Every winter, I think of all the fun stuff I’ll do once the weather is warmer. And yet, when summer actually comes around, I get so busy with day to day life that I sometimes forget about those plans I had pined for months earlier. Well, not this year! We have one month of summer left before Raffi is officially in his 3k program, so I’ve made a list of all the things I want us to cram in before then. It’s my healthy-feel-good-end-of-summer bucket list.
1. go to the beach
I’m a Miami girl at heart and spending so much of my childhood there completely spoiled me with white sandy beaches and clear warm water. If you’ve been to the beach in NYC, you know our beaches are not quite that. But they’re still beautiful in their own way. I love being near the water, hearing the waves crash against the shore, the smell of the salty ocean, and that easy breeze that makes me feel relaxed and in total vacation mode. My goal is to head to Rockaway at least one more time before September.
2. do a summer clean out
We live in a typical NYC apartment (read: on the small side) and yet, I sometimes shop and collect and hoard as if we have a large house in the suburbs. Studies show that having a clean home lowers stress and anxiety, improves asthma and allergy symptoms, and lessens the spread of germs, among other benefits. I know we’re in need of a deep clean and even more so, a good purging of our belongings. One of my favorite resources is my local Buy Nothing group because I’m able to share the goodies we once loved with neighbors who I know will get good use out of whatever item it is. If you’re not already part of a Buy Nothing group, look one up in your neighborhood!
3. Take a nap outside
There’s nothing that feels more luxurious to me than taking a nap outside on a warm day. The sound of the trees and conversations in the background can be relaxing and lower stress. Ideally, the nap will happen after a lunchtime picnic with Inge and I will doze off after a few pages of a good summer read.
4. Make a seasonal dessert
Summer to me is grilled peaches, blueberry pies, and berry galettes oozing with juice down its side. There was a period where I’d bake all the time, but I stopped because I was using too much refined flour and sugar and wasn’t feeling great about it. But these days I am inspired by bakeries like Knead Love and Sweet Laurel because they use healthy alternatives that include gluten-free sourdough, no refined sugar, and generally just very few ingredients.
5. Make a 3-course meal from the farmers market
One of my life goals is to become the kind of home cook that can go to the farmers market and know exactly what to do with all of the seasonal produce. It seems like an attainable goal that will come with more practice. So before the summer ends, I’m going to test my skills. Can I challenge myself to make a full three course meal with items procured at the market? Pretty sure I can, but I’ll save the outcome for a future post.
6. Take an outdoor yoga class
I recently saw that Bryant Park offers free weekly outdoor yoga. I love the idea of taking a class outside on a hot day to loosen my muscles and have a good sweat. Since the pandemic, I’ve stopped going to a regular workout class and I miss being in an environment with other people working out. Plus, it seems like it could potentially be a fun opportunity to meet some fellow yogi friends.
7. hike with friends
Speaking of friends, I also want to add this one to my health feel good summer bucket list. Research shows that spending time in nature, coupled with a walk as short as just 10-minutes, can enhance physical fitness, reduce the risk of chronic disease and improve brain function, like learning and memory. Central Park and Prospect Park both have great hiking trails and one of my goals has been to set up a regular meeting for strangers and friends alike to go on a hike together. I was inspired by the LA Hike Club and really feel it would do well in NYC. If I started it, would you come? Let me know in the comments!
Anything else you’d add to this list?
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