16 Ways to Create Your Best ‘Happy Girl Summer’ in Midlife
“Summertime is always the best of what might be.” ~Charles Bowden
The sun is out, the birds are singing, it’s officially sandal season…It’s summertime!
As much as I love my sweaters, after a long gray winter I look forward to the days when I can put them away, let my toes be free and feel the warmth of the sun on my face.
These are the long lazy days when the sun stays in the sky until 9:00, the days are warm and the nights are filled with fireflies and firepits. In contrast to the white and gray winter, bright colors pop everywhere you look; blue skies above, lush green grass below, and flowers exploding all around.
We have waited so long for this and want it to last forever!
But we also know that if we don’t slow down, pay attention and savor these precious moments, summer can slip by in an instant. Before we know it the leaves will begin to change colors and fall all over again.
Do you have big plans for this summer? I don’t mean expensive or elaborate plans, just ways of being intentional and enjoying as many special moments as you can.
Memory-making moments.
First, identify what it is you are longing for this season. Is it fun? Peace? Relaxation? Excitement?
Now use that feeling to guide you to the activities that will bring you to that desired state.
Let me give you some suggestions for shaking up the typical basic summer and creating a season of happiness…whatever that means to you in this moment of your midlife.
Whether this will be a solo summer for you, a time for family and friends, a season spent with kids & grandkids, or a precious opportunity to experience all of the above, you can create multiple moments of enjoyment that make it memorable.
For the sake of simplicity, let’s break the list down into 5 categories:
Outdoors
Indoors
Travel
With kids
Alone
Now open your mind and picture a summer that excites you, fulfills you and helps you create memories that you will cherish throughout the rest of the year.
You may even start some new traditions!
16 Ways to Create Your Happy Girl Summer
Outdoors
Start a Walking Routine. Lace up those shoes and hit the pavement. It can be daily, 2-3 times a week, or whatever works for your schedule. Take along your furbaby, best friend, or just go solo while you tone up your muscles and get your heart pumping. Listen to your favorite podcast, or just enjoy your thoughts and the silence as you take in the sights around you. Walking is beneficial for your heart, soul and body.
Take in a Local Park. Parks are fantastic places to visit for walks, picnics, and exploration. They are typically teeming with the beauty of nature and shade trees to read under. Do you know where your local parks are? There are probably some hidden gems nearby you’ve never even heard of! Click on this link and enter your zip code for an amazing list of your local nature hotspots, complete with maps and reviews.
Hit the Beach. Summertime=Beachtime, am I right? Pack up the essentials in your cute new beach bag: towel, floppy hat, water bottle, snacks, sunnies and a book or earbuds. Grab your beach chair and head out for a day of fun and/or relaxation with your toes in the sand. Inhale the fresh or salty air, and align your breaths to the rhythm of the waves. Soak up the Vitamin D and let it refresh your soul. Just don’t forget the sunscreen!
Start an Outdoor Project. You know that little project you’ve been thinking about all spring? Now is the time to take it on! Spruce up your front porch with a new welcome mat, cool flower pots and a beautiful wreath on the door. Dress up your patio with a colorful rug and some hanging Edison lights to create a welcoming oasis for relaxing or entertaining during these warm summer evenings. Start that little garden in the side yard where tomatoes, cucumbers and fresh herbs will rise up to reward you in a few weeks. The sooner you start that project, the sooner you can enjoy it all summer long!
Indoors
Refresh/Summerize your Space. Give your living room a minimalistic summer splash with a few bright couch pillows and a simple bowl of lemons on the coffee table. Go through your closet and get rid of anything that doesn’t say “Happy Girl Summer.” How does your bedroom make you feel? A quick decluttering, a summer bedspread and lighter curtains could bring more peace to your sanctuary in one afternoon.
Learn Something New. This is the perfect time to expand your brain and learn a new skill or craft. Flexing your thought muscle is the number one recommended strategy to help prevent mental decline. With all of the digital learning resources at Google University, YouTube and TEDx at your fingertips, there is nothing holding you back from launching a new hobby, side hustle or midlife career. If you desire a more hands-on approach, check out your local library, college, or art store. What lights your fire? Photography, poetry, crocheting, gardening, copywriting, blogging, learning to speak Spanish… the possibilities are endless!
Embrace Your Creative Side. Get your creative juices flowing! Accessing the right hemisphere of your brain through creativity engages your emotions and sparks your imagination. This is the side of your brain that adds life to your years! So push ‘play’ on your favorite playlist and see where Righty guides you. Do you love visual arts, performance, music or mindfulness? Dance around the room like no one is watching. Write a short story about a girl like you. Try that crafty DIY project you saw on Pinterest. How about exploring nature and sketching what you see, or taking a canvas painting class with a friend? (With or without wine. You do you, girl!) American author and sociologist, Martha Beck, says that tapping into your right-side brain can release your creative potential and “encourage eureka epiphanies”. Doesn’t that sound awesome? Find an activity that interests you and start creating. You may discover a talent you didn’t even know you had!
Travel
Plan a Bucket List Destination. If money were no object, time-off was guaranteed, and you could travel anywhere in the world… where would you go? Pull it up online and dive in. Make a list of the best hotel or VRBO accommodations, the most highly recommended restaurants, and the unique little shops and attractions that come up. Jot down the local features that draw your interest and then check out your transportation options. Prepare your own mini travelog and put it in a prominent place where you can daydream about it and then manifest it into fruition one day. By creating events that you can look forward to, your mind generates hope and anticipation. With your plan already in place and waiting for you, you can easily light the match when the right moment arrives!
