As a southern California native, I have always loved the warmth and summer sunshine. But now that I live in the Pacific Northwest and have to endure entirely too much snow in the winter months, I crave the summer months more than ever before. But with this season comes a busyness that can oftentimes feel overwhelming and that’s exactly why I practice the art of slowing down in the summer. 

I love being an entrepreneur. I love the freedom it gives me to do life on my own terms, but being your own boss also requires a lot of time, dedication, and discipline and the summer season has always felt like the perfect time for me to loosen the reigns on my business, while enjoying more time with my family and friends. 

It’s more than possible to have your summer fun while running your business with ease, and I want to teach you my top 7 ways to focus less on your business and more on yourself this summer. Simply by implementing these into your summer routine, you will truly be able to slow down and enjoy the sweetness of the season. 

Are you ready? Let’s do this! 

 

7 TIPS FOR SLOWING DOWN IN THE SUMMER

 

1. Start a morning routine. 

The summer season is a great time to slow down, savor the morning, and set yourself up for a peaceful day. Lunches don’t need to be packed, buses don’t need to be caught, and kids’ alarms don’t need to be set. This is your time to do mornings on your terms. Get up early, move your body, and enjoy your coffee in a calm and quiet home. Or if that sounds like torture, sleep in with your kids and join them on the couch for cartoons. Whatever it is that you always wish you had time for during the school year, make that a part of your routine this summer. 

 

2. Clean less.

What if we found a way to clean less because we had less? What if we eliminated the clutter and the noise from our homes this summer so we could enjoy our children rather than serving as their live-in maid? Host a yard sale, list a few things on marketplace, make a pile of donations, or just simply sit it out with the trash. If it is doing nothing more than taking up space and you are tired of cleaning around it, take the summer to ditch it. 

 

BRACE YOURSELF FOR THIS NEXT ONE…

 

3. Just say no. 

Using a simple “no” to find simplicity this summer is incredibly freeing and beneficial for your mental, emotional, and physical health. I absolutely suggest you give it a try as often as possible! And for all my fellow people pleasers, you’re going to be okay! Learning to say no when you absolutely can’t and just don’t want to say yes is all a part of setting healthy boundaries. And any healthy human will more than understand that! 

 

4. Read a book (or ten). 

I have learned that nothing makes me slow down more than reading. And I don’t mean the 2023 version of “reading” where you download a book to audible and listen to it while you do a million other things. That’s honestly the opposite of slowing down in my opinion. And listen, I do that all the time with podcasts and audiobooks, there’s no judgment here. But if you’re truly trying to practice the art of slowing down this summer, I highly suggest purchasing a physical copy of a book, finding a comfy spot, grabbing a tasty drink, and getting lost within the pages. 

 

THIS ONE IS MY FAVORITE:

 

5. Get outside.

Go for hikes, picnic at the park, take a bike ride, or just simply sit and enjoy some vitamin D. Just taking time to sit outside has been shown to reduce blood pressure, decrease cortisol, and lower heart rate. Simply being outside automatically helps our bodies to slow down, giving us a sense of peace and calm that I know every mom and business owner needs. 

 

6. Unplug.

Let’s make this the summer our whole family unplugs! It’s easy to think as entrepreneurs we’re the only ones that need a break from our phones or computer screens, but we’re all overwhelmed by screen time, even our children. 

So what can you offer them instead?

Plan ahead and schedule a summer full of fun for your kids. Make time to head to the park. Invite friends over to play. Grab a few new toys or craft supplies. Make special breakfasts or have a picnic lunch. It doesn’t have to be grand or cause extra work on your part, but be sure to set up a few special events or activities throughout the summer months. This will help cut boredom and limit unnecessary screen time.

 

LAST BUT NOT LEAST…

 

7. Grow something.

For me, that’s house plants. I haven’t really gotten into the gardening life, but I do have a rather large collection of house plants and they’ve really taught me a lot about patience and slowing down. 

One thing I love about plants is that they move at their own pace. Which is generally a pretty slow one. While we tend to want plants to grow faster, they ultimately determine the speed! And if there is anything I’ve learned from tending to the plants in my home, it’s that their slow pace always creates something beautiful. 

THAT’S IT! THAT’S ALL YOU NEED TO DO!

 

Whatever you decide to do, just enjoy the freedom of owning your own business by making more time for your friends and family this summer! 

How you take time to rest and recharge will look different for everyone, but I hope these seven simple steps have freed you up to believe you do have the time to slow down. You do not need to work yourself to the bone this summer in order to call yourself successful.

I encourage you today to clarify what is most valuable to YOU and your time. Don’t allow yourself to feel guilty when you make time for yourself this summer. Schedule out your days in manageable chunks and never forget to rest and recharge. At the end of the day, life is too short to not do what makes your heart happy. And slowing down in the summer will always make your heart sing!