This summer was truly unique, with many of us hunkering down at home or enjoying our favorite summer pastimes with a bit more distance. The first day of fall is fast approaching, though, so here are seven activities to complete in the final few weeks of summer!
Get some fresh air
Didn’t get to spend quite as much time outside as summers past? It’s not too late! Dedicate a day or even a whole weekend to the outdoors, whether visiting a nearby park (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2020), lounging on your patio, taking a hike or full-on camping. There aren’t too many long, summer days left, so pack a picnic and make time outside a priority!
Cook a summer-inspired meal
Speaking of picnics… It’ll be a long, cold winter before watermelon season rolls around again! Fire up the grill, make a summer salad (Martha Stewart, 2020), squeeze some fresh lemonade or put that homemade popsicle recipe to the test. A light, refreshing meal is the perfect way to kiss summer 2020 goodbye!
Unplug
Before summer ends, take an hour, a day or a whole weekend to unplug and be present. Log out of your email, close your laptop and power down your cell phone. Let your internal alarm clock wake you up, read that book you’ve been meaning to get to, or take a long walk. Even a brief digital detox can plug you back into the beautiful world around you!
Spruce up your space
Prepare for the fall and winter months by completing those lingering curb appeal projects and quick-cleaning the interior. These final weeks of warm weather are perfect for outdoor tasks, like installing shutters and winter-proofing plants. Or, crack a window and enjoy that nice summer breeze as you clean out the pantry, flip the mattress or shampoo the carpets.
Pick flowers or fruit
Get outside and gather a wildflower bouquet or some ripe, local fruit! Not only is collecting the perfect summer activity, bringing the outdoors in adds color and life to your decor. Take advantage of the late-summer bloom and display the fruit of your labor in a decorative vase or colorful bowl.
Stargaze
Late summer is the ideal time to lay out and watch the night sky. Constellations, meteors, far-off planets, and other celestial events are all possible in the coming month (National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), 2020). Before the weather cools, ground yourself by taking some time to appreciate the vast night sky.
Print out your favorite photos
If nothing else, this unique season has prompted reflection on what really matters. Whether old family photos or screenshots of recent Zoom parties, collect and print some of your favorite photos. Store them in a frame or photo album, or just keep on hand to get you through the coming colder months.
While for many this summer was marked by cancelled vacations and shuttered playgrounds, there’s no reason you can’t soak up the last few weeks and say a fond “farewell.” With a little bit of imagination and some effort to remain in the present moment, you can still find fun, connection and adventure before fall!
Published on August 31, 2020