Try A Day Trip. Are you longing for a day just for yourself, or perhaps with your significant other? There are hidden treasures within a 50 mile radius of you! Check out your local flea markets and farmers’ markets. You can grab an iced chai, stroll the aisles and find a variety of vegetables, jewelry and jarred bbq sauces… all supporting local growers, artists and vendors. Resist the pressure to buy anything you don’t need, just stroll and soak up the positive energy. Find a new place nearby to explore: an art museum, trendy shopping area, or a quaint coffee shop. Many towns have unique and overlooked historic districts, local hotspots and hole-in-the-wall secrets waiting to be discovered by you!
Take a Girls Trip. Brainstorm with your besties. Start big and dream about a “someday” trip to a faraway land. Imagine the fun, laughter and camaraderie you’ll share in this exotic locale. You’ll travel like the girls in Sex and the City. (Are you a Charlotte or a Samantha? A Carrie?) Then put a pin in that plan and reign it in to a closer destination that you all agree on. Come up with a doable plan you can execute in the next 3 months, even if it’s just an overnight or weekend getaway. Sketch out the highlights and talk about the outfits. Then, choose a date and make it happen!
With the Kids
Visit a Library/Bookstore. Share your love of books with your littles. No video games or iPhones needed (or wanted!). Sit in the children’s area and look at their favorite genres. Pore over the pictures and read a couple of pages together. Is there a scheduled storytime? Sign up! To avoid disappointments (and possible tantrums) nail down your intention for the trip and set boundaries ahead of time. For example: “Today we are getting three books and one bookmark. No stuffed animals or toys, etc.” Be proactive and lay the ground rules. Bring a stuffy along. Agree on an ice cream afterwards. Plan around naptime and prepare for hunger pangs. This can be a magical time spent with your little ones that makes a sweet memory.
Build a Fort. Find a good spot in your home where you are comfortable with a mess and remove the breakables. Define the space with boundaries (“Only in the family room” or “Just to the edge of the rug”) and gather all of the blankets, pillows and cushions you can find. Let them bring in their stuffed animals, books or toys that make them happy. Add music. If you want to make it feel really special, incorporate fairy lights and flashlights that set the stage for a magical mood!
Schedule a Movie Premier Event. Considering the ages and interests of your littles (or not-so-littles) provide a list of possible movie options playing at your local theater. Once everyone agrees on the chosen feature, pick a date and create an itinerary. Choose the best time for everyone attending. (Again, keep nap times and meal times in mind!) Eat beforehand, but plan the best movie snacks and whether they will be purchased there. (Popcorn or Reece’s Pieces?) Make it extra fun and dress for the theme. For example, wear Hawaiian shirts and flower leis for Lilo & Stitch, or zookeeper shirts for Zootopia. (You get the idea!) Plan ahead for snuggly comfort by bringing along a blanket and fuzzy socks if they have the reclining seats. The air conditioning can get chilly!
On Your Own
Take a Yoga or Pilates Class. Keeping your muscles toned is critical for self care and being proactive against the aging machine. Carve out a peaceful spot in your home to lay out your yoga mat, then search YouTube for a good class, like Beginner Yoga with Adriene. Or find a studio that matches your vibe and sign up. The accountability of a class will keep you coming, plus you might make a new friend! Step out of your comfort zone and try a new technique. Many places will offer the first class free (or at a discount) so you can try it out with little risk. (I recently went to a ‘Reformer Pilates’ class and I am hooked!) Breathe in and breathe out. This is your time. Focus on you and feeling good in your beautiful body.
Create a Reading list. Summer is the perfect time to get lost in a good book, don’t you think? Beach reads, romances, thrillers, oh my! Start a list of 5 books that intrigue you, then cross them off once they are done and add more throughout the season. Check out popular book clubs for suggestions: Try Reece’s, Jenna’s, or Oprah’s. Get on Goodreads and see what other readers in your circle recommend. Skim the reviews and note the ones that draw you in. I love to look for my selections at my local library first, then check out my local bookstore. Try to support your little ‘Shops Around the Corner’ before ‘Fox Books’ takes them under! (IYKYK!)
Start a Dream Journal. Select a beautiful notebook, a good gel pen and some sticky notes. Get comfy and start writing. Start with these prompts: What are your 5 greatest gifts? Where do you see yourself next summer… or in 5 summers? List 3 places you would love to travel. What is your dream job? What lights your fire? Writing them down makes them real and puts them on the path of being doable and attainable. Right now, in midlife, you are at the perfect age for pursuing all of the dreams you have put on the back burner while you took care of others and allowed yourself to be last. You have so much knowledge within you and so much experience behind you, and you still have so much you can do and offer. Let that spark take hold and burst into flame. Now is the time to make those dreams come true.
Is your mind spinning with the possibilities of making this the greatest midlife Happy Girl Summer ever?
Which ideas ignite a spark of excitement in you?
Which ones made you smile just picturing yourself in the middle of them?
Which ones are you going to add to your summer itinerary?
Click here to download an easy checklist you can use to keep track of your plans.
Don’t let this summer slip by without some intention. Keep mementos, take photos, and tuck those beautiful memories into your heart.
Beautiful friend, however you choose to spend your summer days, I believe that you will create a season of enjoyment that will fulfill your desires… either on your own, or with those you love.
Comment below with your favorite summer idea that we can all add to our own lists and share this post with a girlfriend who could use some inspiration.
I want this to be your best summer ever, and you deserve to savor each and every wonderful moment.
Because you are positively limitless.
