12 Ultimate Summer Self-Care Ideas You Can’t Miss

12 Ultimate Summer Self-Care Ideas You Can’t Miss

Beat the heat with these 12 must-try summer self-care ideas, your guide to a rejuvenating and fun-filled summer. Your summer glow awaits.

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As the days grow longer and the sun shines brighter, summer offers the perfect opportunity to rejuvenate mind, body and soul.

The warmth and vibrancy of the season invite us to slow down, savour the simple pleasures, and reconnect with ourselves.

Today we’ll explore the ultimate summer self-care ideas to help you make the most of this delightful time of year.

From refreshing yoga routines and nourishing diets to mindful relaxation techniques and outdoor adventures, discover how to embrace the essence of summer self-care and cultivate a harmonious balance in your life.

What is self-care?

All intentional actions that nurture your well-being and contribute to your physical, mental and spiritual well-being are considered self-care.

Benefits of self-care

Self-care is vital for maintaining balance and overall well-being in today’s fast-paced world.

By prioritizing self-care, you can experience a range of benefits that support both physical and mental health, helping you to foster a more fulfilling and resilient life.

Benefits of a regular and consistent self-care practice:

• Reduced stress levels – self-care practices such as e.g. meditation, journaling, yoga, doing a hobby, etc. can help to relax the body and mind and manage stress more effectively
• Improved physical health – self-care activities such as regular workouts, a balanced diet, a healthy sleep routine, etc. can boost your energy levels and support your general physical well-being
• Better mental health – practising mindfulness activities such as journaling, gratitude, etc. helps you to live a more intentional life and gives emotional support
• Support a work-life balance – regular self-care practices help you to establish a work-life balance that will help to avoid burnout and support a healthy lifestyle in general
• Increased productivity – taking breaks to relax and recharge allows for a better focus which will increase productivity
• Improved relationships – when you take care of yourself you are aware of your personal needs which allows you to set healthy boundaries in relationships which in turn strengthens and deepens your relationships with the people around you
• Enhanced self-esteem – self-care activities can help to build a more positive self-image as you show yourself that you are deserving of love which will boost your self-esteem
• Long-term happiness – a consistent self-care practice builds a strong foundation and contributes to long-term happiness and a more purposeful and meaningful life overall

Reminder: You are the most important asset that you have. When you prioritize self-care you invest in yourself and most importantly you allow yourself to thrive in all areas of your life.

12 Summer self-care ideas – the ultimate bucket list

Get yourself an iced coffee, lean back and start your summer self-care experience right here. Get inspired by these 12 must-try summer self-care ideas, your guide to a rejuvenating and fun-filled summer.

1. Stay hydrated

First things first, stay hydrated.

Keep in mind that 60% of the human body is water.

Drinking water keeps your brain active, helps the digestive system, keeps us energized, regulates the body temperature, hydrates the skin, helps to detox, etc. Apart from this, water carries lots of important nutrients too.

By prioritizing hydration, you can enjoy a healthier, more vibrant summer, making the most of all the season has to offer.

Tip: For more freshness and inspiration, consider adding flavoured ice cubes to your water e.g. lemon, ginger, peppermint, etc.

2. Make your own ice cream

When the summer heat is at its peak, there’s nothing quite like indulging in a refreshing scoop of ice cream. But instead of heading to the nearest store or ice cream parlour, why not make your own ice cream at home?

Have some fun experimenting with your favourite summer flavours, cater to your dietary requirements and indulge in all the freshness summer has to offer.

Making your own ice cream is a fun and healthy summer wellness activity for the whole family.

Tip: Pinterest is a great source of recipes and inspiration.

3. Splish, splash – head out for some water fun

Whether you live in the city or the countryside, there are always some fun water activities to explore and dive into.

Check what is available in your area. Think surfing, wakeboarding, stand-up paddle boarding, a local swimming pool, rafting, or a water park, etc.

Set a date, get your friends together, pack a pick-nick, and enjoy a refreshing day trip with some fun water activities.

PS: Don’t forget the sunblock.

4. Eat with the season

Head to the local farmers market, check which veggies and fruits are currently in season, and nourish your body with all the beautiful vibrant colours summer has to offer.

Keep it simple, keep it fresh – your body will love it.

Tip: Farmer’s markets are often cheaper than supermarkets, especially when you look for seasonal food.

5. Try an outdoor cinema experience

Many cities offer outdoor cinema experiences during the summer months screening good old classic movies.

Check the local events calendar for outdoor cinema events in your area. Take a friend along, grab a blanket and a few snacks, and enjoy a classic movie under the stars.

Tip: Alternatively, set up your own outdoor cinema in your garden. All you need is a big white wall/screen, a projector, and a sound system.

6. Treat yourself to a body-confidence photoshoot

Celebrate yourself, who you have become as a person, and all the things you have achieved and accomplished along the way.

A body-confidence photoshoot is a super special experience and can be a real confidence booster.

Find a photographer you feel comfortable with (this is key) and enjoy being a supermodel for a day.

Have fun, be open to the experience and who knows, maybe you will discover a totally new side of you.

