Seasonal Goals: A Flexible Plan for Summer 2025
Seasonal Goals – How to Make it Work for You This Summer
If you struggle to stay motivated during the summer, tempted by the fun that could be had away from your desk, perhaps it's time to create a plan that allows you to do a bit of both!
Seasonal changes brings with it the opportunity to embrace different approaches to the way we work.
We looked at Spring Energy in a previous post, and now as we're heading into the summer season of 2025, let's take a look at creating a flexible but intentional plan that allows you to make the most out of the longer, brighter days and increased energy; while creating the space you need and want to enjoy the summer and unwind.
As a huge advocate of flexible working, flexible planning and gentle productivity; my main focus is to create that feeling of balance between work and play – and the summer is a great time to reassess priorities and focus on that balance.
We'll look at how to tap into the energy that summer brings to set new seasonal goals, work gently towards your goals and make plenty of time for fun and relaxation along the way!
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Table of Contents
Why Summer is Great for New Goals
Whether the goals you're focusing on are related to personal growth or professional / business growth, the energy and freshness of summer is a great time to sort through the clutter, gain clarity and use the energy boost to make real progress while still enjoying the longer days and taking more time out.
Winters can drag, and for many who experience SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), you can feel the energy building through spring and peaking throughout the summer months. With the natural mood boost of serotonin thanks to more sunlight, it can also have a knock on effect to your energy levels and overall ability to focus.
Summer’s Energy Reset
Because more sunlight and longer days during summer gives you a natural lift, as well as more hours to play with, it's a great time to give yourself and your goals a reset. More pauses in work routines due to holidays or mini breaks, gives your mind more opportunities to pause, reflect and process.
Those ideas that have been stuck in your subconscious have the space to come to light, allowing you to step back and identify areas that may need some attention, as well as more room for creativity and clarity of goals.
Lighter mornings can help you to wake up with more intention, motivated to just get going, compared to those slower, darker ones.
Longer evenings gives you the feeling of more time, removing that feeling of pressure, and giving you time to relax and unwind that isn't simply curling up in bed!
Flexible Routines and a Slower Pace
This feeling of more time, more energy and improved mood means it's a great time to introduce or shake up your current routines.
If you've been planning on hitting the gym early, or taking that daily walk – when the sun is already shining at 6am, it doesn't feel as difficult to leave the comfort of your bed.
Many people have lighter schedules in summer. Schools close, holidays are booked, and there can be more of a focus on enjoyment as well as working towards targets. These shifts can give you the time and space to take a moment, rethink your current working practices, and to even try new things with less pressure on your shoulders.
If your old routine felt stressful with zero breathing room, the summer is the perfect opportunity to make those changes, introduce or remove habits and routines, and find more of a balance.
A Mid-Year Reset
Mid-year is a great time to review your progress towards the goals you set back in January! 5-7 months is enough time to be able to look at things objectively and identify what's working / what isn't, and to check that your goals are still aligned with the future you're building. I always advise to do this monthly, but a mid-year check in is a great alternative.
The Mid-Year Reset Plan:
Review what you've achieved so far:
This first step is key, as clarity on your current reality is vital. Approach this with kindness and grace if you know you've not made the progress you had hoped. Life can life, so these sessions are your way of drawing a line, looking ahead and creating next steps that are realistic and achievable. Oh, and make sure you celebrate yourself for what you have achieved 🙌
Stop what isn't working
This can feel hard when you've spent your precious time and energy on something. But, if it's not working, it's not helping you move forward. Consider your options, do you just need to pivot a little? Is it something that you can park for now and come back to in the future?
Set small, fresh new goals
Now it's the fun part! Using what you've learned in your reflections, let's make some goals! Be mindful of your intentions for the summer before setting these goals. It's the time to set small goals where you know you will get those quick wins.
Ease off the pressure as much as you can so that you get to enjoy a slower working pace for a while. You can revisit towards the end of summer and increase their intensity, but for now focus on smaller goals that keep you focused without stressing you out.
Remember, breaks during the summer aren't distractions – they are well needed opportunities to recharge, rest and have some fun!
Seasonal Goals: Flexible Summer Planning
Flexible planning will help you to continue to make progress while still getting to enjoy downtime across the summer. Learning how to adapt your goals and plans to align more with the pattern of summer, will help you manage your work commitments without missing out on having fun!
Prioritise
If you know you'll have less time to work, choose two or three priorities that really matter to you. Maybe these will be work related, or perhaps they will be more personal growth related.
Ask yourself:
- What do I want to feel by the end of summer? (Relaxed? Proud? Energised?)
