Summer is here. Perhaps you’ll take a vacation. Great! But, beyond that, what’s on the rest of your summer bucket list? Don’t waste one drop of this very special season. Here are some possibilities:
Relax
- Nap in a hammock
- Sit on a porch swing
- Watch the sun rise and/or set from a beach
- Bring a blanket and lie on the grass at an outdoor concert
Devour special summer foods
- Make homemade ice cream
- Pick berries and peaches at a farm
- Make lemonade from scratch
- Dig your own clams
- Buy a creamsicle from the neighborhood ice cream truck
Do something nostalgic
- Ride a roller coaster
- Play miniature golf
- Go to a “final tour” concert
- Go to the state fair
Experience the great outdoors
- Go fishing
- Go kayaking or paddle boarding
- Go camping (or glamping, if the outdoors doesn’t suit you)
- Go on a nature walk
- Take a group to a water park
Do something out of the ordinary
- Take a last minute, improv road trip
- Go to a baseball game
- Clean the clutter in your house and take it to Goodwill
- Make a playlist of all of your favorite songs. Take a drive and sing them at the top of your lungs.
- Plant a garden
Give back to your community
- Volunteer at a local animal shelter or even adopt a new pet
- Perform random acts of kindness
- Write a soldier a letter
- Bake cookies for a neighbor
All of the above would be fun. In addition, how about adding personal growth items to your summer bucket list? These activities can enhance the quality of your life and contribute to the realization of your dreams and aspirations. Hence, these should add to your long-term happiness. Not only that, life-long learning can be fun. Consider the following:
Reading/Listening
- Fiction and non-fiction, best sellers and classics
- Read a book you normally wouldn’t read
- Download an audio book or two and listen to it while driving, exercising or walking
- Download podcasts and listen to those
Health
- Try to do 30 minutes of exercise every day
- Use a workout “buddy” for the summer
- Modify your workout routine by cross-training in the summer
- Eat fresh fruits and vegetables whenever possible
Career
- Work towards further expertise and/or an advanced degree in your profession
- Work on personal skills such as writing, communication and time management
- Help complete summer projects for the development of your company
Family
- Discover your ethnic roots-do a DNA test and have your relatives do one too
- Chart your family tree (and get everyone involved)
- Interview and record an older family member and preserve their family stories
- Attend or host a family reunion
Take some quiet time to define your happiness
- When are you most happy?
- How often are you engaged in your passions?
- What accomplishments are you most proud of?
- What will be your legacy?
We hope you all have a wonderful summer, perhaps take a vacation, have fun and attain some personal growth. The combination is priceless. The summer solstice on June 21 is one week away. Labor Day will be here before we know it. Happy Summer! Don’t waste one drop of it!