Summertime is officially here along our beautiful Gulf Coast, and I am so excited! Can you feel it? Can you breathe it in? Do you see the beaches bustling, days getting longer and all the stores stocked up with beach umbrellas, boogie boards and pool toys?
One of the best ways to ensure you have a great summer and stay on your healthy, active wellness journey is to set goals. I haven’t yet, so let’s do this together!
Here are some fun goals to make the most of the season:
MEDITATE OUTDOORS
One of the great things about summer is you can take your meditation routine outside. Try walking meditation; go out for a walk, feet in the sand or in the grass, and cultivate mindfulness by focusing all your awareness on walking. Imagine you’re kissing the earth with your feet with each step. You can also try yoga at the beach or paddleboard yoga.
TRY A NEW HOBBY
Many hobbies are perfect for the summer months. One of these is photography. A great way to improve your photography skills is by tackling a project, such as taking a photo of something that represents the season every day throughout the summer. Here are some ideas:
- beach bonfire
- birds on the beach or in trees
- summer plants and flowers
- sunrise or sunsets
- family time on the Coast
Another hobby you can try is therapy coloring, one of my beach-time favorites. All you need is a box of colored pencils and some fun adult coloring books, then head outside to sit under a tree or take it to the beach and color your heart out.
READ A CLASSIC
Summer is for reading juicy novels while lying on a beach towel. Try to squeeze at least one classic into your summer reading list, and a good self-improvement book is the perfect read while on vacay.
ENJOY SIMPLE SUMMER PLEASURES
Make a long list of simple seasonal pleasures to appreciate this summer. Your list can include walking barefoot on the grass, filling vases with brightly colored flowers and placing them around the house, lounging in a hammock, trying a new ice cream flavor or watching the sunset.
TRY A NEW ACTIVITY
One of the great things about summer is getting to spend lots of time in nature and the great outdoors. Set a goal of trying a new sport or activity. It can be a water sport, such as paddleboarding, kayaking, sailing or kitesurfing, I am going to try kitesurfing this year along our beautiful coastline. It can be a land activity, too, like bike riding or beach yoga.
SWIM IN A NATURAL BODY OF WATER
This summer, make sure to swim in a natural body of water, whether it’s the ocean, a lake or a river. Not only is swimming great exercise, but contact with natural water stimulates the immune system. In addition, some people compare floating in a lake or in the ocean when the water is calm to a meditative experience. Go make a splash!
PLANT SOMETHING
Feel immediately reconnected to the earth by planting and growing something. Try these: Create a fairy garden — a miniature garden complete with tiny structures and small plants.
Grow a vertical vegetable garden — you can create one using shelves, hanging baskets or trellises.
Remember to make time for wellness, staying active, eating healthy and achieving some of these goals to achieve your optimal state. See you on the beach!
Karol Brandt is an executive host with Scarlet Pearl Casino Resort, as well as co-author of the Amazon best-seller “The Struggle is Real: Finally Break the Dieting Cycle, Transform Your Mind and Body, and Evolve into The Person You Have Always Wanted to Be” and the “30-Day Evolve Challenge Journal.” Contact Brandt by email at karol.brandt@scarletpearlcasino.com, Facebook/ The Struggle Is Real or Instagram at karolbrandtnola.
