Happy Wednesday, friends!
Last year, I shared a SUMMER SELF-CARE post that you ladies seemed to really enjoy…so I’m bringing it back for a 2025 edition 🙂 .
A little summer + wellness + Wednesday kind of post!
Let’s be real, summer days can be absolutely amazing or they can be even more chaotic, crazy, and busier than a “normal” day of the year. Summer is a fickle friend.
I know we’re all showing up here today with different things on our plates and in different seasons of life, but I would love to think we could all do something this summer to hopefully help us end the season in good shape (because no one wants to go into pumpkin-season wiped out and depleted!).
I went back to last year’s post and still love all of the things I listed in 2024…
1: MORE SLEEP
2: INTERMIITTENT FASTING
3: LIFTING HEAVY WEIGHTS FOUR DAYS A WEEK
4: READING MORE
5: WATCHING LESS TV
6: BEING OUTSIDE AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE
7: WEARING SUNSCREEN ON MY FACE & BODY EVERY DAY
8: INDULGING IN THINGS THAT MATTER
9: LOOKING AT MY PHONE LESS
10: BEING UNSCHEDULED MORE
…but here are just a few extra ways I am going to *try* and take care of myself this summer of 2025.
I would LOVE it if you’d share some of your ways too!
Here we go for 2025…
1: 30 FOR 30
You guys, I have LOVED doing something “good” with you every day. I am a pretty disciplined person but having your accountability and companionship has not only made me check it off every day, but it’s made me feel even more connected to this group. I have truly loved it!
2: AN EXTRA FIVE MINUTES OF SPRINT WORK EACH DAY
I like to do a little sprint work each week to work on my VO2 max, but this summer, I’m going to aim for an extra 5 minutes of sprint work every single day. Just five minutes. If I do that every day, that’s an extra 35 minutes of sprint work each week. I’m always wanting to maintain and/or improve my cardio health, but some days, having an entire workout dedicated to HIIT or sprint work is just not my fave, so this summer, I’m going to break it up into small increments instead. If sprint work isn’t your thing, it could be an extra five minutes of walking or ab exercises or pickleball…whatever makes you feel accomplished by the end of the week 🙂 .
3: CONSISTENT SLEEP ROUTINE
I am pretty consistent during the school year with my sleep routine…but come summertime, it kind of gets a little wonky. I’ll stay up later and then sleep later and then that will throw my gym routine a bit behind and then my work routine gets started late and then I’m tired and then I go to bed early and then I’m up earlier and on and on and on…it’s not consistent, y’all. My goal this summer is to be in bed by 9:30 most nights and up at 5:30 (or somewhere within a 30 minute range of those times).
4: BE FUN!
I think one way I could really take care of myself this year is to just be more fun. Being “fun” is a choice and maybe it’s just me, but I feel like as a mom, I’m often Mrs. No Fun. My dad’s mom, Mimi, was ALWAYS FUN (and funny!). Growing up and until she passed in 2021, I always just wanted to be in her orbit because her being fun made my life fun. She was a full time working mom of three, so I know she couldn’t “always” be fun, but I am 100% positive if you polled my dad and his two sisters, they would say that she was “almost always” fun. This summer with my family, I want to be sillier and not quite so serious, I want to let things roll off my back, I want to allow for a little messy, a little chaos, a little spontaneity…I just want to be more fun for ME. I think Mimi was fun for everyone else because she was having fun herself. I want to do this for me.
5: EAT A VARIETY
I am still big on eating a ton of protein and having a longer digestive rest (I promise, an updated post on intermittent fasting coming soon!) but because I’m such a routine person, I tend to eat the same basics most days. I eat a lot of eggs, a lot of beef, a lot of turkey bacon, avocados, sweet potatoes, rice, salmon and nuts each day…which I LOVE, but this summer, I’m going to really try hard to switch it up. I’m going to *try* and eat fish every single day and take a break from beef. I’m going to *try* and add a bigger variety of vegetables to my diet instead of my standard broccoli and/or Brussels sprouts. I haven’t had fruit in forever, so I’m going to *try* and eat more berries and just make my plate still mostly protein but with a wider variety of meats and veggies. I’m in a bit of a food rut, and my plan is to shake things up this summer.
