And in a blink of an eye, summer will be gone. The official seasonal end date is Tuesday, September 22nd, 2020—but it’s not too late to enjoy a few more sweet moments before autumn’s cool whisper will be heard (sigh). Relish these last weeks and squeeze more joy out of the minutes with these summer-savouring suggestions:
Rise and shine! Wake up early with the sun. Get outside and go for a long morning walk or stretch it out near a sunny window. Before you know it it will be dark till 8 a.m. so now is the time to get up early and be productive.
Plan one more experience. It doesn’t have to be a three-day journey. Even just planning one-to-two-day trip to a place you love will give you something to look forward to. Anticipation accounts for a major chunk of the happiness gleaned from any event, and summer is all about happiness.
Have dinner and/or drinks on a patio, your balcony or in a park. With rain or snow making a likely appearance as the season changes, try to eat and drink al fresco as much as you can in these next few weeks. There is nothing nicer than sipping an espresso in the morning sun, taking a delicious picnic down to the beach with beers and friends or finding the perfect patio to treat yourself to a glass of wine—or two. Fish and chips at the harbour or strolling along a beach boardwalk with an ice cream in hand will guarantee summer satisfaction.
Slow down! Do things that force you to be in the moment. Go to the ocean and pause to notice the sights and sounds. Climb a mountain and sit at the peak. Be still and notice the way the breeze feels on your skin. The pace of life will certainly change heading into fall. Until then, appreciate some slow moments.
Spend a whole day (or at least an afternoon) on the water. Go surfing, rafting, water skiing, river tubing, boating, canoeing, kayaking or any combination of the above. Being on the water is both refreshing and invigorating.
Capitalize on some good, old-fashioned R&R. Read a book or meditate under a shady tree, practise yoga outside, invite friends over for a relaxing backyard or balcony dinner or create a playlist on Spotify that captures the essence of summer 2020.
Do something spontaneous! Run through a sprinkler, fly a kite, rent rollerblades or try fishing!
Pick berries! Blueberries, elderberries, mulberries, blackberries and late summer raspberries are in season now. Grab some baskets, find a berry farm and gather some sweet berries while they last.
Spend an evening stargazing. Lay on the ground and try to spot any meteor showers and observe what phase the moon is in.
Buy fresh produce! Tomatoes and peaches are in season. It’s hard to bite into a sugary, dripping nectarine without feeling as though summer is still here. Pack a fresh tomato, make spinach salad for lunch and it’s like your garden is visiting your office.
Take an evening swim. If your community pool is closed, go for an ocean dip. Cold plunges strengthen the immune system and activate the nervous system—not to mention, jumping into freezing water will revitalize you after a long, summer-fun-filled day!
Sleep as close to nature as you can! Try napping in a hammock.
Take a vineyard or brewery tour!
Splurge on a few huge flower bouquets at the farmer’s market and decorate your apartment, house and office.
So here’s to summer: to long, hot days by the water and cooling off in the garden shade. To dining on the deck with friends. To savouring food freshly picked from the garden. To sunny picnics. To running through grass barefoot. To outdoor yoga. To belly laughs. To lazy days at the beach. To campfires. To carefree memories. We’re already looking forward to the next one. —Meg Lewis-Schneider
Photos by Jackson Sweet
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