I always look forward to summer. But at our house, it seems to go by way too quickly! If I don’t plan for and then create the summer I’m dreaming of, it just doesn’t happen! Then, I’m disappointed.
Unfortunately, we aren’t always able to go away on summer vacations to ensure we have a memorable summer or time together as a family. For the most part these days, we have to enjoy life at home. In order to really feel like we had a break from the routine, we have to make some adjustments to our thinking, our daily schedule and habits. We need a plan to enjoy summer!
Here are six tips to help you enjoy your summer at home!
1. Shut down the computer!
I cannot stress this enough. Being online too much will ROB YOU of a beautiful summer. Yes, I know we find inspiration and connections online. I know we have email to keep up with, bills to pay and things to Google. I earn my living online and I need to be there in order to run my business. But, I’m just telling you (and myself) straight out, if we shut down the computer, our summer is going to be so much better and more memorable in every possible way. So, just do it. Shut your computer down often this summer. I dare you. I dare myself.
2. Don’t waste time feeling depressed over what you can’t do this summer.
Yes, life hands us lemons quite often. Many of us live on a small budget these days. We can’t all afford all of the things we’d like to have or do in order to make life more fun. We can’t all take fancy vacations abroad or rent beach houses for the summer.
Instead of focusing on what we “can’t do,” let’s focus on what we CAN do! Let yourself and your family find delight in small pleasures that ARE accessible to you this summer. Make a list of little things that could bring beauty and happiness to your summer. Experience as many of them as you possibly can!
3. Create your dreams.
What kind of escape do you dream of this summer? Just because you might not be heading off on a romantic summer cruise or a family getaway to a quaint seaside town doesn’t mean you can’t have sweet escapes in your own neighborhood.
Life is too short to miss out on what you want out of it. You can create beautiful escapes on a shoestring budget with a little planning, creativity and imagination.
Why not plan ahead for a Saturday morning getaway with your husband to a charming cafe a few miles away? It might not be Carmel or Paris, but you can pretend it is! Plan a fun picnic and enjoy a day by a river (or a neighborhood fountain) with your kids, or set up a bed & breakfast getaway in your own home some weekend in July! We can plan for and create a memorable summer even if we are having vacation at home! Let’s get creative and see what we can come up with!
4. Let go of the guilt.
Why oh why do we feel such guilt over setting aside time to enjoy a simple, unhurried, no pressured life? Why is it so hard to “get away from it all” when we stay home? Can the housekeeping not wait until we blow bubbles outside with the kids? Will our world fall apart if we took a week off of the internet to play and soak up the summer sun in our backyard? Creating a slow paced beautiful life is not frivolous or wasted time at home. It is a way to refresh and renew our spirits and energy!
5. Strive for imperfection!
Allow yourself to aim for imperfection on purpose this summer. What things do you do that you could do less of? What tasks or expectations could you cross of entirely this summer? What could you spend less time on and do “less well” in order to have more time for play? Being intentional about what we do and don’t spend our time on might make the difference between a summer we savor and a summer that rushes past us!
6. Slow things down and embrace a simple life.
The world seems to spin faster every day, and it doesn’t necessarily stop for us because it is summer. News flash, the world will keep spinning even if we don’t keep chasing it. Let’s step away from the race as often as we can and live in the moment this summer. Only YOU can decide your pace. Wouldn’t it be far better to choose just a few simple pleasures this summer and embrace them fully than to try to be wonder woman in everything and not enjoy anything at all? Enough said.
Let’s remember what it felt like to be a child on the first day of summer and get excited about enjoying carefree moments!
Melissa
The Inspired Room
Betsy says
Thanks for the reminder to make the most of our summer days. I don’t want September to come and find me regretful over what I missed. I liked the idea of creating our dreams and enjoying our families rather than spending our extra time at the computer.
melissa @ the inspired room says
Thanks Betsy! I hope you enjoy your summer!
Patricia says
Love this post!! My goal is also to savor every moment! My daughter will not be 6 1/2 forever! 🙂
kd Sullivan says
These are excellent tips! Especially shut down the computer. i think I probably need to do that right now! 🙂
Denise says
Melissa,
This is a great post, and a wonderful reminder. We can’t all afford the fancy trips and yet we can make memories and enjoy our summer. Thanks for the tips!
Blessings!
Chris Graham says
I totally agree. Memories are made in simple, joy-filled moments that we create.
Summertime is a perfect time to kick-back and ” just be”.
Have a wonderful summer. I enjoy your blog so much.
melissa @ the inspired room says
Thank you Chris! You too, have a great summer!
Live Your Best Summer says
[…] I’m over at (in)courage today, sharing 6 Tips for Enjoying a Beautiful Summer {at Home}. […]
Carolyn@Sweet Chaos says
I LOVE this advice, Melissa! I’m not getting many projects done around my house with my kids home for the summer. And, my blog is probably suffering as a result. But, making memories with my kiddos is so much more important 🙂 I hope you enjoy a fun, carefree summer!!
Mrs. Mary Joy Pershing @Learning to Live a Surrendered Life says
Wow. I needed this reminder. Thanks! We have been having a great time when I stop the work of home and take little breaks to play lego’s, fly little planes, winning tickle wars, snuggling and reading stories together and playing in the sprinkler after blowing bubbles.
We are getting excited about surprising our kiddos with an unexpected after breakfast trip to the river to swim (its less than a mile from our house) and is completely deserted in the mornings!
