What is your favorite way to relax in the summer?

May 26
5 min read

Beach chair view with The Midnight Library book, pink Stanley cup, and two kids walking on a sunny dune beach.

Relaxing and summer go hand-in-hand - although, those magical moments aren't always easy to come by. But, how do we make sure we pause this summer? As Rebecca puts it, maybe we try to spend more time outside soaking up the longer days. Or, as Ali shares, maybe we prioritize the patio and a new hobby that encourages us to slow down. Or, as Emilee daydreams about, what if it all starts with a slow morning? How about Ashley, with a local drive-on beach her version of relaxation sounds like heaven, "No agenda, no schedule, just sun, salt air, a good book, and the sound of happy kids in the distance. Absolute perfection." No matter where you find yourself this summer, we hope you find a deep breath, some fresh air, a slower pace and some moments to soak up the shimmering summer goodness.

Emilee, Book Aficionado from @The BookClubCart

Hand holding a white mug in a bright sunroom with a white sectional, blue pillows, and windows overlooking a leafy backyard.

Nothing is more relaxing to me than a slow morning. Sitting in our sun room with a cup of coffee and my kindle …nothing better! No camps to run out the door for and my whole family at home. Making a big breakfast and then doing something outside with everyone. No schedule, no distractions.

Another favorite summer activity that keeps my kids entertained, but all of us together is family golf. Following it up with dinner on the club’s outdoor patio is the cherry on top. Sometimes there is live music or even an outdoor wedding. It always feels so relaxing to be there enjoying a beautiful summer evening.

On vacation, a dreamy summer day is a big walk in the morning followed up with breakfast and then pool time in the afternoon.

This all sounds great, right? This year our June is packed with camps and activities from morning to evening. I will most likely spend my days driving kids around, eating breakfast and lunch on the go. So when we can fit in days like the ones I described, they truly feel magical and even more special.

Here is to slow summer days!

Ali, Book Aficionado from @The BookClubCart

Sitting on a patio on a beautiful summer day is perfection to me. Whether it’s on my back patio with my family, at a restaurant, or catching up with friends on theirs, there’s just something so relaxing about slowing down and enjoying the beautiful weather we get this time of year.

Three smiling children sit at a tropical restaurant table with blue patterned cloth and menus, warm sunlight and woven lamps סביב them.

I also really hope I take more time to enjoy the quiet moments this summer. It always takes my family and me a few weeks to fully adjust to the slower summer routine before true relaxing can happen. I’d also love to try a new hobby this summer that encourages a slower lifestyle. If you know me, you know I’m terrible at sitting still, so finding something calming and quiet would probably be really good for me.

Kim, Home Connoisseur from @Reverie.and.Root &

Founder of Spilling Goodness

Feet on a boat beside an open magazine, while a swimmer splashes nearby on a sunny lake.

Relaxing and summer should really go hand in hand. And, I'm hoping that by writing this down and sharing it, I'm helping to manifest some of these wonderful moments. I echo sentiments when I say, relaxing is really felt in the lack of rush. In the slowness. In the quiet and in the spontaneous.

That might mean a spur of the moment bike ride for ice cream or sitting on our patio with a cup of tea and a magazine while kids have friends over. Or, that could mean that we head to our beloved neighborhood pool where I still like to pretend I "need" to be there for my kids. When, really after years of swim team, they are able to bike there themselves. But, either catching up with a friend or catching up with a book poolside feels like such a treat.

And, lastly, the lake. I love the lower gear of the lake. The mornings feel slower, the boat really doesn't have anywhere to go except around in circles and the only reason to come in is for a meal. Even my Oura ring reports that I'm most relaxed at the lake. Oh, sweet summer - I'm so glad you're here.

Jen, Bespoke Travel Planner from @GlobalOnDemandTravel

Woman in sunglasses relaxes on a yellow pool float, holding a can in a sunny backyard pool beside a basketball hoop.

I thought we built it for the kids, but honestly, I’ve been surprised by how much I love it myself. After a long day at work, there’s nothing better than cooling off, spending time with family, and unplugging from everything. No phones, no computers, no work distractions — just fresh air and time together.

The best part? Once I’m out there, I can’t cook, clean, or multitask. It forces me to slow down, relax, and enjoy the moment. Absolute summer dream.

Rebecca, Woman's Leadership Coach from @PleasantlyAggressive

Woman in a Patagonia cap selfies from a striped hammock while a brown dog naps on the grass beside a brick patio.

I love being outside and the long days! Midwest winters are long, so as soon as the warmth hits, I want to sit outside, work outside, nap outside, and hang with friends outside. I want to enjoy late evening walks with the sun still out. I want to think of relaxing as a state of mind. I want to embrace a lack of rushing, a lack of overplanning, and an abundance of time outside. I want to plan as little as possible and be more spontaneous - random Friday night beer and BBQ on the patio, naps in the hammock, and afternoon movies. That all sounds incredibly relaxing to me.

Ashley, Millennial Mom Nutrition Coach from @AshleyBreaksTheCycle

Woman lounges in a striped hammock, holding a phone and making a peace sign in a backyard under a red-leaf tree.

If you had asked me this question a few years ago, my answer would have looked very different. Relaxing at the beach meant chasing toddlers, slathering sunscreen on wiggly bodies every twenty minutes, and never actually sitting down. But friends, I have officially made it to the other side and it is glorious!!!

This summer, I have a brand new hammock with my name on it, a pool steps from my back door, and the most underrated gem of a beach town you’ve ever seen. We’re talking a drive-on beach…yes, you literally drive your car right onto the sand, pop the trunk, set up your whole situation, and just live. Low tide stretches out forever, the waves do all the talking, and the kids are off kayaking, running with their friends, and doing all the things kids are supposed to do in summer. No electronics in sight!

I’m sitting in my chair with a book and absolutely zero guilt about it. My kids can swim, I trust them, and I no longer have to get up every five seconds. That right there is the real summer milestone nobody warns you about and it might be better than any of the ones that came before it.

As a lifelong New Englander, I truly believe we appreciate summer more than anyone else on the planet. We wait for it, we earn it, and when it finally arrives, we squeeze every last drop out of it. A few months is all we get and I intend to spend every possible moment outside, unbothered, soaking it all in.

That’s my version of relaxation. No agenda, no schedule, just sun, salt air, a good book, and the sound of happy kids in the distance. Absolute perfection. 🌊☀️📚

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What is your favorite way to relax in the summer?

Summer relaxation collage: golfers, beach reading with The Midnight Library, hammock, boat ride, and text asking how you relax.