106: Hot solopreneur summer (aka how to enjoy it even during workweeks)
Depending on your business model and where you’re at in business, it can be challenging to take time off. Especially if you’re a solopreneur serving clients 1:1.
Even if you're going to be working for most of summer, it doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy this season throughout your workdays.
So if you're worried that summer is just going to fly by without having time to enjoy it (a worry I had a few days before recording!), I hope the exercise in this episode helps.
P.S. If it's not summer where you are right now, but you want whatever season you're in to feel a bit more special and like time didn't just fly by, this episode/exercise probably still applies.
I’m gonna walk you through an exercise that I hope helps you enjoy this time of year and make it feel like it lasted longer – whatever season you’ve got going right now. Because summertime is on my brain, that’s what I’ll focus on and give examples around.
Let's break it down into two parts: infusing summery elements into your days and making your summer feel longer.
Part 1: Infusing Summery Elements into Your Days
Take a moment to think about the aspects of summer that you love. My list: being out in nature, enjoying the ocean, having leisurely days with no agenda, eating good food, and spending time with friends.
Consider the activities or experiences you enjoy during vacation trips. My list: breakfast on the balcony/patio, walking around the city or town I’m in, trying new foods, and soaking up the sun.
Think of some favorite summer memories, whether from childhood or adulthood, and identify the elements that made those moments special. My list: hanging out with friends, engaging in mutual activities, and staying up late talking.
Once you have a list of these aspects, activities, and elements, assess which ones you can already incorporate into your everyday life right now. Some examples from my reflections:
Eat meals on our balcony.
Have agenda-free days, perhaps dedicating one day every two weeks
Swap a few hiking days for walks on the beach
Have background music on more often
Make mealtimes more special by setting the table and/or trying new recipes
Invite people over for food and hangouts more regularly
Additionally, consider the elements you could almost incorporate into your routine with a few changes. For example, I mentioned that I like to walk around the city I’m visiting – but we live in a suburban area which means the city isn’t just outside my door. But – I could occasionally plan daytrips with friends to walk around different areas in San Francisco.
Part 2: Making Your Summer Feel Longer
Our brains tend to consolidate similar days into one memory file, but they create distinct memory files when we do something out of the ordinary. To make your summer feel longer, you can introduce novelty or make routine activities more memorable. Here are some suggestions:
Plan small adventures or quests, like exploring a new ice cream shop.
Come up with ways to introduce some variety into activities you regularly do. For instance, if you walk with a friend once a week, you could explore new areas every once in a while.
Bonus exercise: How do you want to feel today?
If you enjoy daily journaling, consider asking yourself how you want to feel each day and list three things you can do to help achieve that feeling.
In this context, you could ask yourself, "What three things will help me feel like summer today?"
The key to this exercise is to pick actions that are within your control, rather than relying on external factors or circumstances.
Small shifts can make a big difference
I recognize that the ability to incorporate summer-y things and novelty into your weeks is party tied to your capacity and available resources.
The good news is that even introducing small changes (that you genuinely enjoy) into your daily routines can already make your summer feel more expansive and memorable 🌞