I don’t know about you, but I love the feeling of leisure that comes with summer months. The kids are out of school, so I don’t have to herd anyone around first thing in the morning. I don’t have to worry about making school lunches and arranging pick up from after school athletic activities. I’m not fussing about finishing homework and studying for tests. Instead, I’m thinking about all the fun things we can do with the lazy days of summer.

We recently returned from a trip that included a few days at the lake with a good friend of the family. And even though I was provided a beautiful room overlooking the lake, I chose to sleep on a comfy sofa on the screened in porch. It was blissfully relaxing to spend so much time outside without worrying about mosquitoes and creepy crawlies. Needless to say, I slept like a baby and woke each morning feeling rejuvenated and ready for another fun day on the water.

The question is, what rejuvenates you? More importantly, how will you incorporate that activity into your summer months?

The Importance of Self-Nurturance

Let’s face it; life can be stressful. While you are trying to stay on top of your to-do lists while managing work, home, kids, significant others, and everything else that comes along each day, it’s easy to forget to give yourself a break. Like everything else, it’s simply about making YOU a priority.

To make it easier, here are 15 ways to love up on yourself, many of them free or low-cost.

1. Soak in a hot tub with scented oils. Be sure to tell anyone living with you that you are taking the next 45 minutes off and that you are not to be disturbed.
2. Get a 90-minute full-body massage. Include some deep tissue work to get the knots out.
3. Go to the library and read the latest magazines. While you are there, check out a book to keep by your bed so you can read for a few minutes each night.
4. Plan a long weekend getaway to a quiet destination. Book it!
5. Get up 10 minutes earlier to meditate or pray.
6. Sign up for a yoga class and GO!
7. Talk a walk after dinner. If you don’t like walking alone or want to add accountability, ask a neighbor to join you.
8. Find a local farm where you can pick fresh in-season fruits.
9. Buy some annuals and create a beautiful planter of color to greet you each day when you come home.
10. Splurge and hire a cleaning crew to come in twice a month (or even twice a quarter), just to help you stay on top of things.
11. Look for a home exchange and visit a new location.
12. Take a stroll through a local public garden.
13. Seek out partnering opportunities. For example, offer to help someone plan and host a dinner party in exchange for some landscaping help.
14. Sign up for a wine and paint class. To find a class just Google “wine and paint near me.”
15. Enjoy a night of ballet or orchestral music.

This is the screened in porch on the lake where I slept for three nights. Yes, it was as heavenly as it looks!

What ideas do you have to make this summer a relaxing one? What will it take for you to add a few of these activities to your summer calendar?

For more inspiration, join best-selling author Sheila Callaham and the Braveheart community on Facebook and Twitter!