Your Anti-Rot Summer Checklist (An Elegant + Chill Reset)

DISCLAIMER: An AI did not write this article. If I use a semicolon, it’s because I’ve liked using them since high school.

This is your summer to have a full reset and make life feel more beautiful.

And then you take the beauty you created in this season and roll it over into the next.

This is the time to start killing rushed mornings and make the mundane feel lovely. This is the summer for kind of feeling like you’re the main character in a mid-century movie who listens to jazz pieces like Poinciana by Ahmad Jamal while opening up the windows, enjoying a really good cup of coffee, wearing a housecoat, and cooking with seasonal produce you don’t normally use.

Side Note: Should we all have flowing housecoats? Honestly, maybe we should legit just make it a thing.

So if you’re ready to not have a replay of another summer where you’re not really enjoying yourself, then here’s a quick checklist of ways to reset + make this season something you completely and totally love.

Whether you’re doing it solo or with your favorite person, have a soft day only rule (at least) once a week. Here’s what your soft day might look like:

• No phones, just magazines, books, & journals.

• A slow morning coffee w/ candles, open windows, and a calming summer playlist.

• Doing calming things you genuinely like, but haven’t done in a while (picnic & book reading in a pretty spot maybe?).

• Stacking self-care like face masks + sitting in the sun + journaling + matcha.

And just remember, your rest really shouldn’t be earned because it’s always been essential. Please take the time to take care of yourself. ♥️

I’m not saying self-discipline is bad, but sometimes it can make you feel hurried/stressed. And since this is your non-hurried summer, we’re replacing it with self-devotion.

So instead of making yourself feel guilty/pressured into doing something, start doing things from the place of loving who you’re becoming.

I really don’t want you to show up out of punishment, but out of care.

I feel like trying new seasonal produce is a great way to take care of your health, but also just have more fun with your recipes.

Because yes, you could make a strawberry rhubarb pie, but you could also make a mulberry crêpe cake (like the one I made above).

It gets you enjoying new flavors and new recipe and I honestly think that’s probably good for your mental health on some level.

I’m not talking about creating a full routine, but just choosing one really nice habit for the summer.

So this could be morning stretches, a glass of citrus water, or just putting perfume on at home to make yourself feel special.

Buy me a coffee to support my work. ☺️

Doing a total deep clean is ok, but this checklist isn’t for intense spurts of cleanliness. It’s for small ways to make your life feel nicer and more in control.

So instead of going after your bedroom or cleaning under all your kitchen appliances, try…

• Cleaning your nightstand.

• Clearing out 3-4 pages of your inbox.

• Doing a bit of journaling to clear your mind.

Think of decluttering as less of a productivity hack, and more of an emotional reset.

Whether it’s in the morning, the evening, or at some random point in the day, I think summer is a good time to make your skincare feel more slow and lovely.

So touch your skin like someone who finally knows how to take care of herself, light some incense or a really nice candle, buy at least one expensive skincare product, put on some perfume (that has stupid good reviews), have a vase of flowers nearby, put on some bossa nova, and make this a way you can do a bit of a reset every single day in the summertime.

Could also just be a coffee (or tea) and your favorite patio chair, but I think adding a hammock into your life this summer is a great way to relax. You can just lay there, sip your drink, and soak in the sunlight + fresh air.

Also, it’s just a nice way to start your day slowly and not feel rushed.

Keeping a summer joy list is proof that good things do happen, and joy already shows up every single day (even in the very small things).

If you need refreshment + you wanna take care of your health, then keep a pitcher or two in your fridge filled with infused water, tea, or even coffee.

Here are a few summery flavor combinations you can try this season:

• Mint + cucumber water

• Rosemary + lemon water

• Iced hibiscus tea + honey

• Cold brew

• Iced green tea w/ peaches

• Fresh passion fruit + mango juice

It makes hydration feel easier and tastier.

So, instead of…

• Scrolling

• Netflix

• Podcasts

Try…

• Music

• Journaling

• Writing thank you cards

• Stretching

• Good conversations w/ a good friend

• Sitting outside watching the sky change colors

• Having dinner al fresco

• Reading a book by an open window

• Making homemade pasta

Create a list of things you wanna do on your no consumption night so you’ll actually look forward to it every single week this summer.

I think it’s kind of fun to be known for something, so this summer, try being known among your friends as the person who always makes:

• Strawberry shortcake

• Basil lemonade

• Affogatos

• Tomato tartines

• Iced cardamom coffee

• Sourdough bread w/ edible summer flowers in it

• Or anything else that feels perfectly seasonal + lovely

I’m not telling you to get your steps in; this isn’t for exercise.

I just want you to walk while being consciously curious.

So leave your phone in your pocket (or at home) and start noticing gardens, old homes, what people planted this year, neighborhood cats, and the smell after sprinklers are turned on.

You can also take a nice iced drink and maybe listen to a good playlist, up to you.

Buy me a coffee to support my work. ☺️