Every summer, I tell myself I’m going to slow down a little more. Then before I know it, August is here, and I don’t know where the summer went.
This year, instead of waiting for a vacation or a free afternoon, I’ve been making time for small summer habits that help me enjoy the season while it’s here. Most only take five minutes, but they’ve become some of my favorite parts of the day.
None of these summer habits are groundbreaking. They’re just simple things I’ve found myself doing again and again because they give an ordinary day a little boost.
Here are 10 five-minute summer habits I’ve been loving lately.
1. Deadheading My Flowers
One of my favorite ways to take a break during the week is to head outside and deadhead my flowers. It’s just a few quiet minutes, but it gets me away from my computer, into the sunshine, and connected with nature.
I always come back feeling a little calmer.
2. Reading 10 Pages
If you’ve been around She Takes Five for a while, you know I’m always encouraging people to swap a few minutes of scrolling for a few pages of a good book.
Summer is the perfect time to finally dive into that beach read that’s been sitting on your nightstand. I usually have a few books going at once, so there’s always something I’m looking forward to picking up. Even just ten pages helps me unplug for a bit. If you’re looking for your next read, here are a few book recommendations from fellow readers.
3. Giving My Hydration a Summer Twist
I’ve been making water a little more fun this summer by adding lime, mint, or cucumber. Honestly, whatever I have on hand.
We also always keep Little Palm Coconut Water in the fridge, which feels like such a refreshing treat on a hot afternoon. Lately, I’ve been blending it with dragon fruit to recreate the refresher I had at Pura Vida during a recent trip to Miami. It’s become one of my favorite summer drinks.
4. Eating a Summer Peach
There are some foods that just taste like summer, and peaches are one of them. Every year we take the boys peach picking, and I love having fresh peaches around for easy snacks. Sometimes the simplest things really are the best.
5. Opening the Windows
Opening the windows is one of my favorite parts of summer. The fresh air and birds chirping always remind me of being on vacation, even on an ordinary weekday at home.
6. Walking Barefoot in the Grass
There’s something about taking my shoes off for a few minutes that instantly slows me down. It reminds me of being a kid, spending entire afternoons outside without looking at a clock.
7. Refreshing With a Face Mist
I keep a hydrating face mist on my desk for a quick refresh between Zoom calls and camp pickup lines. This summer, I’ve using Follain’s Rose Water Face Mist. It smells lovely and makes for a quick afternoon spa moment.
8. Stretching Outside
One night after dinner, instead of settling onto the couch, I rolled out my yoga mat on the deck while the boys played nearby. Just a few stretches in the fresh air. It ended up being one of my favorite moments of the week, and now I’m trying to do it more often.
9. Enjoying an Ice Cream Cone
Not every summer habit has to be “healthy.” Sometimes it’s simply enjoying an ice cream cone with my family. Balance has always been a big part of wellness for me, and summer is meant to be enjoyed.
10. Putting Together a Simple Snack Board
Lately, I’ve been making little charcuterie-style snack boards for lunch with whatever we have in the fridge like fruit, goat cheese, crackers, veggies, hummus, smoked salmon…anything goes.
If the weather is nice, I’ll take it outside and eat on the deck. It’s such a simple way to make an ordinary lunch feel a little more special.
The Takeaway
I’d love to have whole afternoons to slow down, but most days, that’s not realistic. Full lives don’t stop just because it’s summer. These five-minute habits have become my way of enjoying the season in between work, errands, and everything else. Sometimes that’s all it takes to make an ordinary day feel a little more like summer.
