10 Simple Summer Self-Care Tips

Let’s cover 10 simple summer self-care tips as we dive into the season!

first, What comes to mind when you think of summer?

Long, lazy days? Family vacation? Time spent at the pool? BBQ’s?

Is summer a season you look forward to?

Or is it more of a stressful time, full of busy plans and obligations?

Many of us look forward to summer as a season when we can slow down, gain some perspective, and connect with our family and friends.

But if we’re not intentional about self-care, summer can fill up fast with busyness and then slip right on by. The next thing we know, the season is over and we haven’t had a chance to rest and relax.

What are some easy ways to incorporate practical self-care practices so that we feel rested, energized, and inspired?

Here are 10 simple summer self-care tips for you to incorporate. Choose a couple or go for all 10; whatever appeals to you!

1. Make fruit ice cubes

We’re all aware of how important it is to stay hydrated.

But sometimes plain water can feel a bit, meh, and we’d like an easy way to add some color and interest to our daily water intake.

A fun and easy way to do this is by making fruit-flavored ice cubes.

Simply take whatever fruit you have, wash it well, cut up to whatever size you’d like, and place a few pieces of fruit into each little section of an ice cube tray. Then add water to fill the tray and pop in the freezer. Once the cubes are completely frozen, you’ll be able to add them to your water for some fruity infused goodness!

Alternatively, you could use your blender or juicer to pulverize or juice your fruit, (or veggies) and pour into the ice cube tray. This is a great option if you’d prefer a stronger fruit flavor or if you want to use them to add to a smoothie.

Some of my favorite flavors are strawberry, blueberry, raspberry, pineapple, mango, cucumber, lemon, lime, and grapefruit.

You might also like to try these flavor combinations:

• Blueberry & Raspberry
• Lemon & Lime
• Strawberry & Cucumber
• Mango & Pineapple

Using fruit ice cubes is an easy, fun way to add a little zing to your daily water.

2. Get a hair cut

One way to feel instantly lighter is to get a hair cut.

Now if you’ve got long locks and have no desire to chop them off, don’t panic! A simple trim can do wonders for dead ends and help to freshen things up.

If, on the other hand, you’re toying with the idea of going for a shorter style and feel like you want to chop off your locks, then, by all means, go for it!

A nice way to freshen up this summer is to get a hair cut.

3. Make a list of movies you want to watch

This could include new movies currently out in the theater or ones you can now watch at home.

Or you might have a list of TV shows you’ve been meaning to check out – comedies, dramas, true crime, documentaries, or animated family films.

Jot down anything that you’ve been wanting to see and then incorporate these into the summer season whenever you can.

When you have a few minutes, make a list of movies you want to watch this summer.

4. Keep dinners simple

Like, SUPER simple!

Easy salads you can throw together. Pre-marinated chicken you can toss on the barbecue. Sandwiches and fruit salad. Frozen pizza crusts you can thaw and then add your own toppings to.

The simpler, the better!

And while you’re at it, if the weather in your area is decent during dinner time, eat outside whenever you can.

If you really enjoy cooking, however, and summer offers you the time to be able to get creative in the kitchen, then definitely GO FOR IT!

Otherwise, do yourself a favor and keep dinners simple and low-maintenance.

5. Go for a short walk each day

I know that in locations where the weather gets super HOT, this can be tough.

But to the best of your ability, go for a short walk each day.

Head out first thing in the morning when it’s cooler, or in the evening, if that works best for you.

Walk your dog, take a stroll around the neighborhood, meet up with a friend. It doesn’t need to be long; just a few minutes a day can do wonders for your physical and mental health.

If it’s realistic, prioritize taking a short walk each day.

6. Do some daily stretching

How about a little stretching after that walk?

Again, keep this short and sweet. Start by stretching out your calves and hamstrings, biceps, triceps, and neck.

Take deep breaths as you focus on stretching, lengthening, and opening through your muscles.

Taking a few minutes each day to stretch will improve your flexibility and overall comfort.

7. journal about future goals and dreams

Allow yourself some downtime to dream this summer.

Grab a journal or notebook and jot down whatever comes to mind. Is there a family trip you’d like to take? A project you’re eager to start? A goal you’re determined to achieve?

Begin by simply acknowledging anything that provides a sense of wonder, hope, or excitement.

Initially, don’t worry about planning out specifics, just spend some time dreaming.

Then move on to identifying what specific actions you’ll need to take in order to make one (or more!) of these goals and dreams a reality.

As a way to stay inspired and creative, allow yourself some time to journal about your goals and dreams.

8. Listen to a new podcast or audiobook

If you’re a fan of podcasts, why not try out a new one this summer?

And if podcasts aren’t your thing, consider a new audio-book.

There are SO many incredible resources out there and summer is a wonderful time to explore something new.

As a way to make cleaning, driving, or other monotonous tasks more enjoyable, consider trying a new podcast or audio-book.

9. Rest when you need to

So often our pace is go-go-go, without any space, margin, or downtime.

And this is a recipe for exhaustion, overwhelm, and feelings of resentment.

I want you to get honest with yourself. Are there areas in your life where you can cut back a little? Invitations you can politely decline? Obligations you can say no to? Responsibilities you can delegate to someone else?

Are there ways you can incorporate more rest and relaxation into your routine?

Reading or watching a show for 30 minutes? An afternoon nap? A leisurely stroll around the neighborhood? Coffee or a glass of wine with a friend?

To the best of your ability, sprinkle your days with rest and relaxation this summer.

Eliminate the things in your life that aren’t absolutely critical, and rest when you need to.

1o. Keep your expectations in check

We often have lofty summer goals.

We’re going to read 25 books! Organize every single room in our house! Grow all of our own produce! Host BBQ’s and get-togethers on a weekly basis! Take THE best vacation EVER!

The list goes on and on.

And this ambitious list can send us into a complete tailspin if we’re not careful.

The reality is that despite our summer expectations and grand plans, life still happens. Unpredictable, out-of-the-blue, pull the rug out from under you, LIFE! Even in the midst of summer, (and sometimes especially in the midst of summer!) life circumstances beyond our control can throw us for a loop.

Do your best to keep your expectations in check.

Maybe set your intention to read for ten minutes, a few days a week. Organize your pantry. Plant a succulent. Host a casual potluck where everyone brings a simple dish to share. Visit a local park, beach, museum, or summer event.

Summer plans can be fantastic as long as they’re not too ambitious and completely unrealistic, so do your best to keep your expectations in check.

To recap, here are 10 simple self-care tips to incorporate this summer:

1. Make fruit ice cubes
2. Get a hair cut
3. Make a list of movies you want to watch
4. Keep dinners simple
5. Go for a short walk each day
6. Daily stretching
7. Journal about future goals and dreams
8. Listen to a new podcast or audiobook
9. Rest when you need to
10. Keep your expectations in check

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT SIMPLE SELF-CARE TIPS FOR THE OTHER THREE SEASONS TOO!

• 10 Simple Self-Care Tips for Fall
• 10 Simple Self-Care Tips for Winter
• 10 Simple Self-Care Tips for Spring

I hope that you’re able to use at least a few of these 10 simple summer self-care tips to stay inspired and energized this summer. Do you have any of your own tips to share?