7: TAKE THINGS OFF MY TO-DO LIST
I don’t know about you, but if I didn’t do half the things on my “to-do” list no one in my family would even notice. I tend to add a whole lot of things on there that I *think* must be done only to make me tired and feel frazzled. I’ve decided this summer, the task needs to be super important to make my list or else, I’m going to let it slide. (The Type-A person in me is nervous typing this sentence, ha!)
8: WATER, WATER, WATER
Hi, my name is Shay, and I’ve backslid into enjoying coffee and sparkling water with most meals instead of good old fashioned water. I am great about filling my Stanley in the morning and drinking the entire thing…but then I am not good at refilling it and drinking more than that. Water, water, water. I need to make it my first choice!
9: SAY YES
When our kids were really really little, Andrea’s mom (who was also my sweet neighbor) used to encourage us new moms to be “yes moms”. I’ve shared this before over the years, but that little piece of advice has really stuck with me. As a mom, I think I often get stuck in “no mode” and forget to actually stop, consider the request and just say YES. I don’t want to just say yes to my kids’ requests, I want to say YES when people ask me to do things or YES to silly little opportunities that arrive throughout my day. I think saying YES will probably help me be more fun 🙂 .
So, those are just a few little ways I’m going to work on taking care of myself this summer (in addition to the ones from last year too!).
I would LOVE to read the comment section and see what you are going to do this summer to take better care of yourself.
Please, please comment and share!
Today, I am also sharing just a few ideas for Father’s Day! I have gift ideas for both the fathers and grandfathers in your life HERE.
Happy Wednesday, friends! I’ll see you tomorrow! xx
Elspeth Mizner says
I love these ideas! J want to do better with having more open space in my calendar and being present and not focusing on what other things I should be doing.
http://www.elspethsdaybyday.com
Jayme Geeslin says
Hey Shay! I read your post from last year where you talked about wearing sunscreen every day on your body! Do you have a good go to body sunscreen for daily use? I have struggled to find one I like!
Mix and Match Mama says
I love the coconut scent and the coverage of Coola’s 35 spf, so that’s my go-to spray on daily sunscreen. It’s light and not sticky and washes off without much fight when I’m in the shower. Plus, it smells amazing.
Nicki says
Is this what you use on your face and your body?
Mix and Match Mama says
On my body, on my face, I use Supergoop GlowScreen every single day!
Katie Compton says
Summer starts for me at 12:30pm today, as I wrap up my 24th year of teaching!! I plan on diving into all the TBR books on my Kindle, trying to walk each day, and joining my daughter at the gym on a regular basis and soaking up the time with her before she’s off to college in the fall. Happy summer, Shay!
Mix and Match Mama says
CONGRATULATIONS TO YOU!!!! Wow! What a huge accomplishment! I can only imagine what a blessing you have been to your students this year. Go and enjoy your summer break and soak up every single minute with your girl. xx
Brandi says
I love the goal of saying yes more- I definitely get stuck in no mode too!
Pam E. says
I love the motivation to walk everyday but 3 days a week I partner with a friend to walk 5+ miles. We also mix in a cardio walk twice weekly with lots of hills. I lost my sweet hubby to his “heavenly” home last October and I find I have to fill each day with Intentional things to keep me active. I start my morning with my devotions and stay busy but have learned to say no if I’m just not feeling it. Thank you for your inspiring blog each day , I’ve been a follower since your early days and still check in daily. Have a great summer!
Nicole says
Oh my word, love this so much! What’s your plan with running this summer? Gosh, I’m already back to running more than I probably should because of the weather!! Can’t wait for that IF update, and also I’m with you being on a food rut – so share, share!
Mix and Match Mama says
Well you know that I’ve transitioned from running to walking (and have LOVED the benefits!), but this morning, I found myself on a three mile run followed by a one mile walk because I just LOVE running on Nantucket. I am positive that I’ll run more here this summer than back in Texas because of the weather. When I get back in Dallas, it will be 178 degrees outside, so I will go back to walking.
