How to Retain that Summer Feeling
Whether we want to admit it or not, it’s that end of summertime; that back to work; roads busier; kids back to school time. I’m not sure what your take on all of this is. For me, I find myself resisting the onset of autumn even though I love it. I don’t want to give up the sunshine and the more laid back time that I associate with summer. I mean I’ve not been on holidays yet. I think my difficulty is also due to the fact that I am usually walking in France or Spain at this time of year and the weather is usually good so my summer lasts longer.
As I was mulling over all of this today, I was thinking about how we could explore what is best from our summer and then see how we could carry it through to the months ahead.
Hopefully, we all have memories and perhaps you find yourself going back through these and reliving all those great times. Well, how can you make use of those and bring about some changes that would allow you to maximise them? How could they still make you feel relaxed and stress-free as well as inspired and motivated?
Think about what you really enjoyed about your holiday or your summer in general. I appreciate that holidays were a little different this year but even if you holidayed at home there was hopefully downtime and trips away even if only a day at a time. Was there anything you did during that time that you could continue to do at home?
Many people take more exercise on holidays – they swim because they are by the sea or have access to a pool; they try their hand at sailing or some other new sport; they walk or cycle more. It would be a shame to lose the momentum you have now built up, so why not start doing some of these regularly?
I have 101 other ideas…
You know what a good thing exercise is, how it makes you feel more alert and less stressed or at least able to cope with life better. How can you fit some of it into your day? Can you walk or cycle to work or to do errands? How can you make sure it is not a fad and that you keep it going? What techniques can you use? How about scheduling it in as an appointment or exercising with someone else. It’s always harder to cop out when someone else is involved.
Be creative and experimental. Explore what suits you. Explore different food too. If you have been travelling it’s likely that you have been trying different cuisine – could you search out recipes and have a go at cooking some of these dishes at home. perhaps you can get others involved too and make it a social occasion.
Finally what about the architecture you’ve seen, the colours and styles? One way to hold onto the memories and feel inspired is to look at integrating those into your home or office. Visits to Scandinavia make me want to simplify my décor, yet at other times I want to introduce the whites and blues of Greece as well as the red geraniums and then again what about the mosaics and quirkiness of Gaudi’s Barcelona. What do you think?
How about turning your favourite photos into canvases or playing the kind of music you heard, partied or danced too when you were away.
I know that you will have great ideas too. I’d love to hear them so do share and then other readers can be inspired and pick yup suggestions to run with.
All of this is your choice and just think what fun you could have. And remember you can use the same tips about any holiday at any time of the year. It’s just up to you.
If you are interested in walking, I run monthly walks in and around London and the South East. Called Women on Foot, we venture further afield when the days are longer and we would love to have you with us.
