Is it just us, or is life just easier in summer? After months of darkness, dullness and rain, summer brings the refresh we all need. With brighter, longer days, summer is the perfect time to cultivate joy, create new opportunities and live your best life.

We know that during summer, it is easy to fall into the trap of comparison. With everyone on social media thriving in these exotic, tropical worlds, we can’t help but feel like we should be doing the same. When it comes to summer, you might feel you need to do everything and go everywhere to ensure it is memorable. However, we urge you to remember that one of the best things about summer is that joy is easily found.

With good weather and good vibes, the smallest things can bring you joy and help make your summer great.

Here at GirlDreamer, we love summer. It provides us with the perfect opportunity to prioritise ourselves and our joy. Below are our top tricks to ensure you get the most out of your summer.

Spend Time Outdoors

If, like us, you are in the UK, you know that we rarely get sunshine. We live in grey dullness almost all year round.

Therefore as the summer season brings sunshine, we encourage you to spend as much time outdoors as possible. It is scientifically proven that time outdoors, especially outdoors in the sun, will do wonders for your health and general well-being. Sunlight boosts our body’s vitamin D, increases our serotonin and creates a healthy positive mood that we can translate into other areas of our lives. Sunlight is so important, and with a scarcity of it in the UK, we urge you to take advantage of the summer sun as much as you possibly can.

Summer is full of outdoor events and festivals, from music festivals to food fairs. Check out what’s happening in your area and make plans to attend with friends or family. Or even plan a change of scenery with a day trip to a local town or beach.

However you spend time outdoors this summer, be it going for walks, hikes or eating meals outdoors, we encourage you to get some sun on you and spend as much time as possible outdoors.

Create and Reinforce a Healthy Work-life Balance

If you don’t already have a healthy work-life balance create one now. During Summer, it is important that you take time for yourself to enjoy the season, spending time outdoors and thriving.

Having an unhealthy work-life balance can be detrimental to your mental and physical health, leaving you overwhelmed, overworked and exhausted. If you do not have a healthy work-life balance, use summer as the perfect opportunity to create one.

Only work when you are contracted and paid to. Do not do extra work or stay behind when you did not commit to doing so before.

A healthy work-life balance is so important in ensuring that you can get the best out of your life. This also applies to the summer season. A healthy work-life balance in summer will ensure you can get the most out of it and can enjoy the season, living your best life.

Make and Prioritise Your Plans

In summer, it seems that everyone is always so busy with many plans and events. While your social calendar might not be as full, we urge you to not just sit at home but to regularly make plans and follow through. Even if the plans are with your self and include just a trip to your local shopping area, make plans and prioritise them. We are all guilty of sitting on our phones and just scrolling, seeing everyone else outdoors living their life. Don’t let this be you this summer. It could be that you are hosting or going to a barbecue, having lunch with a friend or attending a festival.

Regardless of how big or small your plans are, you can still live your best life and have fulfilling experiences. Prioritising your plans means that you are prioritising yourself and your joy.

A part of living your best life in summer includes having a daily life that makes you feel fulfilled, not just on the weekend or when you are on holiday. It includes the small details of the everyday day, as every day is a good day to seek fulfilling experiences.

Try New Things

Summer is the perfect time to try new things. We know that the best things in life tend to happen outside of our comfort zone. With the refresh that summer brings, why not use this

opportunity to try something new and embrace change? If you want to make this summer memorable and want it to feel different, you have to take it to that level. Be it starting a new hobby or sport, travelling somewhere new or implementing a new daily habit, embracing newness will bring some excitement and positivity to your summer.

Trying new things helps us grow as people and in our confidence. We learn new things about ourselves and are able to identify new passions and driving forces. All of which can be translated into other aspects of our lives.

Remember, life happens outside of your comfort zone.

Say No

Now, we might sound like hypocrites here, but you do not have to say yes to every plan.

Summer is a great time to prioritise self-care, and a part of that is saying no. It is important that while you are living your best life in the summer season, trying new things and spending time outdoors that you are not overwhelming yourself. We encourage you to remain mindful of overdoing it and burning yourself out.

You do not have to be overly present and say yes to every plan, especially when you do not have the time, energy, or means to do so. This summer, say yes to the plans that excite you and bring you joy. Don’t just attend because of a fear of missing out. Put in place and practise healthy boundaries by saying no to invites that don’t interest or excite you. This way, you will be able to prioritise the invites and activities that you know will bring you joy.

It is important to take care of yourself, especially during the summer months. Make time for activities that help you relax and recharge, such as yoga, meditation, or a spa day.

Remember, living your best life is about prioritising your happiness and well-being. We encourage you to live this way this summer. Take the time to be present, live in the moment, and enjoy all the little things that make summer so special, finding joy in everyday moments.

Take the time to appreciate the beauty of summer and everything it has to offer, and let it be the moment that you prioritise experiences that make you feel happy, whatever that looks like to you.