We’ve somehow convinced ourselves that every second of the day has to be productive.

Listen to a podcast while you walk.
Answer emails while you eat.
Watch TV while you fold laundry.
Track every workout and sleep score.
Optimize every morning.

What if this summer looked a little different?

I saw this trend on Instagram and I have to say it makes a lot of sense to me. It’s inspired by people who seem to have mastered the art of simply living.

They sit outside. They enjoy long meals. They know their neighbors. They soak up the sunshine. They aren’t trying to squeeze every drop of productivity out of the day, they’re squeezing every drop of joy out of it.

You don’t have to earn your rest this summer.

Go outside.
Take the long way home.
Call a friend.
Eat dinner on the patio.
Watch the sunset.
Leave your phone inside once in a while.

Life isn’t something to optimize. It’s something to experience.

Here’s how we are going to do just that:

1. Stop treating every hobby like a side hustle
   • Read because you enjoy it.
   • Garden because it is peaceful.
2. Sit outside for absolutely no reason.
   • Feel the sunshine.
   • Listen to the birds.
3. Eat slowly.
   • Long lunches.
   • Fresh ingredients.
   • Good conversations.
4. Be fully where your feet are.
   • Put down your phone.
   • Look people in the eyes.
5. Leave space for boredom.
   • Your best ideas don’t show up when you’re scrolling.
6. Spend time with people you love.
   • A backyard dinner.
   • Coffee with a friend.
   • Call your parents.

Our goal this summer is not to become the most optimized version of ourselves. It’s to become the most present version of ourselves.

Who’s embracing this with me? 🤍