We’re in the full swing of summer, so I thought I’d share my bucket list with a quick explanation of each item to help you decide what can make it on to yours. Let’s get into it:-
wear something happy: this can be something big or small - a favourite shade of nail polish, a pair of sunglasses, those cute friendship bracelets that are trending again or even a pair of crocs. But it should be something that makes you smile or feel good and takes the pressure off having a ‘summer body’.
revisit simple joys: for me - I want to try to do this as often as possible. Eating a cold mango outside barefoot or sitting in the shade with my favourite book checks this off for me. The ‘simple’ part means that it shouldn’t be hard to plan, you shouldn’t have to wait on someone else to be able to enjoy it and should be free or almost free.
commit to a skincare routine: I get it, it is very very hot and almost everything melts off the moment you try to rub it in but the heat means your skin is thirsty and needs extra TLC. May I suggest swapping the heavier moisturiser for a moisturising serum and using a lightweight sunscreen instead of doing a ten-step routine in the mornings? At night when it’s cooler, try a. slightly heavier moisturiser, retinol and a serum before bed.
grow something: anything. Seriously. You don’t have to start a mini farm, a little succulent will do. Try a tiny herb or a potted mint that you can use for mocktails or tea. But we are sharpening our skills so we can do some good for our climate and air quality.
take walks often: I say this with a little hesitation because safety is a whole thing. But, if you can get outside regularly and safely and take solo walks, you will see the difference it makes to your mental and emotional health especially if you deal with anxiety or insomnia. I am going to emphasise that some aspect of the walk should be leisurely and not a power walk - remember the idea is to slow down, reduce cortisol and calm that fight/flight vibe going on in our heads.
get into a summer series: if you thrived during the isolation of covid or you work remotely and now you’re struggling to get back your socialisation skills, going out to a summer series is a good way of meeting new people and making new friends. Meet Up Mondays is a welcoming space that’s both introvert and extrovert friendly.
get in the water: self-explanatory - find a (safe) river, stream, beach, lake, pond, pool and get in there. Cooling off in the water is a whole vibe. Extra points for going on a water tour of Jamaica with your friends.
borrow a book: if you’re a conscientious reader (no dog ears, no dirty fingers, no eating while reading, no bent pages etc) ask one of your bookish friends to lend you a book they think you’d like. Alternatively, you can visit your public library and borrow a book. Take the time to read a couple chapters at the library and use that as your screen-free time. Extra points if you can do this during the work week, and you can walk there and back on lunch.
cook something outside: start up the grill, catch up a fire in a coal pan, or go build a fire at a campsite like Hollywell and get to cooking in the great outdoors. Choose something easy and review safety tips before you get started. We want to have fun, not lose our eyebrows.
go on a solo date: I love going to the movies by myself for movies that are either really sappy or are very niche. I get a comfy sweater, buy a good seat and order off the menu for my dinner that night. I can have a good cry or laugh loudly at the ridiculous parts and get a cinema experience without compromising on what I want to watch. Other safe solo dates could be a trip to a gallery, listening party or a poetry reading.
create a memory wall: I am still going back and forth on whether I want to do this digitally or physically. But I like the idea of not having to search through a bunch of photos while trying to find pics from a specific date or adventure. However, I would appreciate not having the visual clutter of a physical memory wall. I’ll update when I figure out a solution.
make something with your hands: it could be anything at all - a block print table cloth for outdoor lunches, a tie-dye t-shirt to bring back memories from summer camp or a friendship bracelet to use as a phone strap to make you smile this summer. Look it up on Youtube and get crafty.
look again: summer was always a good time for a new crush or a new friend. I shared an audiobook recently that spoke about the concept of ‘looking again’; it explained that the more you look at something, the more it transforms and unfolds before you. The author said it’s the same with people. Once we get to know someone and we spend a lot of time with them we take for granted that we know them inside and out and we stop looking. But people are changing everyday - and if we really want to be careful about not taking our loved ones for granted, we need to be deliberate about observing them and getting to know who they are - again and again. So, this summer, I have decided to ‘look again’ at my love and my friends and see where that lands me.
What’s on your #softgirlsummer bucket list? Share below and let’s chat about it.
til later,
Jan.