Summer and making the most out of it

Okay we have rolled, no ran, into June. No idea where May went, seriously, I have no idea.  June is always busy with school finishing up, graduations, if you haven't booked summer camps yet (get on it and good luck). People have been booking camp sites and cottages for the summer. Oh, and vacation requests have been in for a while. It is that time of year we are rolling into.

Everyone remembers when summer at work used to be slower. You could go out for an ice cream at lunch. The building was less busy with people on vacation. There was time to catch up on a few projects and catch your breath. Plus your own vacation. Now, not so much. There doesn't seem to be a slow down at work. This started before COVID and now seems the norm.

So what can we do? I say take back a little time. If you have a green space near work go there even for twenty minutes. Feel the sun on your face. Get some vitamin D.  Mental health wise we need rest and even twenty minutes is refreshing.

Also when did working through lunch or at your desk become the norm? With the good weather head out and eat in that green space. Or walk around the block. We have to take care of ourselves. Work is definitely not going to. So with the good weather let's make the most out of it.  Everyone can squeeze in twenty minutes. If we are not in an operating room we have twenty minutes. Paper and emails are not going anywhere.

Work will be there in twenty minutes. Take a deep breath and priority health first.

Summer Projects or anytime

 We were talking about feeling motivated or not. Needing something to focus on. Needless to say if we didn't blog for six months we were not motivated or focused. We came up with a few ideas to maybe jump start motivation this summer if you are looking for a summer (or anytime) project. Here goes.....

• Pick an item like rocks, trees, beaches, drinks and take pictures of that item. Again and again so that at the end of the season you have a collection. Pick something fun and that you know you will be seeing at least off and on this season.
• Gratitude journal - easy write down three things you were grateful for today. I know people always put this on the list. Likely because easy and it works.
• Rainy days purge or organize a cabinet or drawer. Note cabinet or drawer not closet. Not room. Don't get overwhelmed. One drawer done. 
• Paint or mod-podge plant pots. For mod-podge try pretty napkins.
• Walk / hike. What about walking your neighbourhood after supper.  If you have a front porch sit out there in the evenings and watch the world or at least your neighbours go by.
• Try something new. Check out classes or YouTube. What about line drawing? Tai Chi? Up to you.
• Try a new cocktail or beer or wine or cooler. Maybe write down, snap pic of them and note why you like or not for recommendations.
• Try a new restaurants.
• Send postcards from your city to away friends
• If relaxing catch up on your reading list. Make a plan with a friend that you are reading X many books this summer.    

If you have other ideas we'd love to hear them.  Happy summer / season.     

Summer to do list

 Summer to do list!

Better late then never!  Please add yours in the comments! Of course we will be adding more if anything comes up and catches our eyes!

• Week at the cottage
• Days at the beach
• Cocktails and Coolers (try new ones out for the summer)
• Drinks on a patio
• Camping
• Try a few new summer recipes - likely dips
• Pick out paint colour for bathroom (won't be painting until fall and cooler but would like the colour chosen so ready to go!)
• Summer reads - recommendations welcome
• Audiobooks (started a new series and soooo enjoying)
• Picnics
• Check out festivals
• Day drives down the coast

What we are saying yes to this season

 Summer is fast approaching.  School will be out.  Campgrounds are filling up as are cottage rentals. If you haven't started booking stop reading this and do it NOW! Please come back when you are done. We were talking about summer plans and saying yes or no to things. Making the most out of the summer.

Below are a few things we are definitely saying yes to this summe:

• Heading to the beach.  When a friend says want to go? Don't start thinking of your to do. Most stuff can likely wait.
• Festivals - start checking out when and where. Especially if in your area. Support local music, crafts and people.
• Summer walks in the evening. Never be too busy for that
• BBQs.  If invite go and if not invite.  
• Cottage invites - if a few hours away head for the day.  If more maybe an overnight is exactly what you need.  
• Yes I'm free for a patio lunch downtown this weekend.  Do spur of the moment things with friends.
• Ice cream anyone!  Yes especially at lunch time if out for a walk.
• A day trip to a new place or a place you haven't been in years! Why not. Summer is short make the most of it.
• Camping - there are likely campground close to your place check them out even for a weekend.

Don't focus on what you have to do - things can wait. Memories can't. Toss that load of laundry in when you get home from work. Free up your weekends and evening. Say yes to people and events.

Weekend coffee share - summer over !!

If we were having coffee I would be ranting that I was NOT, absolutely NOT, ready for summer to be ending.  I have sleeveless tops I have not made the most of, cute short skirts I have hardly worn and well, shoes I am still enjoying. My nails are still looking reasonable good and I do NOT want to have to encase when in shoes. I am not ready for summer to be ending.

Yes, I have sweaters and boots I enjoy, but not yet.  I want another month of summer to truly feel I have made the most out of my summer outfits.  That being said - I always feel I have made the most out of my winter clothes. I am usually tired of them before the end of winter, which seems never ending.

So please give me few more weeks of summer weather. I will wear the sweater to work in the cooler mornings, but let it be hot and sunny by 9 am and I swear I'll not complain this year about winter. I will actually embrace my cords and bulky sweaters. I swear.

Are long weekends enough?

For the majority of us the first of June means the start of summer.  Some of us had to have our vacation requests in months ago, others are more flexible.  Over coffee we were discussing summer vacations and what constitutes a break.  Here is the take.

Two weeks away from work.  It takes me almost the first week to unwind and start enjoying myself.  Plus if you are travelling any distance anything less than two weeks is a waste of time and money.  Okay we agree if you are travelling, say to another continuent, two weeks at least for vacation seems reasonable.

If I am not going away I usually only take a week as don't want to waste it. I like to save a week in case I go down south in the winter.  I find a week is a good break and if I'm home I feel rested when I come back.

Long weekends in the summer.  Take a Friday when you have a holiday Monday.  That way you are only working four days weeks for the summer.   Hmm....we all like a long weekend but are we really getting a long enough break to re-energize?  No, need more than four days off majority thought.  Take a week and rent a cottage.  Do some of us look like "cottage" people.  That is another post what "cottage" people look like.  Since I'm typing I say tanned and healthy.

Let us know what you think constituents a summer break - enough time to recharge.  May the hot lazy days of summer begin!