A coach colleague of mine practices something she calls ‘summer hours’. For her, this means that she takes Fridays off – no clients, no other work. She does this so she can spend more time with her grandson and savor the life she’s created for herself.
It might not be that easy for all of us to take an extra day off. Our bosses might resent that we are getting a break while everyone else is working!
But there are still ways you can ease off in the summer for the sake of enjoying the treats of the season. I’m going to try my version of summer hours. You can, too, with these three practices:
1) List your activities. Which ones can be put on hold for the next three months? Which priorities could be put on the back burner so you can have a little summer fun?
2) Layer in the pleasure. What would add an extra layer of summer pleasure to your work? Perhaps you make your favorite summer beverage to sip while working. Maybe you take your writing outside to the backyard or a park.
3) Define your fun. What is summer fun for you, anyway? Make a list of at 12 summer pleasures that you will enjoy this year. My list includes:
picnics
beach time
visiting other cities
filling notebooks with memories
watermelon and other fresh fruit
Here are more tips on how to make summer more receptive and free.
In the next issue of Impulses, I’ll share my summer art plans with tips on how to focus on your art, too.
One of the ways I’m practicing summer hours is by taking a blogabbatical. I’m focused on a major renovation project at Original Impulse, and aside from my clients, that’s taking all my work focus. I’ll still be writing about how the creative life in my newsletter, Impulses. Subscribe in the upper right corner to stay in touch with your life as a creative adventure.
Cynthia,
I love that you are helping share the message about enjoying life and receiving the beauty of summer by making space for it.
My intention for summer is to create every day – and I have shifted my work schedule to see people later on in the day so I can play and have fun before I start. So either I’m creating in my garden, or I am drawing, or mosaicing… before any work happens. Also, Jeff and I are dubbing Fridays in summer, Friday Fun Days – we visit a nearby town or beach to take in fresh and new exciting vistas and experiences.
It is so wonderful to have space to allow myself to be in love with my life. Everything changes with this perspective.
I so appreciate you Cynthia, and gotta toot the horn on your behalf: so much of what I have created schedulewise comes directly from your amazing coaching. Thank you always for that.
Hope that your summer bloggatical is wonderful.
Hugs and love!
Robin
Robin,
I am so happy to read your note! I love the way you have set up your schedule so you and your love have more time to enjoy what’s around you.
I know it’s not always easy to find ways to have more love and space, but it’s worth the effort. What’s cool is seeing that it IS possible to structure your days so they fill you up.
Thanks for the love! I look forward to savoring summer. 🙂
This being my birthday week, I also love the summer – I celebrate starting now! Things are so well structured right now in terms of work, there are several art shows lined up ahead, with the framing and everything complete.
SO, I will savor my time in Boulder with my daughter and grandson who just relocated there from CA and my son.
Like you said in your letter, Cynthia, I am also renovating my website, so the time feels spacious to cut back on the blogging, marketing, what a relief. Last year my husband got me a lap top, so I could work out on the porch. It makes a big difference. The Orangerie is so special, what luck to live close by!
If I could only get to the beach, life would be perfect…til then I will enjoy the journey of each day.
Thanks for writing.
Happy birthday, Kathleen!
I know what it’s like to have a summer birthday, and I do think it makes things extra special. Have a lovely time in Boulder with your family. Capture the wow of it all as you do so well.
It’s so important to get digital downtime. I am glad you are taking a bit of respite after all your hard work.
I understand the beach impulse!! I am treating myself to a beach vacation for my birthday this year. 🙂 I think you already have a pretty perfect life. 🙂
Thank you for responding to my writing! 🙂
I can’t believe it’s been a year since Capture the Wow, Summer 2013 edition. As I probably said then, in LA it’s hard to separate time into 4 seasons, each with their own special joys. One thing I do is wear linen, something I look forward to and don’t wear in the cooler months even if we get those warmer days. I wear a lot of 3/4 sleeves but lighten up the colors and material. Time to make sangria like I did a lot last year and iced tea. We’ll go wine tasting in the Santa Barbara wine region and make some time to walk along Zuma Beach. LA County Art Museum does free jazz on Friday nights. We try to go at least once. My brother-in-law has a new boat and we’re off to try it out this weekend out of Newport Beach. I’m sure we’ll be sailing more than once this summer.
My art goals are to learn how to shoot events, especially with a flash which I must learn how to do, and/or finally get myself the faster lens. I’ve shot several events pro bono, just winging it. (can you say ‘work through the fear?!’)But I need to improve. And learn how/what to charge. It’s not necessarily where I want to go, but I’ve gotten a good response and never say never …
We’ll miss you while you regroup. Looking forward to reading about all the changes. It’s always fun to see what you come up with!
Bobbi,
Sounds like you have a fabulous summer ahead! I love that there’s lots of play, new adventures – boat! — and a specific focus for your art work. And that it’s a creative edge. Have fun with that! I know you will.
Thanks for your support. As always, your words fill me up and make me smile. 🙂