We all have unrealistic visions of summer. We see ourselves frolicking through meadows catching butterflies, cliff diving, picking daisies, sunning poolside, lounging at the beach with a 6 pack (of beer) and a swimsuit body worthy of being illustrated. But the fact of the matter is most of us will spend the summer here on the computer, crying a little that we can’t go outside partially naked. Instead we’ll be running errands, feeding pets, feeding children, driving to wherever in traffic, squeezing in a workout, bathing, and attempting to get enough sleep.
I’m not cool enough to have a window seat, so here’s how I plan to evade SSAD (summer seasonal affective disorder) and all the MAYhem.
Step 1: Work out. Lunch-hour power walks will help you stay lively during the less-sunshiny hours at your desk. Probably best walk away from the minimart cashier/fatty-snack pusher.
Do or Day: Take at least one day a week to devote more than 5 minutes to your daily wardrobe choice. Don’t pick Mondays because they’re too manic, and everybody hates them anyway. Tuesday is good; you’ve had like a whole day to acclimate. Wednesdays are the beginning of your weekend anticipation, so you can just throw on anything and call it a hump day. Thursdays works because they build excitement. Don’t dress up on Fridays because you’ll feel better when you transform into your sassed-up summer self later that night. That’s the theory of relativity.
Finally: Consider a Miami sound machine—sans Gloria Estefan. You can get a sound machine at most bedding stores (and beyond). You might not be at the beach, but there’s no reason you can’t fall asleep to the sound of crashing waves.
Richy T – Totally wrote this blog on my smart phone while tanning at an imaginary beach.