Lisa D says
Here’s my list:
Time with Jesus every morning
Walk away from eating beef and pork
Enjoy some fruit
Yes to veggies; try “plant based” a few times per week
Use my brain
Be a friend
Love on my family and friends
Spend time in prayer and gratitude to end the day
Sleep!
Mix and Match Mama says
This list is so so good! I could add every one of them to my list too!
Bren says
Oh Shay, this post really spoke to me! After listening to some recent podcasts that you recommended, I have been really inspired to do the 5 minutes of higher intensity cardio – or – one minute hard, one minute rest x5 minutes. I’ve also joined you on doing 30 for 30, Last night after work I absolutely did not want to…but I told myself it’s one month and it’s 30 minutes. As usual, I was so happy I did my 30 minutes with no regrets whereas had I not? I’d have totally regretted not doing it! Last but not least, thank you for #7. I read what you wrote, then really stopped and thought about it. You are so right. I too am most definitely Type A and that never-ending list I have…well I am the only one getting after myself for not doing all the things on it. Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts on that! May we both appreciate feeling less frazzled and NOT feeling anxious letting some of our to-do items go! 😊 Happy summer to you!
Kelly Bonner says
These are all great ideas! This summer I want to be more consistent with working out as that’s my me time. I also want to say yes more than no to my kids if I can.
Bethany says
More reading and more (ok, starting!) scripture memorization….Psalm 1 is what I’ve chosen to do first!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh that is a great one! I should add that to my list too!!
Sandra Roberts says
When you mentioned your Mimi in number 4 I remember pictures you have posted of her, and I didn’t know her at all, but I can 100% picture her being super fun just by her smile and facial expression. I want to be more like that too! Love this post. Happy Wednesday!
Mix and Match Mama says
I LOVE that you could see her personality even in my pictures. She was pure JOY!
Ashley D says
I love doing fresh berries with a high quality yogurt (grass-fed if possible) with local honey and granola on top! For granola I like to use Purely Elizabeth or Seven Sundays. This is great to add to breakfast with a couple of eggs, or sometimes if I am craving an afternoon “treat” – I will make this!
Donna Mason says
Hi Shay. I hope all of you have an absolutely amazing time on Nantucket this summer. May I ask where you got your brown sandals in the picture with the kids?
Mix and Match Mama says
Those are from Hermes!
Lori says
This is inspiring me to make my own summer self-care list. Thanks for sharing and giving me some ideas to put on my list!
K.K. says
Oh, I want to be fun like Mimi too!! That resonates. Somehow, I can get overly serious about my to do list. 😉
Elizabeth S says
My goals this summer is to work with a personal trainer to try to get a program so I can do heavier weights. I bought a heavier weight vest and am trying to wear it everyday on my walks and some around the house. I have a list of books to read that I hope to get through more of this summer. I an trying to watch TV lesson and read more outside.
Allison says
Great post, love it! You should definitely eat fruit! Go do a deep dive on the insta page called “heartandsoilsupplements”. Not saying you have to follow everything they say of course, but it will make you want to eat fruit! Also wondering your thoughts on sunscreen? I know up top it said on your face and body every day, do you still feel that way? Have you gone down any fun rabbit holes about how bad sunscreen is and how maybe it’s THAT that’s causing cancer? They’re so interesting! Yearsss ago I remember setting my diaper bag down on our dining room table not knowing my sunscreen had spilled all throughout the bottom. The next day when I went to pick it up it had eaten through our dining room table. I’ll never forget it. I remember thinking (pre-rabbit holes LOL!) “if it does that to the table, what’s it doing to our largest organ that we’re slathering it onto”? Anyway, just curious your thoughts! 😉
Claire says
Oh my goodness I just teared up reading your words about being more fun. We are still in school but once school is out I really hope to be more fun, to let things roll off my back, and to allow for some messes and chaos. I have 4 kids ages 11, 10, 8 and 5 so we have plenty of mess and chaos but I’m not great at letting it roll off my back. Thank you for your inspiring words and for making me focus on the important things like time with them and having fun! It can be hard to remember that in the long days of summer so thank you for the inspiration! I hope to channel a little bit of your Mimi this summer ❤️
Alison says
I love your mindful ways for the summer season. It inspired me to make my own little list. I decided I want to explore one new place every week, whether it’s a park I’ve never been to, a walking trail, a restaurant, a cute little shop, etc. I live in the Minneapolis suburbs, so I know there’s lots of options for me to go beyond my area and try to introduce some new things to my kids (and some days, just for ME!) I hope you have a beautiful summer on Nantucket!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Oh I love this idea! I often forget to explore my hometown too. That’s a really nice idea.
