Summer Time List. . . Do you have one?

Do you have a Summer Time List? Are you asking what this is? Is it really a thing?

I say, yes, it is and it’s one of my favorite lists to make! So, if you aren’t familiar, let me begin by saying I’m a list person. There’s something like writing it down, thinking about it and putting pen to paper. But this list is not like a normal “to do” list. We have plenty of those, don’t we?

This is different. This is not stress. This is a list strictly for Summer. Summer is the time we think of having more time. Longer days. Perhaps a bit less structured. Summer is the time we think of doing some of those things that we “don’t have time to do during the year”. There is just something different about the Summer season. It’s more magical, we wait all year for this season, it is short and seems more precious. For this reason, we don’t want to enter September and have that moment where you slap your forehead and realize you didn’t watch the lightening bugs, jump into the lake, read those beach books or make that homemade jelly. . . .or whatever it is that makes it summer to you.

Last year, I had a great list. I reviewed it before making the 2023 summer list, and I was pretty proud of myself. I actually checked everything off of my list! I’m thinking that means it was a pretty good thing.

What made it a good summer list? Of course, this is personal, but for me it is a combo of . . .

Something to make it feel like summer. . . like extra reading time, making the homemade peach cobbler, planting tomatoes.

I love a DIY project, and since it feels like we have more time in the summer, I like to include a DIY or two. This summer it’s going to be a big batch of my mother’s Dixie Relish and a coat of fresh paint to some doors. . .

Fun, even frivolous things that, as adults, you may feel guilty doing on a regular basis, but feels perfectly fine in the summer. An outdoor concert, learning some new outdoor activity, or just sitting listening to the birds.

Time to plan something new, time to create something new, time to dream something new. Yes, you put the time on your list so you actually make time to have the free space for this one. And then you add it to your list.

I also, unfortunately, put at least one thing that I’ve been putting off. Last summer, for me, was cleaning out and getting rid of a storage unit. It was a bear, but so, so good to have it done!

If you haven’t thought of making a summer time list, or haven’t made yours yet, here’s your prompt. Write it down and keep it somewhere you can keep coming back to and review later on. You’ll know that when September rolls around you did some interesting things, lighthearted summer things, maybe even things you didn’t want to do and you’ll have evidence of a full summer season.

Want to share? Have something we all need on our summer lists?

Happy Summer!