It’s time to create that summer bucket list of things you plan on doing for yourself.
As mothers, we’re always thinking about creating memories for our kids, especially in the summertime. Let’s go see the fireworks. Let’s have a beach day. Let’s go for ices and run in the sprinklers. Let’s learn to ride a bike or go swimming all day.
But what about us? It’s very noble to be selfless, but to be our best selves, sometimes we need to feel refreshed and to be our best selves, sometimes we need to feel that we had our own time off too.
Before we lose more of summer, it’s time to create that summer bucket list of things you plan on doing for yourself–so that, by the time summer ends, even if you didn’t go anywhere, you feel like summer was a time you enjoyed. If we don’t, if we only get stuck in routine, then we can feel like summer was never here–and we do need some of that “off” time to carry us through the routine of the year.
The items below are just ideas. {Every person should make a list that is realistic for them. Every person is different; everyone enjoys different types of activities.}
You can do some on your own; a few others involve people. Whatever you do, do it with intention: I’m doing this to feel energized, to feel refreshed, to be able to feel like I had a bit of a summer myself.
Don’t make your list too long… keep it realistic and write it down!
- Read a light fun book; read lots of books
- Enjoy coffee outdoors
- Plan a date night (or 2!)
- Meet a friend for brunch
- Enjoy a summer walk (listen to a podcast!)
- Pick up the phone and call a friend you haven’t spoken to in a while
- Relax at the pool
- Visit a bookstore or library
- Create a spa bath experience (music, candles)
- Take a yoga class
- Watch sunrise and/or sunset (perhaps the same day!)
- Go to shul Shabbos morning (arrange child care and go yourself!)
- Purge and organize a closet that’s been annoying you
- Have a barely cook week, here’s how
- Drink a fruity cocktail, preferably outdoors
- Get together with a sister, neighbor, husband and play a game. Boggle, Scrabble and Pictionary are great classics
- Have soft serve ice cream
- Buy yourself an expensive piece of chocolate
- Have a picnic (the easy way is to buy or make sandwiches + a bag of chips and sit down in a park, at a lake, or beach!)
- Take a tennis lesson
- Listen to a shiur?
Have more ideas of what we can do to enjoy summer? Comment below!
Great ideas!
Here’s more- paint, try journaling
Thanks for the list! How about doing a puzzle? I am finally doing a 1,000 piece puzzle that I have been wanting to make all year. Bought a puzzle saver on amazon for easy storage so the kids don’t get to it.
I did this when you posted for summer. I managed to do four out of ten simply because Hashem threw me so many curveball that I was literally a master juggler. Here are the four that I did: 1. Treated myself to expensive ice cream 2. Buy myself four new tshirts 3. Swim in the ocean 4. Drink an ice coffee in the sun with no phone or distraction
Take professional pics of your family or even you and your husband!!! Will bring me loads of joy when looking at them!!!
Oh how I wish these were doable!!
As a single mother, trying to keep up with the same back-to-school schedule as everyone else, and literally working nonstop, with no family in my state to lend a hand..these great ideas aren’t even doable I have no energy to wake up early for a few mins to myself because I give all energy to my precious kids. The rest of my energy goes toward keeping a roof over our heads. That means no time to sit in the sun to read a book, no budget to indulge in anything (yes, even ice cream. That money is used for gas to get to work/school), no way to carve out time to listen to a shiur, paint, or even nap. Shabbos naps are few and far between; halevai during the week. I’m writing this not to complain- but to explain.
I so wish there were a separate list of things that people have come up with for single moms and creative ways they can fit a ‘mini summer’ into their incredibly overwhelming, and my-plate-isn’t-just-full; it’s cracking from the stress’ lives.
This is obviously the pekel that Hashem has chosen to place on my shoulders, but would love to see posts in the future on how people like me can utilize similar idea lists; in a more concrete way.
Thank you for all your great content though, BCP!