Get up earlier than usual, preferably before coffee, and go outside for a 10-20 minute walk in natural light to set your circadian rhythm, improve sleep, boost mood, enhance focus, and provide daily solitude for reflection. Commit to trying it for at least seven days.
Take a break from social media by deleting the apps from your smartphone, making the behavior more difficult, which can lead to feeling calmer, more relaxed, and more in tune with your own thoughts within days. Start with a one-week detox and consider doing it with a partner for added power.
Embrace the season by moving all your exercise and movement routines outdoors, such as walking, running, biking, swimming, or using weights, to improve circadian biology, sleep quality, mood, and stress resilience. Challenge yourself to do this for at least one month.
Capitalize on higher summer motivation by setting a mini challenge, such as running a 5K, swimming a certain number of lengths, or trying camping, to provide urgency and direction, fostering significant progress and learning regardless of full completion. Break down larger goals into smaller, manageable steps throughout the day.
Alter your usual reading habits during the summer by exploring different genres, such as switching from nonfiction to fiction, to stimulate different parts of your mind and gain a broad range of knowledge and wisdom. If you don’t read, start now as it’s a high-return investment of time.
Leverage the natural energy and motivation shifts during summer to initiate meaningful changes in your life, as human beings respond to these changes in rhythm.