25 Simple Activities for an Intentional Summer
“All in all, it was a never-to-be-forgotten summer — one of those summers which come seldom into any life, but leave a rich heritage of beautiful memories in their going — one of those summers which, in a fortunate combination of delightful weather, delightful friends and delightful doing, come as near to perfection as anything can come in this world.”
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I’m not one to stay up to date with TikTok trends, but there’s one that has made its way over to my Instagram feed – the “soft girl summer”. In general, this trend is one where women are unapologetically embracing their femininity. Think wearing sundresses, picking wildflowers, and hosting beautiful picnics. The more I dug into the concept, the more I couldn’t help but notice that a “soft girl summer” embodies much of the intentional living and enjoyment of simple pleasures that I’ve been cultivating in my own life for the past several years.
“Soft girl summer” is not new. In fact, having just finished reading Jane Austen’s Sense and Sensibility, this trend reminds me of summers of the past where women wore beautiful dresses, strolled through the garden, enjoyed the pleasure of having guests for dinner, and engaged in witty conversations.
Now I know what you’re thinking… this sounds amazing, but summer is in full swing!
Maybe the kids are home 24/7, making it more difficult for you to work from home between the complaints of “I’m bored!” or “I’m hungry!”. Maybe you work a nine-to-five and are struggling to coordinate all the drop-offs and pick-ups of summer camp. It’s easy to find ourselves in a state of reaction and overwhelm in this season. And if you’re anything like a lot of other working moms, it’s a season filled with guilt. We feel guilty that we’re not able to be with our kids as much as we’d like. Sure, they’re on summer break but that doesn’t mean we can put down all of our responsibilities. Thankfully, research consistently shows that it’s the quality of time we spend together, not the quantity of time that matters. Which means that we can intentionally carve out “soft girl summer” moments to elevate the quality of the time we spend with our kids.
So, call it what you want – “soft girl summer”, intentional summer, a summer slowdown… in this post I want to share 25 simple activities that you can do to slow down this summer, be present with your kids, and squeeze as much joy out of this season as you do those lemons in your fresh lemonade.
1. Wear a sundress
2. Have a picnic
3. Read a classic novel
4. Sip coffee on the back porch
5. Play a board game or cards with your family
6. Host a tea party
7. Visit a museum
8. Go to the farmer’s market
9. Take a nap in a hammock
10. Do a nature sketch or watercolor
11. Bake a seasonal dessert
12. Fly a kite
13. Play croquet
14. Make homemade ice cream
15. Make fresh-squeezed lemonade
16. Listen to a “summer jazz” playlist
17. Host a dinner party
18. Enjoy a long nature walk
19. Pick fresh flowers from the garden
20. Go berry picking
21. Read a family-favorite out loud
22. Visit a local vineyard
23. Take your journal outside and write something
24. Indulge in long conversations with a friend
25. Get enough sleep
Grab a FREE printable checklist of these simple summer activities and challenge yourself to slow down, be present, and enjoy this season!
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We spend a great deal of time at work. Like Annie Dillard once said, “How we spend our days is how we spend our lives.” I encourage you to look around your office and see what steps you can take to add simple luxuries to your workday because in the grand scheme of things, they will add up and lead to a luxurious life!