Finding Your Way Through Summer
What do you want to remember when it is done?
All too often we head into a holiday or a change in season with great expectations, only to be disappointed after it is done. Is there anything we can do about that? Absolutely!
First and foremost, decide what it is that you want to happen. In other words, if summer is over and you have a smile on your face, what happened? What did you enjoy? What were the highlights and what did you accomplish? If you head into the season with these thoughts in mind, it is much more likely to occur. Manifest your preferred experience!
I have written in the past about avoiding the pitfalls that can ruin one’s experience. I will reiterate here the things that I would suggest you avoid if you truly want to enjoy a lovely summer.
#1: Not enough sleep. Given that we have more daylight hours, it is easy to stay up too late and not get the important rest we need to re-charge our batteries. Allow yourself a night or two each week to enjoy the longer days, however, ensure you are getting at least seven solid hours of sleep per night the rest of the week.
#2. Over scheduling. This can be a problem when there are so many activities to enjoy. Look at the calendar, write down the important events you wish to attend, and block off some down time as well.
#3. Overindulging. Both adults and teens can tend to over-do the “fun factors” in the summer. Adults can drink too much, and teens and young adults can play too much. Warm evenings coupled with less structure and responsibility is good, but keep yourself in check. Hangovers can ruin a perfectly good day, and if you are going to have fun with any sort of drugs, please be safe. Never use alone as our monthly death rates are still rising. The B.C. Coroners Service says there were 198 toxic drug overdose deaths in the province during the first month of 2024, an average of 6.4 deaths per day.
#4. Too much sun. Hot summer days are great, but sunburns and dehydration can ruin a good time. Sunstroke or skin cancer are no fun either. Alternate sun and shade, wear sunscreen and a hat, and drink lots of water. This will give you the best chance at enjoying the many great days we will have.
#5. No adventure. The summer can fly by and you can find that you haven’t done or seen anything new. Make a list of places you have not been before, and put them on the calendar. We live in a marvellous province and it is fun to be a tourist in your own town, or go camping, or jump in that lake!
#6. Overspending can easily happen if you are not paying attention. Make a budget for the summer and stick to it. Going into the fall with a big credit card bill is no fun.
#7. Visitors are fun to have, but they can wear you out. Be bold enough to say no if the timing doesn’t work for you. Alternatively, if you do have guests, do not feel the need to constantly entertain them. If they are lucky enough to have a free place to stay, keeping themselves busy should not be your job!
So now that you know what to look out for, spend some time dreaming about what you DO want. Hopefully this will include:
#1: fun!
#2: quality time with your family and the people who really fill your cup. Life is short and precious, so make sure your moments matter.
#3: well deserved rest and downtime :)
