“And then the beautiful season followed…summer…a dreamlike magic light filled the air. And the landscape lay as if newly created in the freshness of childhood. was there.”
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
After a long, cold winter and spring, at least here in Sweden, summer is in full bloom here.
So this week, I’d like to share 7 small, simple tips you can use to make your summer and the rest of the year happier.
1. Go slow.
You’ll be less stressed and enjoy more of the smells, sights and people of summer.
So slow down a bit and use all five senses to feel what is happening around and within you in this moment.
2. Say yes to new things.
Try something new. Expand your comfort zone little by little. Or something bigger.
Go where you’ve never been before. Start a new hobby. Read a book, eat something, or try something different.
Few things make me happier than simply finding something new to do that is fun, or maybe even love.
3. Do nothing.
It’s easy to fall into the idea that you have to reserve all your time for some activity.
But humans aren’t robots, so stress builds up and often leaves us with little of the recharge needed to continue doing quality work during the fall and winter months.
So just try and do nothing. Just take a walk in the woods. Or sit by a lake or ocean and soak up your world.
Focus all your senses and let your mind and body relax and rejuvenate.
4. It will be the summer you want to see.
Don’t wait for someone else to create the summer you want. Instead, roll the ball yourself.
Take action and take the first small step.
Arrange parties and picnics. Set up a movie night when it’s raining summer outside. Take a walk or run every warm morning to boost your energy levels.
5. Be kind even in small things.
One of the easiest ways to live a happier life is to focus on being kind.
It rarely requires a lot of energy.
A simple compliment or listening when someone complains can brighten up someone’s day.
And when you see someone’s face light up, it brings happiness into your life. And the way you think and act toward others tends to affect how you treat yourself. Increased kindness towards others be more kind to yourself.
6. Enjoy the summer moments here without worrying about the future or the past.
There will be moments that are somewhere else in your head this summer and you don’t want to miss.
So decide to take your time and focus to savor not just the little moments like melting ice cream in the sun, but also the big moments with the people close to you.
7. Don’t push your feelings away, just accept them.
Don’t fall into the trap of forcing your innermost feelings and thoughts through distractions and forced positive thinking.
Instead, if you have negative feelings or thoughts about something that’s been floating around a lot so far this year, take some time to think and talk with yourself or someone close to you.
Then accept and process what you really feel and think, then sit down with pen and paper.
Come up with small steps and small plans that you can take to get out of the situation that’s bothering you and move into a better situation. Then take the first small step as soon as possible and act on that plan.
