The phrase “youth is wasted on the young” is never more true than during the summer. Remember when we were kids and you had all that time to run around, ride your bike, play with your friends, listen to music, and just enjoy the magic of the summer, with no responsibilities at all? Sadly, as adults, we need to work all year-’round. We can’t tell our bills to kick rocks. Responsibilities don’t take the summer off, unfortunately.
But that doesn’t mean you have to give up summer fun altogether! There are ways to make the most out of it, even if you have to be an adult. Here’s how to enjoy your summer even while working.
Find ways to get outside during the day.
Park further from the door in the parking lot to enjoy a few extra moments of sunshine and fresh air. Go for a walk during lunch, around the building or block or to a nearby park if possible. Take your lunch outside if and when possible. When you get up to get some water or stretch your legs for a minute, stick your head outside and breathe deep to get extra fresh air. Ask to have meetings outside when and if possible. Make a point to go for a walk each evening after work.
Use your PTO!
Paid time off is part of most employees’ total compensation packages and now is a great time to use it. Whether it’s one day, one week or longer, be creative and find ways to make the most of it. If you can tack on an extra day before the July 4 or Labor Day long weekends, you’ll have an extra long weekend to enjoy! It doesn’t matter if you leave town or stay home, those extra sun-filled hours without work can be incredibly refreshing and revitalizing. You might need to work together with your manager to secure the time, as others are likely having the same idea, but find a way to get those days off scheduled! You’ve earned it and deserve to enjoy it.
Ask for flexibility.
Talk with your manager about flexible scheduling. It might not be something you can do every day, but maybe your manager is already thinking about the possibility of letting people come in early and leave earlier during the summer months. Another option is seeing whether you can work a condensed work week, maybe working four 10-hour days instead of five eight-hour ones, in order to have a day off every week. Propose the idea of summer hours, a practice some companies have embraced in which they close up early on Fridays to give everyone a little more free time.
Plot some fun with coworkers.
Sometimes scheming can be fun! Talk to your team about a patio happy hour or after-work run to the beach or a park. Maybe there’s an interest in starting a walking club to help get some exercise while decompressing after a long week. Or maybe there’s a local adult sports league looking for more teams — or teams you can join! You’re far from the only person wanting to make the most of the nice weather and looking for fun ways to do it without upending everything. Ask around, get to thinking and brainstorm ways to get in more fun!
Run away on weekends.
Break out a map (ok, that’s the old-fashioned version; open up a browser to Google Maps) and see what’s nearby. Check out the local festival circuit to see if any fun bands are coming to town, or to a venue within a few hours’ drive. Whatever you’re passionate about, whatever you like to do for fun when you’re not working, see if you can find an excuse to make a weekend out of it! It’s a great time to call friends who live out of state or out of your city and find ways to get together. Why not combine your favorite things with your favorite people during the summer? It might get a little hectic as people try to juggle schedules, so the best time to get started is right now!