Find Time for Summer Fun
By Jodi Lipper & Cerina Vincent
Our upcoming book Live Like a Hot Chick is all about finding balance between work and play. It's hard for all of us to strike the perfect balance (or any kind of balance) between our loads of responsibilities and much needed rest, relaxation, and celebration, and too many of us end up spending all of our time working instead of finding time for fun. It's too easy to let beautiful day after beautiful day pass by without even spending a moment in the sunshine, but before you know it summer will be over and you'll be bundled in 800 layers wishing you had taken a moment to enjoy being outside. Stop letting summer slip away and make a decision now to find some time for some summer fun. Here are our top tips to help you do so.
1. Schedule Sunshine
If going to the beach isn't written in ink in your day planner or typed into your google calendar, we're pretty sure you'll find a million other fun things to do on Saturday, instead, like scrub the toilets, pay bills, and go grocery shopping. To fight this instinct, pull out your calendar right now and fill it will fun things that you won't be able to cancel, like a beach volleyball game with your friends, a weekend trip with your boyfriend, or a mid-summer barbecue with your neighbors. Once you're committed, you'll be forced to make the time for fun, and we're pretty sure you won't regret it.
2. Multitasking Magic
Another great way to balance your responsibilities with summer fun is to make boring errands like grocery shopping, exercising, and even commuting to work more enjoyable. Grab a girlfriend and go to Trader Joe's together. You can catch up while getting great deals on wine and then go enjoy a glass together on the balcony (or fire escape). Get up early one weekend and go for a jog with your husband or wife around a local lake or park to get some outdoor time in before the sun's too strong. Alternatively, ride your bike to work (or walk if you live close enough) and you'll be doing good for your body and mind, not to mention the planet!
3. Plan Parties
Just because the fireworks are over, that doesn't mean it's too late to celebrate! If you're more often a guest than a host, this summer is the perfect time to change that. Stop waiting for someone else to plan the fun for you and start planning it for yourself. Buy some beer, call your friends, and have a little pot-luck get together this Sunday, start a weekly happy hour with some co-workers, or have a yearly summer picnic and invite your whole extended family. All you need to do is pick a group of people, select a location, and send out an evite, and you'll have a fun new summertime tradition that will give everyone you invite something to look forward to all winter long.