My Summer ‘Ins and Outs’: Energy, Mindset, and Aesthetics

• Explore playful, mindful, and energizing ways to romanticize the season.
• Use this guide to inspire your personal summer “ins and outs” list.
• Refresh your routines and energy with simple shifts rooted in joy and authenticity

Did Someone say Hot Girl Summer?

With summer just around the corner, it feels like the perfect time to embrace its vibrant energy and rediscover ourselves. I like to think every season brings its own vibe and it’s up to us to align with it. Summer, to me, feels like a fresh slate. A new beginning.  The sun is shining brighter and the days are longer. And, we’re finally shaking off the winter blues and the cozy stillness that came with them. Spring, in many ways, is the gentle transition that sets the mood. And, now that we’ve arrived at this energizing moment, why not make the most of it?

And for those of you who couldn’t stick to your New Year’s resolutions or fell off track? Don’t worry. Summer is your golden chance to bounce back, reset, and glow up – inside and out.

Let’s set intentions and create clarity. Let’s move through the season with a mindset that fuels a happier, healthier, more fulfilled version of ourselves!

Below is a list of my summer ins and outs. These are some easy shifts that help me bring more joy, alignment, and ease into my everyday life. Let’s dive in.

Summer Ins

In simple terms, “summer ins” are feel-good habits that add creativity in everyday routines. They’re little mindset resets that help you soak in the season with more purpose and presence. These are the things I’m embracing to feel more alive, aligned, and radiant this summer:

Break a Sweat

We’re starting off strong – literally. Summer brings a natural buzz of energy, and your body is craving movement. No more sluggish mornings or zoning out all afternoon.  It could be as simple as yoga in your living room, a sunset jog, strength training, or just dancing around in your favorite pajamas. The goal is to get your blood flowing. Choose movement that feels joyful, not punishing. The goal? To feel strong, present, and wildly in tune with your body.

Create a Summer Goal

Think of this as your seasonal intention. You don’t need a five-step life plan – just 1–3 simple, soul-nourishing goals. They can be personal, creative, or career-related, anything that lights a little spark in you. Be consistent, but don’t overthink it. It could be finally finishing that book, building a morning routine, or booking that solo trip you keep daydreaming about.

Some ideas to get started:

• Take a course to learn or upgrade a skill
• Build a consistent workout or movement practice
• Journal every day for a month
• Start a creative project or passion experiment

Keep it low-pressure. Let it feel expansive, not exhausting.

Pick Up a New Hobby

Enter your hobby girl era. One of my favorite Gen Z gifts to the world is this idea that you don’t need to monetize or master everything you enjoy. You can just do things for fun. Since the start of the year, I’ve made it a goal to try one new thing every month. Some stuck, some didn’t –  but the joy of trying was enough.

Some hobby inspiration for your hot girl soul:

• Join a book club or start one with friends
• Try your hand at pottery, painting, or photography
• Learn an instrument –  even if it’s just a few chords
• Shoot a silly YouTube video just for fun
• Get outside and try horseback riding (underrated)

This is your sign to get curious again.

Say Yes to More Outdoor Activities

Sunshine is free therapy – soak it in. This summer, challenge yourself to swap some of that endless screen time with a bit of nature. Not every outdoor moment needs to be an epic hike. A walk around the block, a solo beach day, or a sunrise stretch in the park is enough.

A few summer adventure ideas:

• Try tennis, pickleball, or a new sport with friends
• Join a local fitness or dance workshop
• Plan a picnic or outdoor movie night
• Go hiking, forest bathing, or stargazing
• Watch the sunrise with your morning coffee – instant clarity

Let the outside world become your playground.

Embrace Messy Joy

This summer is all about messy joy – the kind that doesn’t care for perfect plans or tidy timelines. Think melted popsicles, sunburnt noses, tangled beach hair, and singing off-key in the car with your best friends. It’s about presence over polish.

This summer, give yourself permission to be a little undone. Chase moments, not aesthetics. That’s where the magic is.

Summer Outs

There’s no strict rulebook, but if you’re aiming for a happy, fulfilling, silly girl summer – start with intention. Here are a few things we’re kindly leaving behind to make space for the best version of the season:

Doomscrolling & Bedrotting

We’ve all been there – stuck in a loop of scrolling, numbing, and then wondering where the day went. It’s easy, but it’s not nourishing. This summer, be intentional with your time. Replace screen spirals with something that brings you closer to yourself.

Instead of scrolling:

• Write a journal entry
• Make something with your hands
• Call someone you love
• Sit in silence and listen to your thoughts

Your presence is powerful. Don’t waste it.

Waiting for Burnout to Rest

Rest is not a reward – it’s a requirement. You don’t need to hit rock bottom to take a nap, a break, or a breath. Give yourself permission to pause before you crash.

Some ways to add softness to your day:

• Block out mini screen-free hours
• Light a candle and journal whatever’s on your mind
• Take a tech-free walk or read something tactile and slow

Your body will thank you.

Toxic Hustle Culture

Let’s release the idea that every minute needs to be optimized. You don’t have to monetize every hobby, turn every moment into content, or feel guilty for simply resting. Your worth is not tied to your productivity.

So have the slow mornings. Take the naps. Make time for joy that doesn’t produce anything but happiness.

Overplanning Every Weekend

Let go of the pressure to pack your calendar. FOMO is old news. This season, we’re embracing JOLO – the joy of missing out. Let your weekends be a space for rest, reset, and doing nothing at all.

Ideas for a calm weekend:

• Stroll through a farmer’s market
• People-watch at a cozy café
• Wander through an art gallery with no agenda
• Read under a tree and let time stretch

Stillness is a vibe.

Toxic Relationships & Emotional Vampires

Your energy is sacred. Spend it wisely. This summer, stay miles away from anyone who drains your joy or makes you feel small. You deserve to be around people who uplift and support. People who energize you and not drain you.

Set boundaries. Choose peace. Let your inner circle be your safe space.

Romanticize Summer

This season isn’t about perfection – it’s about presence. Romanticize the little things. Your morning coffee, the way the sunset hits your window, the feeling of fresh sheets after a beach day. Light a candle. Write a letter. Take pictures just for you.

Make your everyday moments feel like something out of a movie. After all, you are the main character of your life.

So here’s your gentle reminder: Let go of pressure and expectations. You don’t need to prove anything or keep up with anyone. Just lean into what makes you feel like you.

Whether it’s a slow morning with iced coffee or simply saying no when you mean it – make it yours. This summer is yours to shape.

Breathe it in. Romanticize your life. Let it be messy, magical, and unapologetically you.