How to live it up this summer
I don’t know about you guys, but I LOVE summer!! It is my favorite season and just brings back the best memories; swimming with my siblings, birthday parties, popsicles, etc. When school gets out, and we are all excited for summer, we think deep down that this is going to be the best summer yet. 9 times out of 10, it’s not; not that it was a bad summer, just that it wasn’t as great as you expected it to be.
There are times we are bored, crazy busy, and lazy because we are out of school, and sometimes when school comes around, we realize there is so much more we could have done during the summer. Some days we don’t really like going out and doing stuff, but when we actually go do it is when we make some of the best memories.
I’ve had some awesome summers, and I have also had some not so great ones, but I think there are a few things we can do to make this the best summer yet. I don’t know about you, but I want to have an awesome summer!!
Make a list
First, make a list; now I love lists to this one for me is a given! Make a summer bucket list; it can be as long or as short as you want it to be, but put anything that would make this the best summer yet. Also, make some summer goals, these can be fun goals or more serious goals, but either way, make some goals you want to accomplish.
Some things on my summer bucket list are:
– Hike a 14er
– Go to a drive-in movie
– Camping !!
Some of my goals are:
– Study for SAT
– Write more blog post
– Hike with a friend once a week
There are some ideas to get you started, it can be super fun to plan your summer, and it can be beneficial. Making lists can help you gauge what you want to accomplish in the summer, and as you look at the list throughout the summer, you can get fresh ideas to make your summer great.
Exercise
The next tip is to exercise! Now I say this a lot in my posts, but that’s how you know I mean it. Try to work out a least’s a couple times a week; it can really boost your mood, help you sleep better, and make you feel so accomplished. It doesn’t have to be crazy, but try to get your body moving, and it will help you feel so accomplished and make you want to take on the world.
Get outside
Going along with working out, try to get outside daily! It can be as simple as sitting outside reading a book, but it is essential to get fresh air. This can also be part of your workout, go for a walk, hike, bike, or run; there are so many awesome things to do outside in the summer and keep you active, that’s what I call killing two birds with one stone. Plus, who doesn’t like getting tan in some sunshine!
Spend time with family
Next is something many teenagers don’t like to hear but, spend time with your family. Summer is an excellent opportunity to spend time with your siblings, have good conversations with your parents, and do things as a family. I am blessed to live in a tight-knit family who loves doing things together like camp, bike, and have fantastic s’ more nights together. But I know not all families have that, but as teenagers and children of God, I think summer is an excellent opportunity to really pour into your family.
Start with baby steps, maybe take your siblings out for ice cream or ask to take a walk with your parents; really use this time before you are out of the house to develop a great relationship with your family over the summer. I promise it is something you won’t regret!
Pour into your relationship with God
Speaking of relationships, summer is an excellent opportunity to pour into your relationship with God. Summer is when we take away the stress and business of school and really can dive into the word and pour into prayer. Summer is when I have had some remarkable encounters with God, whether that’s at a camp, hiking in the mountains, or sitting up at night looking at the stars, but either way, summer is an excellent time to really lean into what God is saying to you.
I encourage you to find a devotional for the summer if you are not doing one already or to find a book that can really speak truth to you this summer. Here are a few of my favs!
– Live Original Devotional https://www.amazon.com/Live-Original-Devotional-Sadie-Robertson/dp/1501126512/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2RMD7I2MTKZTP&dchild=1&keywords=live+original+devotional&qid=1590415011&sprefix=live+or%2Caps%2C284&sr=8-2
– Live Original https://www.amazon.com/Live-Original-Commander-Keeps-Values/dp/1476777802/ref=tmm_hrd_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1590415163&sr=8-2
Say yes
My next tip is to try to not say no as often! I think it’s easy to turn down plans or say no to something new that may come up over the summer, but I encourage you to say yes. Say yes to spontaneous weekend trips, hiking a 14er at 5 in the morning, or backpacking with a group of friends.
Try to say yes to those fun things even when you don’t feel like it or you’re afraid of could happen because you never know what God could teach you through it. You never know what awesome friendships you will form or what awesome memories will come out of it. Don’t let yourself make excuses go out and live it up!
Reach out & make plans
Don’t be afraid to make plans! I think it’s easy to lay back a wait for other people to invite you to go do something or wait for them to make plans. Put yourself out there; reach out to that friend you haven’t seen in a while, or that girl you have wanted to get to know. When you start making plans with people and coming up with fun things to do when school begins again, you may have a few new friends that you may have never expected. So, text that person you are thinking about right now!
Take lots of pics
Take lots of pictures! Maybe you’re into taking pictures, but trust me, if you are going to have the best summer, you will want to have some little clips of memories. Don’t be afraid to take photos and videos; maybe you want to make a documentary of your summer to someday look back.
Live it up
Also, remember to live in the moment and soak it up! Live each day in the moment, and like it is your last. I know you hear that saying a lot, but I mean it, take it one day at a time a see what you can do to make it the most joyful and laughter-filled day. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 says this “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit”.
Don’t be lazy 🙂
Last but not least, don’t be lazy; now I don’t mean this in a rude way, but what I mean is go out and do stuff this summer. I know it can be easy when you have nothing going on in the afternoon to sit in bed a scroll on your phone, but don’t do it. When you don’t have plans, make them, when you are bored, do something, take control of your summer. Because the only way this is going to be the best summer is if you make it that way.
Find joy in each situation
Do what you can to find joy in each situation! Lean into what God has in store for you this summer, and when you trust his promises, we can find life in that. James 1:2 says, “Count it all joy, my brothers and sisters when you meet trials of various kinds”. Know that in every circumstance you face this summer, you can find joy in his truth. Dance in the freedom of Christ this summer!
I pray that you all have a fantastic summer and that you can just fully live it up!! I hope you know that you are fully known and fully loved. Also check out my favs https://livinglifewithgracie.com/my-favs/ post for some fun products for the summer! What are somethings on your summer bucket list??
– Gracie K
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