- What will help me get there?
- What is the bare minimum I need to complete over the next two or three months?
- When September arrives, what will make me feel like I've achieved what I wanted or needed to?
- What can wait, what isn't essential?
- How much time will I realistically have to focus on work, and are my goals achievable?
Remember to leave yourself some wiggle room for unplanned events and experiences. Try to not cram your working schedule so that you don't feel like you're on constant catch up.
You can revisit goals and extend if you need to by regularly checking in and reviewing your progress. Don't be afraid to adapt where needed. Change and growth is rarely linear, so plan with the understanding that things may change along the way.
Working with seasonal goals means that there will be times when you naturally work more or less than others. If summer is one of those seasons where you work less, be confident that this will change as we move into Autumn once again.
Adapt Your Routine
Summer can be unpredictable with last minute plans, as well as weather changes. In the UK it's always hit or miss, with some weeks rainy and cold, while others are intensely hot and humid making it hard to sit and work as much.
- Use the cool hours for focused work (early mornings and later evenings).
- Take regular breaks outside to recharge.
- Allow for change. Adapt your daily to-do list on days when you know you'll have lots of interruptions, or for those unexpected days out.
- Have a back-up Plan B or Bare minimum plan. Identify the essentials, and leave space for your main priorities.
- Extend your timeline without guilt.
- Trust that rest and relaxation will improve your productivity in the longer term.
Celebrate Small Wins
When you approach your goals in a way that supports and motivates you, it makes you want to work and want to make progress. If summer is a time when you naturally slow down in work, celebrate every small win. Use the smaller goals to help you feel good and to keep momentum going – even if you're working less!
- Keep a wins journal – note everything down! If you've introduced a new healthy habit, celebrate it! If you've made a little progress towards a goal – make a note and celebrate it! It's honestly so motivating!
- Set up small rewards you can look forward to. This is great during the summer months as you could for example, opt to take the afternoon off to enjoy the sun after working in the morning.
Extra Resources
My Life Balance Wheel
Create Self-Awareness to set the goals that you really want.
This workbook includes printable worksheets to rate your current life, reflect and set intentional goals.
Tools, Resources & Support
Take a look at these tools & resources that will help you with your seasonal goals and personal growth:
90-Day Planner – This printable 90-Day planner is the perfect companion for you as you set your focus for the next 3 months. Use it every 90 days to help build consistent habits and achieve your goals with ease.
Impact Stationery – Have you ever dreamed of creating your own high-end stationery products? Laura has an amazing course & community designed to help you created printed products that you can market on Amazon, or your own website. It's different to KDP in that they're not print on demand, and the quality of products are incredible.
Canva Pro – Upgrade your content design with Canva Pro. Explore the enhanced features available in Pro. Grab your free trial here.
Etsy – Are you ready to create your own online store? Etsy is a brilliant shopping platform that's used by millions. Setting up your store is simple, and when you sign up with this link we both get 40 free listings!
Seasonal Goals – Final Reflections
Seasonal Goals are a great way of giving yourself permission to plan and work in a way that compliments both your energy as well as the energy of the season we are in.
Having a flexible and gentle approach to your work and goals gives you the space to create a balanced life. It helps you to recognise what's important and how to prioritise in a way that meets your own personal needs as well.
The summer months can be messy, chaotic and full of interruptions. If you know that your focus time will be less than normal, finding a way to embrace this and work with it will help you to continue to work, while giving yourself permission to down tools, rest and have some fun!
When you work flexibility you give yourself room to try new things, make changes to your current working patterns and reset your focus without guilt or pressure. Slowing down can be good for the soul, as humans we need to honour our own energy and be able to pause and enjoy life along the way.
I would love to hear your thoughts on seasonal goals! How are you planning for the summer? Share below ⬇️
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Meet Lynsey
Hey there! I'm Lynsey, a counsellor, coach and mentor for women who want to create change, but are feeling lost, uncertain and exhausted. With over 6 years’ experience of training, running businesses, and over a decade as a tutor and adult trainer, I've learned the value of a gentle and intentional approach to work and life that energises you without draining all of your energy.
I've lived with ME/CFS since 2011, and since then re-trained as a counsellor, and achieved a distinction for my Masters in Counselling and Psychotherapy Practice; all while running 4 businesses!
How? Improving your mindset, finding acceptance in yourself, and developing a gentle, but solution-focused approach to achieving goals is key. Knowing that it's not about how fast you move, but finding your own pace and trusting that you can achieve your goals in your own way, one step at a time.
If you'd like to know more about working with me, you can email [email protected] or find me on socials (links in the menu)
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