The calendar days are getting marked off and for many of us, that signifies back to school. This means it’s time to say goodbye: goodbye to family, goodbye to friends, goodbye to home and, most of all, goodbye to summer. Saying goodbye to summer is definitely the saddest part of returning to school because, unlike our family, friends and home, summer does not return with the holidays; it returns in nine months. When we bid adieu this blissful season, we not only leave its three months of sandy beaches, dripping ice cream cones, sun-kissed tans and freshly picked strawberries, but we also leave the summertime mentality. Gershwin captured this mentality perfectly in his lyrics: “Summertimeeeee when the living is easyyyyyy” from the famous Porgy and Bess tune. But here’s the thing, just because summer is over does not mean its relaxed mentality has to go with it. Sure, you will need to work harder to procure this disposition when the lakes are frozen and the trees are bare, but it is not impossible to do so. Here is a list of some things you can do to keep summer with you all year long. After all, summer isn’t just a season: it’s an attitude ...
-Keep fresh flowers in your room because their scent will bring you back to lazy summer days.
-Just because it’s winter does not mean you have to wear black: nature hasn’t died, it’s simply hibernating. Wear bright, happy colors!
-Don’t put away those summer playlists; beach vibes work even better in the cold. A few musical ideas include Weezer’s "Island in the Sun," the Beach Boys’ "Surfing U.S.A.," the Beatles’ "Here Comes the Sun," Odesza’s "Sun Models" and anything by Bob Marley. Whatever songs scream “summer” to you, listen to them.
-Eat lots of in-season fruit. Of course, this is easier to do in the summer because so much produce is harvested then. However, oranges, grapefruits, kumquats, clementines, kiwis, pears and tangerines are all in season during the cold months. Trust me, an in-season Mandarin Orange from Florida is going to be much tastier than some strawberries flown in from Colombia. What makes fruit so delicious in the summertime is it’s fresh.
-Watch the sunset. Sure, the sun will be setting at 4:30 rather than 9:30, but it still puts on the same dazzling display of colors.
-Use a good bronzer. We all miss our beautiful golden tans from the summer, so why not purchase a bronzer that will give you the same glow?
-Appreciate nature more. Your options may be more limited than in the summertime, but a long walk through snowy woods or between the fiery autumn leaves of a city park will give you the fresh air that is customary of summer months.
-Find ways to relax. Since summertime tends to be lower stress for everybody, people are naturally in better moods. The key to bringing those moods into the rest of the year is to figure out a way to relax. Do some yoga, take bubble baths, use a coloring book, ride a bike. Find your ideal relaxation method and your sunny summertime disposition will remain with you.
-Buy a UV light and wear sunblock. Our bodies crave the vitamin D from the sun and in the winter, it’s difficult to get that vitamin D. Use a UV light and those wintertime blues will melt away.
-Make some chill-time for your friends. We love the summer months because they are full of activities with our friends and when we aren’t in class, it’s much easier to socialize. Make sure you block off some time each week for pure friendship time.
-Read more books. Summer reading lists are a thing: we bring our books to the pool floats and the park’s picnic blankets. Don’t stop reading just because summer is over. If we read, we will be transported into other stories, some of which may be set in the summer sunshine.