Tip: If you are in Paris or happen to plan a trip to Paris this summer, check out my favourite photographer and dear friend Marion Fregeac. She offers body confidence photo shoots, portraits, family shoots and so much more. Enjoy a memorable experience in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe.

7. Do a mid-year check-in

We are halfway through the year, so this is a great time to check in with yourself to see how you are feeling about life in general and how you are tracking along with the goals that you set at the beginning of the year.

Below are a few journal prompts to help you get started and spark the thinking process.

Journal prompts:

• How are you feeling? Are you happy with your life right now?
• Are you maybe feeling stuck in any areas? Why are you feeling stuck?
• Is there anything you want/need to change for the next 6 months?
• What would you like to invite more of into your life? Love, compassion, creativity, etc.
• Are you still feeling in alignment with the goals that you set earlier in the year?
• How are you tracking on achieving these goals? Is there anything you need to change to ensure that you reach your goal or goals by the end of the year?
• Is there anything that is holding you back from reaching your goals? What is holding you back?
• …

8. Digital Detox

During summer we naturally spend more time outside. Get the most out of your summer days and commit to a digital detox.

Social media has become such a huge part of our daily lives. Taking a break might not be easy at first, but a digital detox can bring a lot of mental health benefits such as reducing stress and anxiety, enhanced sleep quality, it encourages you to be more present, you get to spent actual quality time with your friends and you can focus more on your own accomplishments, strengths and personal growth which will help to boost your self-esteem.

3 tips to get started:

• start small for example with a social media detox on Sunday morning when you take 3 hours for yourself and indulge in summer self-care ideas and activities without any distractions
• be consistent and follow it through; do this a few weeks in a row and maybe even extend the timeframe for your digital detox
• after a few weeks, check in with yourself, notice what has changed, how you are dealing with the digital detox etc. do you already feel any benefits, etc.

9. Take a road trip

You can do this all by yourself or with your girlfriends.

Personally, I love solo travel as it is a great time for reflection and personal growth. Self-care vacations can be super powerful.

Pack light, get in the car, and see where life takes you. It is great to have a plan, but it is even more exciting to just go with the flow and see where you will end up.

Take it easy, enjoy some downtime, and explore.

Stay open, stay curious, and stay safe.

10. Move your body

Movement is important for your physical health as well as mental health.

During summer we naturally get more movement as we spend more time outside.

But make sure to make it count and see where in your day you can add more movement e.g. walk to work, ride your bike, grab your rollerblades, maybe go for a hike, etc.

If you are into yoga, join me for a beginner-friendly sunrise morning yoga flow in Mexico.

11. Go to a festival

Summertime is festival time. Get your friends together, enjoy some live music, leave all the worries behind, and simply celebrate being alive.

I have to admit, this is one of my favourite self-care ideas among all the 12 self-care ideas for summer in this blog post.

Think Burning Man, SXSW (South by Southwest), Glastonbury Festival, Tomorrowland, etc. or try a smaller festival in your area.

Tip: Consider making your own costume. If you go with a group of friends, maybe decide on a group theme, etc.

12. Enjoy the sunset

There is something magical about sunsets and watching a sunset is a great way to relax, release and let go of anything that might have troubled you during the day.

Think about a good spot where you can watch the sunset. Ideally a close by hill or maybe even a beach. Grab a blanket and head out to watch the sunset.

Simple, but such a beautiful and peaceful end to the day.

Tips on how to plan a self-care day

A self-care day is a wonderful way to prioritize your physical and mental well-being.

Below is a step-by-step guide to help you successfully plan a self-care day that feels fulfilling and relaxing at the same time.

• Safe the date – set a date and block the time for your self-care day in your diary; once you set the date, make sure to stick with it and not move it around.
• Set an intention – set an intention for your self-care day e.g. what are you looking to get out of this day? Are you looking to relax, do something creative, go on a little adventure, etc.?
• Create your itinerary – plan your day and all the activities that you are thinking of doing on that particular day; e.g. book your beauty appointments, book your art gallery tickets, train tickets, etc.
• Switch off your phone – minimize distractions during the day allowing yourself to relax and rejuvenate without distractions
• Stay flexible – having a plan is great, but not everything always goes to plan, allow some room for surprises along the way, and don’t let these surprises discourage you; try your best to go with the flow
• Reflect upon the day – at the end of the day, take a moment to reflect upon the day; what went well, what did you most enjoy etc. This is a great opportunity to take learnings for your next self-care day

Reminder: When planning your day, remember that self-care is about doing what is right for you. Check-in with yourself and ask yourself what you need most at this moment in time.

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Ok my friends 🖤, we are coming to an end of this blog post on summer self-care ideas and I hope you enjoyed these 12 summer self-care ideas and found some summer self-care tips for your bucket list.

If you enjoyed this blog post, make sure to sign up for my newsletter to always stay in the loop for my latest well-being tips and personal growth strategies. I look forward to connecting with you!

Stay wild,

Nicolle

Featured image Photo by Jason Blackeye on Unsplash