When we were kids, making friends was easy. You’d strike up a conversation about what’s in your lunch box and bond over your love of recess. But fast-forward a few decades and finding new friends and building strong bonds can seem more of a challenge.

Most of us are so focused on work or family life, we have little time to make connections with new people, or foster existing friendships.Then too, many of us have relocated and had to start all over, or have just grown away from certain friends we’ve known for a while.

How often have you caught yourself saying things like:

If I get that promotion…

If we take that vacation…

If things go according to plan…

Too often, we live in a state of “if.” Though we don’t mean it to, all of this “if-iness” holds us back from experiencing what we actually, truly want. 

The sun is shining and the sky is bright — the last weeks of summer are here. Are you soaking up every moment? It’s perfectly OK if your answer is “not really.” Sometimes, the reality of summer doesn’t match the visions of tropical vacations and BBQ’s with family and friends we often see come June. 

But, whether the past months have been a blast, or more like blah, today, we have a few ideas for some last-minute summertime joy

How is your summer going? Have you been able to take time to relax and enjoy yourself? If not, there’s still plenty of summer left to go, and today we’re sharing a few of our favorite ways to make the most of this special season. 

(We realize it’s winter for our friends in other parts of the world, but your summer will come soon enough, so bookmark these ideas!)

Summer is synonymous with relaxation, but sometimes we find ourselves stressed out and not living our best “feet in the sand, good book in hand,” vibes.

One of the easiest ways to start feeling more carefree is to declutter your brain, so you have fewer stresses and worries, and more space to soak up all the fun life has to offer.

Because here’s the deal: Our brain can only handle so many thoughts at once.

Imagine rolling out of bed with a smile on your face, laughing throughout your day, and going to bed feeling calm and content?

While not every day will be sunshine and rainbows, there are plenty of things you can do to add more joy to your every day. Here are seven simple ways…

Some days you may feel like you’re not good enough, or doing enough. You may wish you could snap your fingers and turn into a version of yourself you think you should be with a perfect job, spotless house, and exciting hobbies (or whatever your definition of an ideal life may be).  

But here’s something you need to know … You are wonderful, just as you are. You are enough, right now.

When you were little, did it seem like people couldn’t wait to define you? Maybe your parents would say, “You’re messy,” or friends would tell you, “You’re forgetful.” Heck, even teachers may have said, “You’re a procrastinator.” 

For whatever reason, so much of our early years are spent with people trying to label us and put us in a nice, neat box. (Even if it’s a negative one!)

The problem is, those labels and stories often get stuck in our minds. They play on repeat until we internalize them and start to believe “I am messy” or “I will never get anything done.” 

Do you ever feel like you just don’t have enough time to do things you’re truly passionate about? 

Whether you want to write a book, learn how to play piano, or spend time enjoying a good read or planning your next great adventure, your day probably slips by so fast, there’s little time for things that bring you pure joy.

But what if there was a way to protect your time, so that you can get more done in the moments you do have?