Longer days, warmer evenings and ice-cream weather! Every winter we all look forward to summer and the promise of beautiful, warm weather. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement and not plan ahead for it – but that’s okay, it’s never too late to get organised.
Here are a few hints, tips and essentials to make the most of your summer.
How to avoid burn out:
Prepare for the heat.
Now obviously, the great British weather is not known for its reliability, but as the general temperatures are rising, it is important to take care of yourself.
Is your wardrobe ready for summer? Wearing lightweight materials, such as cotton and linen, can help you stay cool but it can also be important to have another layer for chilly nights when the sun goes down – or a windy trip to the seaside!
As someone who loves to be prepared for every eventuality, I can get carried away packing my bag with ‘essentials’, but in the summer it’s nice not to be lugging around a backpack that might as well be full of pebbles. So I’ve made a list of essential things to carry this summer!
Essentials:
- Sunscreen – not forgetting to use it!
- Lip balm
- Deodorant – and a body spray for when deodorant isn’t enough
- Wet wipes
- Cap/hat/sunglasses
- Handheld fan (or an electric one if you’re fancy!)
And last but not least, after getting home from work, throwing your shoes off and resisting the temptation to slump onto the sofa and stay there for a few hours. Make sure you have some ice cubes in the freezer (or water in the fridge if you have space), but a drink doesn’t quite feel like summer unless you have a couple of ice cubes in it!
Stay motivated.
As the hot, sunny weather calls us to just chill out, it can be hard to stay motivated and productive – especially at work. With more time for social events, it is important not to get carried away and leave yourself burnt out when you get into the office. Have a weekly planner on your fridge, calendar notifications to remind you of all the plans you’ve made but make sure you schedule in time for you!
- Enjoy the outdoors, take a walk, sit on the beach – or a park bench – if you need to get away for moment. Listen to world go by – or don’t – find a podcast, an audiobook or a playlist that inspires you
- Find a new hobby, whether that’s arts and crafts, tidying the house from head to toe or paddle-boarding, find a new passion and schedule in time for it
- The art of self-care, not every day needs to be filled with exciting adventures, enjoy an evening with a glass of rosé (or a beer) and a book that you’ve been meaning to read for years but never have!
– Bex