Carly says
We live in Minneapolis too and have a goal to walk 52 new trails in 2025 – one per week! We keep track on a “bingo card” and take a photo at each one. We’re on #23 and have LOVED getting out and exploring new places we otherwise wouldn’t have found. So many gems in our area – have fun!
Valerie says
I really appreciate this post Shay! Thank you! It really spoke to me in so many ways. A big one on my list since this spring when my husbands and my life got super busy was to stay present, enjoy the moment and not worry about the next. The best part is, is that I’m doing it and it’s working. One of my favorite Bible verses is Matthew 6:34 therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. One of the things I love about this post and your others that have been similar is I then make my own list. 🙂 So the others on my list include: evening walks with my husband(in addition to my morning walk), drinking more water, say yes especially to fun things even if I have lots to do at home, take my work out to the patio instead of working inside, let more things roll off my shoulder and now I’m adding sprint work to my list :). I will do this on my walks in the morning starting today. Thank you Shay! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Wednesday. One of these days I hope to visit Nantucket.
Angela says
As a new mom to an almost 5-month little girl, I strive to be a “fun” mom. Even at such a young age, she loves baby hour at the library and I can’t wait for summer break so I can take her every week! I love the idea of saying yes more. As someone who is comfortable curled up at home with a book, I’ve been making an effort to ask people to do more activities.
Erin H says
This post is so helpful to me… especially the part about being fun and saying yes. I’m a solo mom and I think I get so bogged down sometimes in how my daughter is speaking to me or how much pressure I feel to make sure she’s becoming a good person. Which are important, but she’s also 6 and sometimes I think I’m taking things too seriously. I’m not a silly person by nature, so I have to work at it, but I’ve found things go so much better when I can just let go and be silly with her. I’m going to work on these things this summer! Thanks for the inspiration!
mary mathews says
thank you for all your encouragement regarding exercise. it is the one area that i am struggling to get started.
since you love health and wellness podcasts you might enjoy one from the mel robbins podcast with dr stacy sims. she got her phd in exercise physiology and has done studies on women and exercise (apparently most exercise studies are done with men)
very interesting. enjoy nantucket and your time with your family. though i am in a different season of life as my children are grown (1 married 1 single) i am 6 months away from being a grandma and my plan is to be a fun grandma!!!
Mix and Match Mama says
Thank you, thank you for that podcast episode rec!!! And I LOVE that you want to be a fun grandma. Grandmas make a HUGE impact. I can only imagine how excited you are to meet your new grandbaby 🙂 .
Beth Valenta says
Well, I kicked off my summer list on May 31st, no more school. I started with getting back on track with my 3.25 mile walks and eating later in the day. My list includes an outdoor movie, ice cream for lunch one day, Boston game at Fenway (we are going to Wrigley in July…), oysters, fireworks, winery, game nights, putt putt, and a latte out at a local coffee house. Most of all I will sleep late or not feel stressed about that.
Deb says
I love this list! The saying yes really hit me because I have a tendency to say no first thinking it won’t fit into an already full schedule, then regretting it or rescinding it with more thought. I want to be more spontaneous and fun and figure out how we can fit more fun into our days.
Katie Stewart says
I am so ready for another I.F. Post! I welcomed my fourth baby two months ago and since then, I’ve completely cut out sodas and I’ve been *trying* this fasting thing! I’m giving myself loads of grace because… babies… but I’m trying to keep my eating window open between 11-7!
Mix and Match Mama says
BABIES! Four babies means you give yourself extra extra grace. Congratulations, mama!!
