pick a nail polish shade that is mellow and matches your style, but is different from your usual! Feeling extra confident? Do accent nails or try designs with a toothpick!

In short…

Remember, beautiful friend, the magic of summer does not only come if you have an empty calendar or all the energy. It belongs to the intentional choices we make in the quiet spaces of our ordinary days.

If we slow down just enough to prepare for our busyness, styling our days with a bit of color and feeding our souls with stories and songs, we can reclaim the enchantment of old.

As this fleeting season unfolds, let us promise our future selves that we will not merely survive the heat and the haste we’ve been forced into.

Instead, open your curtains, put on your playlist, and take a deep, refreshing breath — this summer is yours to cherish.