How to Have the Best Summer Ever with Joy, Intention, and Personal Growth.

This isn’t your average to-do bucket list for Summer Fun. This is a How to Have the Best Summer Ever List that I put together for fun, intention, joy, growth, and alignment for you and your family.

One thing I value as a mom is quality and intentional family time. Luckily, we live in an area where we can do a lot of these Summer activities readily.

Summer Fun and Tiny Habits that Support Your Goals.

But, remember, Summer isn’t just about going, going, going all the time. We do still need to take care of ourselves, and implement self-care and yes, personal growth into our day. If you’re like me, there really isn’t a Summer routine. It’s chaos, snacks, heat, entertainment, and late mornings.

Don’t have an all or nothing attitude! You’ve worked hard on your goals this year, and yes, you may ease off the gas a bit so you can show up well, but still implement those tiny habits into your day. I offer coaching services if you need support!

So my How to Have the Best Summer Ever List incorporates body movement for all, easy family nights, challenging, and possibly push you out of your comfort zone type activities, and tactical things like wearing sunscreen and drinking your water.

I am energized by being outside, so you’ll see a good bit of outdoor ideas, and a tip to help our Earth out, too. (Don’t worry, it’s just an act of kindness, to pick up some trash on a trail or the waterway during an activity. Easy. Peazy.)

How to Have the Best Summer Ever: 41 Ways for Fun and Intention:

1. Visit a new State Park. In my State, we have 47 State Parks! Commit to visiting one you haven’t been to before. 
2. Buy new flip flops. Yours are tired. Mine are tired. Freshen them up.
3. I am implementing a Summer Reading activity to keep my daughter actively reading. She can earn Book Bucks (Mononopoly Money) in various ways to read, and then cash in her prizes.
4. Go fishing at least once. 
5. Try a new family activity: paddleboarding, kayaking, parasailing, zip lining- something adventurous and outdoors!
6. Set a water goal to drink daily in ounces. Commit. Stay hydrated in that heat! (And all year long, too.)
7. Visit your library and see all the clubs or events they have. Pick one to try at least once! (There’s a cookbook club at one near me that I’ve been eyeing for months.)
8. Do a beach/river/lake/mountain/trail/sidewalk sweep. Take a bag and pick up trash during your excursion. Dispose/recycle accordingly. Feel great about doing something good for our Earth.
9. Wear sunscreen every day you’re outside.
10. Do a cannonball in the pool, go down a rapid racer water slide, jump off a dock, do something exciting that might be out of your comfort zone.
11. Set a hiking goal for the Summer.
12. Grill out on the back porch once a week. Invite a neighbor over for s’mores at least once. 
13. Have a backyard campout.
14. Had a badminton/pickelball/volleyball tournament.
15. Play a new game. Our new favorite is Ticket to Ride. Or, learn a new game! We learned Chess this year.
16. Try a challenging new puzzle! Like this one! (I do not earn commission on this.)
17. Make fish tacos and Street Corn. So yummy!
18. Work out early in the morning before it gets too hot. 
19. Take your vitamins. 
20. Sleep in long enough to still wake up with enough time to have 10-20 minutes to yourself. 
21. Pick a trilogy/movie series to watch as a family.
22. Go to a new zoo/aquarium/museum/planetarium this Summer.
23. Read a fun beach read. (Send me a recommendation!) Or, check out my women’s personal growth bookclub here!
24. Go Roller Skating or Bowling.
25. Make a new cuisine that your family has never had before. 
26. Meet a friend you’ve been meaning to call at a local restaurant or coffee shop.
27. Go to a music festival or event. 
28. Plant Zinnia flowers so you can enjoy hummingbirds and butterflies all summer. (It’s seriously the best.)
29. Go to a nature center near you and attend a class.
30. Run or Walk a 5 K.
31. Make tie-dye shirts or paint rocks as a family.
32. Go to a Trivia Night with friends.
33. Have a water balloon fight.
34. Go Geocaching.
35. Read a book with friends and host a themed dinner based on it.
36. Go to a local Baseball, Hockey, Football, or Basketball game. (I know Hockey is a Fall sport, but it’s our personal favorite!)
37. Go to your local Farmers Market and try new produce. (It’s a great way to expose your kids to new fruits and build their confidence for trying things!)
38. Keep things easy and bring no-bake desserts to any gatherings you’re invited to.
39. Schedule a date night. 
40. Jump on the trampoline in a light rain storm or play in the rain.
41. Invest weekly in your personal growth and save the date for August 12th! The Hey Goal Sister Podcast is coming soon!!

Drinking my water, friend!

Why 41 items? Well, as I type this, I am 2 weeks shy of turning 41, so that feels like a good number to me!

I hope you got some ideas of fun and easy things to do this Summer, to challenge you, and also to keep showing up as your best self.

What was your favorite item on the list? What would you add to your own How to Have the Best Summer Ever List? Leave me a comment below so I can try it!

I can’t wait to connect with you via the Podcast in August!

In case you need extra motivation to achieve your goals during the busy Summer, I wrote a Comprehensive Goal-Setting workbook available on Amazon!