Dustin says
My go-to help for food ruts, workout ruts, etc is ChatGPT! If you type in your goals, such as seafood daily, berries, wide variety of vegetables, it will kick out a plan. I am usually asking for a simple to prepare meal plan with x amounts of protein and fiber, at x number of calories per day. I’ve also had it help me figure out how to best go from 3 meals, to 5 and now to eating in an 8 hour window or less. The more info you provide, the more specific the results. You could say you only want to eat produce that is in season on Nantucket and see what it says. For workout ideas, tell it your goals and what equipment you have at your disposal. It created custom Tonal workouts for me! I also use it to layout a daily schedule from the time I wake up to the time I’m ready to sleep. I’ve become slightly addicted to leaning on ChatGPT for wellness stuff, but even my doctors and dietician approve! 🙂 Have a great Summer!
Mix and Match Mama says
I mean, that is pretty darn good tip! Thank YOU!!!
Keisha Dawson says
I love the idea of 5 minutes of sprint work. I have been wanting to add sprint work to my workout routine, but I LOATHE it. 5 minutes is completely doable! I will give this a go tomorrow morning! Thank you!
Alexis Meacham says
I loved this post! It definitely got me thinking about my priorities for this Summer!
Kellie Bowers says
I literally just told myself today to be more fun this summer. So that’s on my list. I’m going to pretend I’m on summer break too even though I’ll be working from home I will try to make my breaks count and do something fun with my daughter!
Also would love to be off my phone more and just enjoy the outdoors!
Caitlin Davies says
This is a great list!! You mentioned you haven’t eaten fruit in a long time is there a particular reason or just generally don’t care for fruit? 🙂
Mix and Match Mama says
I jus think I’ve been focusing on eating so many other things that there hasn’t been room on my plate for fruit.
Dana P says
This is what I want to do, too! Somewhere along the way, I stopped having fun with my kids and I want to change that. I’ve been actively working on saying yes and trying to find fun (and inexpensive!) things to do. Thanks for the reminder!
Jill L Myers says
Great goal ideas! Thanks for sharing! I need to become more of a “Yes” Nana! I’m big on not breaking my grandchildren’s rules that their parents have established, but I need to allow myself the opportunity to take more of a grandparent role than a parent role.
Penny Jones says
These are fabulous goals!!
Mine is to laugh more. Laughter decreases throughout our lives and is so healthy (cardiovascular health, stress reduction, immunity boost, pain management and on…), I want to slow down and appreciate a good joke. Get back to laughing at myself more and certainly listen to those around me and laugh with them! When people say “what would you change about yourself”? My response is always that I would like to be funnier. I can’t change that but I can laugh!!!
Suzanne Douglass says
I love all of these! I am type a as well and it is hard to let some things go even in the summer.
Brianne Cole says
Definitely interested in why you haven’t been eating fruit. I do enjoy fruit each day as my “sweet treat” and I admit I’m not good at eating as much protein as I should. I do eat eggs each day and a protein for dinner, but I know I need more. I’m not a meat or really fish person – any other ideas of how to get more protein in my diet?
Mix and Match Mama says
I am aiming for so many other things that fruit just hasn’t been making it on my plate. When you say “meat” does that include everything from beef to pork to turkey? Have you tried ground chicken or turkey? I really like to use them in recipes. I find them more enjoyable a lot of the time than grilled chicken or turkey.
Krista Dragoo says
I want to say yes more, get outside, take better care of my health, and read more this summer.
Jeanette says
Love this! Obviously, you’re a mom w/ rules and obligations, however you sure do look like a fun mom to me! It’s good to take a pause and say yes sometimes ☺️.
Arika says
Love these ideas. FUN MOM! This can be something as simple as getting in the pool with the kids rather than sitting in the chair reading a book (which is usually what I do). Thanks for the reminder. These little moments of presence and connection make such a difference to our kids. I also love the idea of being more intentional about saying “yes” because my mom-default is often no. Why NOT say yes if we can! And enjoy the summer fruit! There is good fiber in berries! 🙂 Happy summer, Shay!
Marisa Patel says
I usually end up with basically the same routine in the summer as during the school year so I am going to follow your advice and change it up. I am going to add several from your list and probably a few others, I sure hope I can keep it up!