Are you ready to Savor Summer? Choose One Word to Guide You All Season Long
Maybe your One Word (or two:) is Ice Cream!
Have you heard of One Word for the New Year?
It’s a pretty simple but powerful concept. Rather than choose a bunch of resolutions that are broken by 80% of us by mid-February, you choose one word that will be a guide, like a compass, for the whole year.
Why not do the same thing for the summer? Instead of lots of goals and too many activities in mind for one summer, choose a word that will guide your priorities.
You can come up with your word as a family. Here’s an easy-peasy download to help you find your word. (Here’s a download in Black and White if you’d prefer.)
Here’s also a Free printable - choose floral or line art - you can use to fill in your word and post it on the fridge or bulletin board so you don’t forget what it is (momlife is busy!).
I recommend making this a family exercise, if it’s age-appropriate. It can be a fun way to hear from everyone about what they’re hoping for this summer. And you’ll have some agreement on what matters most to your family.
And mom, if you’d just like a word all your own that means something to you, you go.
After all, a mom’s gotta have her own vision for Savoring the Summer!
Here are a couple of examples of possible One Words for the Summer.
Let’s say it’s been a tough year and everyone needs a break. So your family word is ICE CREAM. You’ve decided you’re going to go on ice cream adventures this summer. Do an online search for every ice cream place within 10 miles. (I just did this and all I can say is, “Who knew?” There are a ton of ice cream places I’ve never even heard of right near me.)
Tip: You can make it your goal to visit one ice cream place a month. And encourage everyone to try something a little different.
Maybe your family word is a character trait like GENEROUS. After this year of bickering because of all the time together, your family may need a way to guide them all toward being more giving, thoughtful, better sharers. You can decide what being generous looks like and have a reward system.
Tip: Cut a sheet of paper into strips horizontally. Have a jar for each family member. Write the good deed or word on a slip of paper. Then put it in the jar. When that family member reaches 5 slips of paper, they get a prize. You could also have color-coordinated stars you stick on your calendar. When the stars add up to 5, a prize is awarded. Have a selection of Dollar Store items to pick from that everyone will love.
This is the fourth tip for How To Savor Your Summer. Here are three other powerful Ways to Savor Summer. You can find more info on my IGTVs here.
Put together a large summer wall calendar representing already-scheduled activities and events
Add extras to the calendar based on each family member’s favorite summer things to do
Manage your mom expectations to do “all the things” this summer by starting with a plan to accomplish one thing that’s really important to you
And now you’ve got the 4th Way to Savor the Summer
4. Choose One Word for the Summer
Don’t forget to get your free download and printable!
Have you chosen One Word for the Summer? I’d love to hear it!