Summertime, the perfect time to create life-giving year-long habits.
By Jenny Gwinn McGlothern — Written on Jun 23, 2015
Summertime and the living is easy; fish are jumpin’, and the cotton is high. The lyrics of the 1934 Gershwin classic jazz tune remind us to slow down in the sunny season. This is the time of flip flops, berries off the vine, long sunsets, heading to the beach and saving the chores for... later. This is actually the perfect season of growth, change and happiness; a great time to create new habits. An opportunity to take the easy, breezy, and see how you can apply it to your life all year long.
What if at the end of the summer you were able to take the relaxed, light and flowing attitude developed over the next couple of months and carry it into the autumn season? What if being carefree and easy going was part of your winter, spring and fall agenda? Each season has its place, indeed, but just because it is the winter does not have to mean you have to save the fun and kicked back days only for the summer months.
If you are someone who needs more play in your everyday, more kicking back in your go-go lifestyle, developing new habits now that can lead to more fulfillment all year long may be just the thing for you. This is for the person who always says, "One day, I will read those books on my shelf," or "When I retire, I will have a beautiful garden," or "When the kids are out of the house, I will learn how to knit." Why wait?
Having hobbies and activities that bring you joy and that you look forward to actually aid in your enjoyment of your job, responsibilities and regular routine of life. A fragment of fun, a parcel of passion, a dash of delight amidst your daily duties adds depth, meaning and yes, that current buzz word, happiness.
Fuel To Add Fun To Your Life, No Matter The Season, While Creating New Life-Giving Habits:
- Ask yourself, "What is the thing I resist because it seems too irresponsible, too playful or too much like something I shouldn’t be doing?" It’s usually the first answer and the thing you think about all the time. For me the answer is reading. What’s your answer?
- With your answer very clear in your mind, ask yourself, "How often would I like this to happen? Once a day, once a week? Thirty minutes every day." Be specific.
- With your desired quantity in mind whip out your calendar. Schedule in this activity, no matter what it is. Show up to it like you would show up to a client, a partner or a child. Set a reminder alarm on your phone, and when it goes off remind yourself this is an appointment you can’t cancel. Give yourself a consequence for cancelling, and most importantly, give yourself a reward for showing up. My new book just arrived in the mail today!
Creating new habits now while the sun is out will be natural, your regular mode of being come the short dark days of the the following seasons.
Things To Remember:
- A great way to get rid of an unhealthy habit is to replace it with a new one that fulfills you.
- Practice. Practice. Practice. Keep showing up to your intention and goals. Maybe you skipped a day, you have tomorrow to try again.
- Be gentle with yourself. Don’t beat yourself up.
- Write your intention and goals on your bathroom mirror, in your phone or on your steering wheel.
- Ask a friend or to be your accountability partner. Maybe they have a goal they want to reach this summer as well.
- They say it takes 21 days to make a habit; you have more than 60 days left of summer. I say it can take a lot less than 21; it's a matter of just doing it. Keep showing up, and practice.
Summertime and the livin’ is easy; you are creating new habits to last all year long, oh my.