Reading Time: 3 minutes

Live in the sunshine. Swim in the sea. Drink in the wild air. — Ralph Waldo Emerson

That sunshine sure is here! To celebrate the official kickoff of summer, I’m excited to share the second edition of my ADK Seasonal Bucket List, something I love creating so you can add a few fun to-dos to your list. One of my goals for 2022 is to add more fun to my routine. While it may feel a little backwards to actually “schedule” the fun, it’s a sure way for me to prioritize making memories with my family throughout the season!

One of the most important episodes I’ve recorded so far is Episode 122 – Why Your Time Management Isn’t Working It’s definitely worth a listen if you haven’t already – I take the time to outline the foundation on which I’ve built my entire business: Living with HEART. Living with heart, at its core – is living a life of purpose. You’ve probably heard me say before that time management is heart management – because you can’t even begin to purposefully plan your days and weeks without knowing what’s truly important. 

H. E. A. R. T.

• H for habits. 
• E for energy
• A for attention
• R for recharge
• And T for time.

So – what’s that got to do with summer? That’s where the fourth letter – R for recharge – comes in. In Episode 60, I do a deep dive on just how important it is to recharge through rest, relationships and recreation. It seems the “R” is always shoved to the bottom of our to-do list, and it couldn’t be more important.

Here we go again, helping each other prioritize Recharge activities for the benefit of ourselves and those around us!

Here’s my Summer Bucket List for 2022

Grab a summer novel to read.

There are so many breezy beach reads I love finishing in a day! I find anything featured in Ashley Brooke’s book club to always be a great suggestion.

TIP: If you’ve breezed through your light reading selection and want to “get down to business,” here’s my list of favorite nonfiction reads!

Plan a backyard movie night.

Quick! Before its too hot where you live— move the movie to your backyard and enjoy the weather. The girls love it when I pop real popcorn (hint: another idea for an easy family activity!) and love it even more when I let them pick out a favorite candy to enjoy. Throw out a blanket, watch on your laptop together or try setting up a projector (here’s one I’m anxious to try!).

Bake something patriotic!

Summer equips us well with ripe raspberries, strawberries, blackberries and blueberries to create something perfectly red, white and blue! Try your hand at a fruit-focused dessert to celebrate the Fourth. Y’all know I always look to the latest issue of Southern Living magazine for seasonal recipes I’m eager to try! Too hot to turn on the oven? This No-Bake Strawberry Pie is SO good.

Spend some time by the water.

Don’t let summer come and go without scheduling a dip (or two!) in some water near you! And don’t think you have to make it so fancy— does your neighborhood have a pool you’ve never been to? Is there a lake nearby that could turn into a fun day-trip? How about an old-fashioned swimming hole? Plan that trip to the pool, lake or beach to enjoy the sunshine!

Plan a “spontaneous” Summer Friday!

Many offices offer Summer Fridays as an official way to gift their employees time for summertime. But many of us do not have a boss or leader encouraging us to take that time! If you fall into the latter category, take Summer Fridays into your own hands: take a look at your calendar, and pick at least one Friday you could duck out a couple hours early from whatever is pulling your attention. Build in the time for summertime!

Get your sight set on summer!

This list is just a sampling of a few activities I’m personally excited to add to my calendar, but there are so many more ideas for engaging with the season. Comment below with your favorite way to incorporate Recharge onto your summertime calendar – and don’t forget to do just that: add it to your calendar! The most foolproof way to make sure your intentions turn into actions.