how to soak up the rest of summer
small changes to make the most of the best season of the year
When you read this post, it will already be August, so I want to remind you all that summer isn’t over yet!!! With the way things are heating up, we will still have summer weather for at least another month and a half, if not two more months.
Summer is my favourite season. I wait all year for the weather to warm up and for everyone in Toronto to come out of hibernation. I’m happy to take the bugs and the burning hot days, because they come with the beaches and the patios and the ice cream cones and being able to be outside in just a tank top.
So yes, we are halfway through summer. But also, we are only halfway through summer!! It’s not time to despair yet- it’s time to make the most of the remaining warm weather before we all go back into our dens for another winter.
For the first few years after graduating, I really struggled with the idea of not having a summer break. To be honest, I still hate that I don’t get a proper summer break from work. But what has really helped me feel more of that thrill of summer vacation has been changing my daily routine. If you can change your everyday routine to include more summer things, whatever that means to you, it will make the season feel much more like a season, and less like a few little blips of fun interspersed with the mundanity of everyday life.
To me, getting the most out of summer is less about the big things- the festivals and concerts and cottages (which, to be clear, are worth it and you should be doing if you can!) and way more about the small things. It’s buying little treats for yourself that bring you back to summers from childhood- in our condo, the freezer is always stocked with popsicles or freezies in the summer. It’s taking an evening walk to get ice cream more than once a week, just because it’s nice out. It’s eating pasta salads and sandwiches for dinner, because it’s just too hot to cook. It’s spending lunch breaks at the condo pool, getting in a little sliver of sun before we have to get back to work.
So, here are some things that I like to do to make it feel like I am getting the most out of summer:
Stock up on fun cold treats. We love Mr Freezies or the classic red, orange and purple mixed box of popsicles, but buy whatever floats your boat and don’t be afraid to have them just because you want to!
Don’t fuss too much about dinner. I don’t know about you, but I’m never as hungry in the summer as I am in the winter. My ideal dinner in the summer is a charcuterie board, or DIY sandwiches, or a good pasta salad. If you have access to a BBQ, use it as often as possible. Go for something cold and/or easy that won’t heat up the house. I find it kind of fun to do easy dinners like this, since I’m the one that does the cooking in my home, and because this is exactly the kind of stuff my mom would serve for dinner in the summer when I was a kid.
Spend time near water. I’m talking beach, condo pool, public pool, whatever. You don’t even have to swim if that’s not your thing. Just being near the water makes it feel like summertime. If you have access, go as often as possible. I swim at a public outdoor pool twice a week, and probably spend 3 lunch breaks a week at my condo pool. As a former lifeguard/pool rat, this is the one that makes it feel the most like summer to me.
Go on more evening/morning walks. It can be hot af in the summer, so getting outside in the morning or evening is usually a bit nicer. It also reminds you that the sun is out for way longer than in the winter and you can enjoy more of a full day! I love to take a walk in the morning to grab an iced coffee, or in the evening for ice cream (no, not every walk needs to have a little treat at the end, but yes, it does make it more FUN).
Take advantage of free festivals and events in the summer. In Toronto, there is no limit to the number of festivals, concerts and other events happening in the city, especially in the summer. Even if you aren’t a fan of crowds, I think it’s worthwhile to check them out and soak up some of the vibrancy of the city while you can. There are plenty of smaller, quieter events to stumble across, too.
Don’t work late!!! If you know me, you know I am a big proponent of work-life boundaries all of the time, but this is especially true in the summertime. You get less than 25% of the year (in Toronto, at least) to enjoy the warm weather, don’t let your job take that away from you! Sign off at 5 and get a few hours of sunshine in while it’s still light out after work.
You still have plenty of time to get outside and enjoy summer while it’s here. Don’t worry about the big things- focus on small, everyday activities that make the season feel more fun and full of joy. Let your hair get a little more bleached and your skin get a little more tanned. Eat the damn ice cream and cut off of work early sometimes (if you’re my coworker, I’m just kidding).
You only get 20% of your life to enjoy summer, make it count!!
see you next thursday,
jules
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