The summer is the season most associated with having fun and spending time relaxing with family and friends. However, life doesn’t stop during summer, and you’ll still need to be actively working on your life goals to ensure that you meet your milestones and continue to make progress physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. Here are a few ways to help you achieve balance, particularly in summer, so that you can take time to renew your mind while still working toward professional and personal progress.
Take Advantage of the Weather
Get out in the sun and take up all the beauty of the season; it could inspire you to continue reaching your life goals. If you’re planning a trip to the beach with friends or family, take with you any tools for personal improvement such as self-help books or seminar notes so you can continue to learn the steps you need to take toward personal, emotional or financial freedom. You may be able to better absorb the information when you’re looking at the calming waves of the ocean and soaking in the warmth of the sun. Let nature inspire you and remind you that everything in the ecosystem works in the way it should and at the time it should. This can reinforce the notion that you need to pursue any longtime career-related and relationship goals that you might have. When you’re sitting outdoors and enjoying the weather, this may also be a good time to write in your journal and clearly outline your goals and chart your progress. The vitamin D that comes from the sun also helps to soothe your mind and keep you from being overwhelmed with everything you have to do to accomplish certain tasks.
Move Your Body
Be sure to stay active during the summer, so you’ll have the energy to maintain your weight loss and your overall health goals. When you’re in a better state of mind, you can think clearly about your goals and customize them as necessary. Being active can also give you the confidence you need to go on interviews or even confront people in your personal life, since you’ll know consciously and subconsciously that you’re doing your best for yourself, which allows you to give your best to others. Activities like water aerobics, jogging in the cooler hours of the day (early morning or evening) or even playing with your kids outside can give you a workout and can increase circulation to help you feel your best. Once you see progress in the way your body looks and the way you feel overall, you’ll be more motivated to keep working out, even after summer has ended.
Finally, a strong support system is necessary when you’re going after major life goals. You’re likely going to have more leisure time to spend with loved ones, and you should let your friends and family know what you’re working on if they are trustworthy and will serve as accountability partners. For instance, if you’re planning to return to school, let your best friend know your plans and ask him or her to keep you on track when it comes to enrolling for school and learning about your new career. Even though the summer is usually associated with being out of school, tell someone you can trust about what you plan to do so you won’t get too lax about doing something that will make you a better person in the long run.
