Embracing Your Inner Child
Want to learn how to embrace your inner child this summer? As we get older, summers become less special since they are no longer dedicated breaks from our daily responsibilities. However, summer is a time many of us look forward to for a variety of reasons, including fewer hours at work. Also, we look forward to the warm weather and being able to spend more time with friends and family. If you’re trying to make the most of this summer, embracing your inner child through summer activities similar to those of your childhood may help you maximize the next three months.
There is a lot of discussion these days about embracing your inner child. But what does that actually mean? Connecting with your inner child means recognizing the challenges you faced as a child. Then, you work to validate your feelings, change negative behaviors, and heal childhood trauma. Some of this work means you need to get in tune with the way you felt during childhood. A few ways to do this are by prioritizing fun and spontaneity, re-establishing interests from childhood at an age-appropriate level, and considering goals and dreams you had at a younger age.
Here are some ideas for summer inspiration based on youthful interests and activities:
Create a summer bucket list
During our younger years, we were probably encouraged to create lists of things we’d like to participate in or accomplish over our summer breaks from school. This is a great way to connect to your inner child as an adult as well. Make a list of 10-15 goals or activities you’d like to complete over summer to keep you motivated to engage in fun this summer. When we have a set task list, it’s easier to pull from activities that are already written down when we have free time to complete our goals.
Get outside to embrace your inner child
As kids, I think we all spent a lot more time outside enjoying pools, beaches, amusement parks, and even just hanging out with friends. As adults, we may find it more difficult to spend time outside due to indoor commitments like working in an office. Embracing your inner child this summer can include prioritizing the amount of sun you get every day. Even a quick walk after work or enjoying your lunch on an outside patio can help.
Embrace summer reading
During your childhood, someone may have required or challenged you to complete a summer reading list. Most of us dreaded having to read academic-based books during our summer vacation. But we may now view reading as a more fun and exciting activity. If reading is something you’d like to prioritize this summer, create a list of books that interest you. Or search for recommendations for books based on your interests. Commit to reading a little bit each week and you’ll gain all the benefits by the time summer ends.
Bonus: Some public libraries offer summer reading challenges for adults. Look to your local library to see what they offer and if there are any rewards for keeping up with reading!
Set up a summer vacation
Whether you’re able to travel this summer or not, setting up some version of a summer vacation can help you feel more relaxed and less stressed. Taking a week off to spend at home, traveling to a new or favorite place, or just maximizing the weekend can help us shut off our everyday worries and anxieties and find some of the childlike wonder we had for a full summer as kids. Setting aside time for a mental vacation, if not a physical one, can help us maximize the summer fun.
Spend more time with friends to embrace your inner child
Getting together with friends is another great way to connect with your inner child over summer. This is especially true if you spent summers surrounded by neighborhood or school friends, or attended summer camps. As an adult, setting aside time with others can help us feel more connected, happier, and establish a sense of community that we may be missing in our lives.
About Samantha Nolan, MA, LPC, ATR- Barnum Counseling
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