I have to remind myself to do this some days…but it makes such a difference. We are also enjoying the beginning of our first year homeschooling together as a family.
Great article! Wonderful reminders!
Dancing at the foot of the Cross with our children,
Mrs Mary Joy Pershing
Mary says
Great tips, wonderful reminders to get out there and enjoy nature.
As a photographer I have to often force myself to get out and just start taking photos. Once I am out in the beauty of life, I can’t imagine why I was spending my day indoors. 🙂
melissa @ the inspired room says
Isn’t that the truth? It is so easy to get stuck inside but once we go out and breathe the fresh air it is AMAZING!!
Teri @ StumblingAroundInTheLight says
Lovely!!!
I’ll particularly be adopting your wonderful idea to ‘strive for imperfection.’ Such an excellent challenge, especially during these months of constant visitors, running in & out of doors…what does it really matter if the bookshelves get a little dusty???
Thanks!
melissa @ the inspired room says
Agreed. A little dust is worth it for the fun of opening those doors more often!!!
Karena says
Melissa so many great thoughts and words of wisdom!! So glad that you are guest posting here at (In)Courage!
xoxo
Karena
Art by Karena
I have a New, very fashionable Giveaway on my site! Come and see!
Marcia Francois says
I’m in South Africa and we’re in the middle of winter but yes, still a great reminder to slow down and relax as the world will still continue nevertheless.
I love the reminder that the world doesn’t revolve around me 🙂
courtney says
This post is perfect! I am printing it out and hanging it up in the kitchen!
laney says
…good for you melissa…never let it be said that younger women cannot mentor to older women…only thing i would add…don’t create just memorable summers…take time to create memorable moments each month of each year…for as long as you live….
melissa @ the inspired room says
Agreed 100%, let this be our attitude all year round. Thank you Laney! Blessings to you.
Franki Parde says
YOU WHAT??? Did you say, “I turned down a conference call with David Bromstad??” Girl…you must have gotten too much sun! YOU WHAT??? franki
melissa @ the inspired room says
Haaa Franki! Yes I did turn down a call with David Bromstad! But, there is always something pulling me to stay on the computer so it is WORTH it to say NO now and then. Hopefully I’ll get invited another time 🙂
Diane says
Good for you!!! Did it help to have this article to write. Sometimes we need a “kick in the seat” to get us moving in the right direction. {voice of experience} 🙂
I’m amazed what a difference a **day** away can do for me, for our family. It’s refreshing, energizing, and honors God. That’s something I’ve learned the hard way…living a life out of balance dishonors God. To show us the importance…He rested. I need to remember that.
Looking forward to hearing all about your wonderful summer days!
Sally says
Melissa I loved your post! There is so much inspiration in your words. Just the little nudge I needed! I have made a copy and will read it often, believe me!! Have a beautiful and blissful summer. I love your blog so much.
Sally
melissa @ the inspired room says
Thank you Sally!
Cheryl says
Thank you for the challenge of these simple-but-profound tips, Melissa! Off to enjoy my summer…
Kristen Strong says
I always, always value your advice for creating a home that works for us rather than the other way around. It always amazes me how creating the “slow paced beautiful life” takes more intentional effort than a fast paced one. At least for me it does! This is my prayer for us all, that we ask God to show each of us how to achieve this.
LOVE this!
melissa @ the inspired room says
Thank you Kristen!!
Glenda Childers says
Three cheers for being intentional.
fondly,
Glenda
teresa says
Wonderful steps- learning to be better about how I spend my time
When the “big C” hits home it gives you a different perspective.
Thanks for sharing- I always learn a lot from you.
Happy Day
melissa @ the inspired room says
Oh I bet that does give you pause!!! Take care of yourself and your man and enjoy every moment together!
Alison of Modern Cottage says
I am having homemade ice cream for breakfast, this is ok right? It is the summer!
melissa @ the inspired room says
Of course. Sounds like a good bowl of calcium to me 😉
Ann Voskamp@Holy Experience says
I may just read this 100 times, Melissa.
*Thank you* friend… God uses you, sister!
Kim @ Everything Etsy says
I hope you have a fabulous summer full of lots of beautiful “little trips” around your area. You are blessed to live in one of the prettiest spots of the country!
I can relate to your post on so many levels…a busy season shouldn’t keep us from having fun. Thanks for the wonderful post!
~Kim
Saturday Stumbles in July « Joyfully Thriving says
[…] from The Inspired Room (via Incourage) shared Six Tips to Enjoy a Beautiful Summer at Home. I particularly liked the reminder to let go of guilt and strive for imperfection. Summer is meant […]
Heather says
I just read this today, and I must say I love your blog and your ideas. I shared it with my mom because I just love everything you do and your taste is just spot on what mine is and my mom too. She is redecorating her house right now, so she is glad for the ideas.
I have just come to this realization recently too that we can’t help where we live, we don’t live near the beach, we live in a smallish town in Ohio, and instead of pouting because we don’t, I decided that we need to embrace our town and try to do fun things as a family and be more active and watch less tv. I have a 4 year old and we took him to the bike trail by the river that runs thru our town the other night. It was really pretty and he was just delighted with the ducks and the water and riding his bike. It really is the simple things that matter! We went to our favorite ice cream place near our house afterwards and it was a perfect evening! We also booked a camping cabin at a local park so we can get the taste of camping for one night without having to sleep in a tent. I am really excited about making these memories with my son!
Thanks for reinforcing this for all of us!