This Summer Disconnect to Connect

Start With a Plan

I've mentioned it before, but I'll say it again: summers are short where we live. That's why stepping into summer with a plan is so important.

That said, I was reluctant to put too much planning into the next couple of months.

Now that my daughter is in school, the idea of planning away this time with her was not something I wanted to do. But then, my accountability partner reminded me that having a summer plan is meant to work for me, to keep me consistent while also scheduling time for what matters most. She suggested that I create this plan with my family to ensure that we're all on the same page and that each of us has our wishes and needs met.

What will that look like for us? I’ve already booked a few short weekend trips out of town. Apart from that, we’ll take turns deciding which ice cream shop to try after dinner, practice yoga in the park, learn how to swim and ride a bike, have marshmallow fires with our neighbours, take frequent walks in the woods, and go on a few kid-friendly mountain hikes. 

Prioritize Making Memories

When making your summer plan, I recommend coming up with at least two or three goals or experiences that you know will create core memories for you and your family. These might include planning road trips, camping adventures, and attending community events or special celebrations. Consider these experiences as something to remember the summer by.

For example, years from now, when you're recollecting your summers past, what will make this one memorable? What will set it apart or make it stand out for you and your family? When we plan our time intentionally, we can prioritize making core memories.

Put Away Your Devices 

For months, probably even the last couple of years, I've thought about how much our devices call away our attention. It makes sense because that's what they're designed to do.

Recently, I've been toying with the idea of trading my smartphone for a flip phone and getting a landline for the house. And I doubt that I'm alone in this desire to disconnect and return to a simpler life. 

But for now, without doing anything drastic, I'll turn off my phone or put it on silent and keep it out of sight. During the summer, my husband and I spend most of our evenings outdoors instead of inside watching a show or movie, leaning into life's quieter moments without all the background noise.

Over the years, I've learned how important it is to allow myself to drift off into my thoughts and daydreams or sit in stillness. 

Use all Five Senses

We've reached a point where most of us are so addicted to our devices that we don't pay attention to the present moment and thereby miss out on the experience of it. If we’re not looking at our devices, we’re thinking about them, wanting to check our messages, or waiting for a response.

This summer, I invite you to slow down and breathe in the smells: the sweet nectar of flowers, the damp soil after it rains, fresh-cut grass. Taste your food, chew it slowly, and experience the textures and temperatures of iced drinks or ice cream. Listen to the birds or the sound of your neighbour mowing the lawn. Notice the feeling of the sun or the wind on your skin, the tingling or prickling sensation of being out in nature.

Of course, another way to do this is with mindful moments or meditation. I’m no expert at meditation, but this summer, I’m willing to give it a try.

Allow Yourself the Experience of Slowing Down

We must permit ourselves to rest.

I don’t understand why it's become socially expected to say, “I'll slow down when I'm on vacation, or when my kid(s) move out and we’re empty-nesters, or once I've retired.”

Why are we waiting to rest instead of incorporating it into everyday life? And why is having free time and slowing down viewed as a reward we need to earn?

It doesn't make sense to delay rest and pleasure when we should be looking for and experiencing joy every single day. Rest and pleasure should complement our daily lives, and it’s time we change the societal norm.