My Summer Bucket List
By the time this article is published, it will be Independence Day in the United States. Happy 4th of July to all of those who celebrate! If things seem a little too bleak right now to celebrate, I can’t blame you one bit. Nonetheless, it’s important to get out there and have fun this summer, especially if you have a family counting on you.
Truthfully, I make big plans every single summer. I want to travel, take more beach trips, get back in shape - the list goes on. However, as I reflect on these goals, time keeps ticking by quickly. Before I know it, it’s suddenly September and summer is over, making way for non-stop September rain. This year, I decided not to do that. My daughter and I have already taken a beach trip (which turned out to be an absolute disaster), and I’ve made a point of getting out of the house more often.
When you live in Florida, the possibilities abound when it comes to fun, outdoor summer activities. Here are a few more goals I would like to check off my list before this summer is over:
Take a hike in a place I haven’t been to before. I haven’t gone on a proper hiking trip since maybe 2021. I would like to get back to that this summer because there is something so calming about going somewhere unfamiliar and immersing yourself in nature for a little while. Some of my happiest moments have been in the midst of a hiking trail, smelling the vegetation, and soaking up the sun that is peaking through the trees. By the time I get home afterward, I feel completely at peace.
Get in the water more often. Technically, this could mean any body of water. More beach time, more poolside days, more running through sprinklers with my toddler if the opportunity presents itself. The idea is for us to pretty much live in our bathing suits all summer. Something I have to remind myself of is to unplug whenever we get outdoors. I have a nasty habit of checking my phone (especially work emails) frequently.
Have more slow mornings with my family. 90% of the time, we are rushing out the door to go somewhere, or we have chores to do. It is rare (but so cherished) for us to be able to relax in bed with nowhere to go, just watching a Disney movie together. This summer, my daughter is deep in her Moana era, and we love it.
Plan a picnic of some sort. We are not typically picnic-type people, but I think there’s something special about bringing a delicious meal and snacks outdoors to enjoy with my family while taking in the sunny, hot weather. All too soon, the days will get short and cold, and I would love to enjoy this weather while I can.
Take in more upbeat sources of media. There is a lot of media that I consume that doesn’t necessarily contribute to my mental well-being. It could be the news, scrolling Instagram, listening to solemn music, or listening to a podcast that doesn’t exactly tell happy stories. I’ve been trying to turn that around this summer by listening to more upbeat albums (such as Lover, always a favorite), listening to podcasts that are helpful and inspirational rather than dark, and taking in almost no news at all. Burying my head in the sand when it comes to current events has helped me tremendously. That doesn’t mean that I don’t care about what’s going on in the world. It just means that I am not consuming myself with every bad thing that is currently happening and thereby internalizing it. I am consistently reminding myself that there is so much that we don’t have control over, but we can control our minds and how we perceive the world.
Do something new (or several things). I have been seeking new adventures, big and small, all over the place. It could be something as simple as trying out a new restaurant and trying new foods I’ve never eaten before. Some upcoming plans include a trip to a new theme park, staying in a hotel we’ve never stayed in before, and a possible trip abroad later this year or next year. Humans are not meant to do the same things every single day. We are built for novelty.
More socializing, less isolating. Although I consider myself to be a mostly extroverted person, there are many situations where I normally might not feel like socializing. Usually, it’s when I’m surrounded by people that I know I’m not going to have a lot in common with because I despise small talk. There is nothing worse in the whole world than forced conversation. But I’ve been making a point of really getting to know the people in my life, and progressing past the dreaded small talk. Some examples of this are more lunch outings with my coworkers, reaching out to family members I don’t talk to all the time, and making conversation with other parents while I’m dropping off or picking up my daughter from daycare. I’m not always in the mood to talk, but I almost always feel energized once I break past that feeling.
Peel myself away from social media. The older I get, the more I feel like social media is garbage. Sure, there are so many great influencers out there that I follow and that inspire me to change my life in positive ways. But more than anything, I find myself consuming a lot of negative narratives whenever I allow myself to scroll endlessly. And overall, all I’m doing when I scroll social media is wasting time. There is nothing to be gained from the unhinged rage bait that I seem to come across so frequently.
Honing my skills at work. I normally talk about unplugging from work and not making work the biggest priority, but I think it is valuable, nonetheless, to become an expert at whatever it is you’re doing. While work does take me away from my family during the day, I’ve been focusing more on what work gives me: a salary that helps me support my family, critical thinking skills that are needed to get my work done, and building professional relationships that can move my career forward. Since I spend 8-9 hours a day at work, it doesn’t serve me at all to focus on other things I would rather be doing.
Watering the relationships I already have. While it’s important to create and maintain relationships with friends, distant family members, coworkers, etc., it is equally important to treat those you love with the most deference. This means paying attention to my immediate family, being present, calling my parents more often, hanging out with my childhood besties, and answering all of my sister’s FaceTime calls. It’s so easy to get caught up in adult responsibilities, but taking your close friends and family for granted is a dangerous game to play.
Have a no-plan day. The way my life currently is, I can’t imagine having a whole day without any plans and just letting things come as they may, but that’s why I think this goal is important. For me, summer means taking a step back and separating myself from the normal routines and structure that my days are normally comprised of.
XOXO, Alexis.