Like most kids, I used to count down the days until summer: the season of no school, spending every day at the pool, and biking until the sun went down. While summer feels different as an adult, I think it is somehow both the easiest and the most difficult time of year to romanticize your life. Flowers are in bloom, picnic season is in full swing, and breezy dresses take the place of more inconvenient layers—everything can feel straight out of a Jane Austen novel, basically begging us to prioritize joy and pleasure. But if we’re not intentional, the packed social schedules, overly hot weather, or the pressure of looking a certain way in a bathing suit can prevent us from being truly present.
But romanticizing your life has never been about perfect conditions—it’s about navigating the chaos with gentleness and noticing the beauty in the ordinary moments. Creating and leaning into this magic is a gift to yourself—an act of self-love. Yes, we can move through our days tied to the rhythm of routine, but sprinkling in a little whimsy and a shift in perspective is the antidote to living on autopilot. So, here are 28 ways to embrace your summer self, romanticize your life this season, and make every day until Labor Day Weekend feel worth savoring.
“Leaning into this magic is a gift to yourself—an act of self-love.“
28 Ways to Romanticize Your Life For Summer
1. Experiment with vibrant smoothies. Summer food is all about color. Add beetroot powder to your strawberry sipper, matcha to a classic green bevy, or spirulina to brighten up a simple vanilla smoothie.
2. Romanticize your supplement stack. If you have a hard time remembering your morning vitamins, set up a supplement station. Source a cute tray, add a bud vase, and perhaps throw in a crystal or two for *vibes*—you’ll never forget your supplements again.
3. Become a farmers market girl. You know, the girls who make it a point to get out of bed before 9 a.m. on Sundays, stroll to the market (woven basket in tow),and get the first pick of all the fresh, in-season produce. This summer, you are that girl.
4. Shift your work for summertime. Blue skies and sunny days can make having to write emails even more of a drag. Head to a coffee shop, co-work with a friend, or complete your to-do list on a sun-soaked patio. Vitamin D, y’all!
5. Schedule walking dates with friends. Meet up with a neighbor or set up a regular walking routine with your bestie. It’s the perfect way to get outside, socialize, and get that aforementioned vitamin D.
6. Forest bathe by going camping or taking a hike. If you haven’t embraced the great outdoors yet, summer’s the best time to make it happen. Gather your friends or go with your partner: pack a tent, car camp, or find a cute cabin near your city. It’s the best reset.
7. Redesign your nightstand. If your nightstand has become a dumping ground for all your miscellaneous items, Marie Kondo it up and keep only the essentials. Your journal, your current read, a glass of water, and maybe a small lamp (notice how I didn’t say phone? That’s part of the nightstand detox, too).
8. Embrace summer baking, protein style. Get your protein in with a little help from your healthified baked good—no-bake protein balls, protein brownies, protein banana bread. Your sweet treat, upgraded.
9. Shake up your summer lunch. As much as I love the convenience of my meal prepping, my midday grain bowls need a revamp. Update your lunch with seasonal veggies, a mix of fresh herbs, and a sauce or two to keep things tasty.
10. Give your fridge a mini reset. Refresh it by organizing it in a way that supports how you want to feel and nourish yourself: Wash and prep your fruits and veggies ahead of time so they’re always within reach, keep nutrient-dense staples front and center, and store fresh herbs in glass jars full of cold water to keep them vibrant longer.
11. Take everything outside. Whether it’s a meal, 30 minutes spent reading, or your journaling ritual—in the summer, take everything you can outdoors. Because spending time outside does your health and well-being major good (think: improve sleep, boost motivation to exercise, and promote relaxation and focus).
12. Find creative ways to stay hydrated. Sexy water? You bet. Electrolyte powders? Check. Floral ice cubes? Of course. Your version of the viral Stanley tumbler or security bottle? Practically always in hand.
13. Plant your own herbs or veggies. FYI, gardening is a cool girl hobby. Working with plants can lower blood pressure and reduce anxiety. Add in sunlight exposure and fresh air, and you’re boosting serotonin (AKA the “happy hormone”) while increasing cortisol for better daytime energy. And you don’t need a backyard to grow a garden; plant herbs on your windowsill, patio, or balcony, or sign up for a community garden plot in your neighborhood.
14. Freshen up your bed linens. Washing your sheets weekly is more than just a hygiene habit; it’s a simple way to level up your sleep quality and skin. That just-made-bed feeling doesn’t hurt either.
15. Make flowers a weekly buy. We have Trader Joe’s for a reason—and it’s not just the snacks. Bringing home a fresh bouquet is a small ritual that can improve your well-being and ease daily stress (go for yellow or red flowers for an extra feel-good lift!).
16. Pick up a book that makes you feel good. Whether it’s about self-improvement, a manifestation guide, or a book that helps you get on track with your habits, the right beach read can reset your mindset and help you be more intentional with your day-to-day.
17. Make a summer vision board—they’re not just for January! Cut up old magazines or take to Pinterest to set the tempo for the months to come.
18. Schedule a midday exercise snack. It doesn’t need to be intense or long—just a small reset to get your body moving between meetings. Bonus: Short bouts of movement throughout the day may actually do more for your overall health than a single long workout. Opt for a 20-minute yoga flow, a quick walk around your neighborhood, or a lazy girl circuit.
19. Simplify your skincare. Stick to the essentials—a lightweight serum, a hydrating moisturizer, daily SPF, and maybe a touch of a self-tanner—and call it a day. A 10-step regimen isn’t necessary. And play your favorite pump-up music when you’re applying it in the morning (“productive” mornings can wait until fall–in the summer, we’re all about the fun morning).
21. Manifest your dream life. Try a few daily manifestation hacks, a neuroscientist’s 4-step method, or something like the 30-Day Dr. Joe Dispenza challenge. However you approach it, let this be the summer you start making the life you really want a reality.
22. Do The Everygirl’s 31-Day “Best Self Summer” Challenge. The result? Your highest, most confident self, AKA you’ll be living your best life.
23. Make your space nervous system-friendly. Open the windows, declutter your desk, create a cozy nook to fully disconnect, and bring the outdoors in (remember those flowers you buy yourself?).
24. Let one part of your day be offline. Not a full detox, just a pocket of time to shut off the outside noise and tune into yourself.
25. Say “yes” to no plans. Block out an hour every week to have no agenda—no planning, optimizing, or cleaning, just room to sit with yourself, explore a new area, or do nothing at all.
26. Prioritize sleep like it’s your job. Cool your bedroom down to 68 degrees, slip into cotton percale and linen sheets, and do #25 above. Read: Treat rest as a non-negotiable, not something you have to earn.
27. Set up a “feel-good” summer budget. Plan for the things that bring you joy in the summer months—alfresco meals, weekend getaways, farmers’ market runs. Intentional spending means feeling less restrictive.
28. Build an evening wind-down practice. Some evenings, try replacing your Netflix ritual with an activity that signals your body to downshift—light stretching, coloring, or tending to your garden (see #13). 60-30 minutes before bedtime, dim all lights, get into your coziest loungewear (summer edition, of course), and give yourself a luxurious nighttime routine.
Isabelle Eyman, Contributing Wellness Writer
Isabelle is a Chicago-based writer and editor. She is currently the Managing Editor at Camille Styles, sharing inspiration and uncovering the beauty all around us through food, design, and wellness editorial.
Katherine Chang, Wellness Staff Writer
Katherine Chang is The Everygirl’s Wellness Staff Writer with over five years of experience in the health and wellness space. She navigates the latest wellness topics and trends through expert interviews and studies, and she’s always first in line to try them firsthand.
