Get in the water and really experience it.
Each season has a rhythm to it, and these 6 beautiful ways to recharge this summer will help refresh you for the fall ahead. Even in Hawaii, where we have “endless summer,” long days, kids out of school, and change in weather patterns signal this season of renewal.
1. Lose your expectations. Unmet expectations are the number one source of unhappiness in life. But how do we do that? Some ideas that have worked for me and my clients are in this blog post.
2. Get up an hour earlier. Do NOT turn on electronics. Instead, use this time to sit on the porch and watch the sun come up. Walk the dog before it gets hot. Wander in the yard watering plants. Go for a run. Write in your journal. Just sit, sip your tea or coffee, and ponder things to be thankful for.
3. Begin each day with stretching. This one takes awhile to feel good, but by the end of the summer, you’ll have given yourself the gift of more flexibility, a gift that keeps giving no matter your age. I’m doing five rounds of Sun Salutation each morning, but you can do any routine that feels good to you.
4. Learn something new. This summer, get out of your comfort zone and learn something new: how to shoot a Glock. Landscape painting. Phone photography. Drumming. Martial arts. Rock climbing. Whatever it is, make sure it’s a little bit of a stretch for you. Feel yourself rise to new challenges and master new things, and be a little more alive for the experience.
5. Get in the water. Water and summer go together naturally, but this summer, make an effort not just to go to the beach or lake and lie beside the water, really spend time IN the water. Put on a mask and snorkel and see what’s down there. Notice the nets of light patterns on the bottom. Look for fish. Pick up human litter and debris. Remember that 70% of the human body is water, and reconnect with the source on a daily basis—and be conscious as you do so.
6. Being conscious is the way to really enhance any experience. This summer, make it your practice to be fully present in each moment, using all your senses to experience each of these five things—and you’ll be able to keep the benefits of summer much longer, incorporating them into your daily living.
Got any more ideas on how to recharge? Share them in the comments below!
My favorite way to recharge my batteries over the summer is to read all of those books that have been collecting on my nightstand all year–and I love your idea of getting up an hour earlier and remaining unplugged. Oh, and let’s not forget how important it is to reconnect with FRIENDS over the summer, when everyone’s schedules might be a bit more flexible 🙂
You betcha babe!
I have to admit, I’ve always been an early riser so getting up at, say 4:30 instead of 5:30 would be tough. However, for quite some time I’ve been trying to get into the rhythm of not turning on email until I’ve gotten at least two hours of work (typically writing) in. On the days when I can pull this off, what a difference! I also realized that after our recent trip to Kauai, I found it far easier to make nearly every morning one of those “no email” mornings. That, in turn, lowers the stress for the rest of the day. Thanks for the great list!
Yeah that electronics thing is so challenging! But rewarding. All of these are that kind of thing…
Just finished your first lei book. On my first day of vacation and it was great. Might take you up on that getting up early spend some time with God. Thanks.
Thanks for letting me know you enjoyed it, and revel in your free time! aloha