What’s the point in going about life without some fun and wonderful little moments of joy? When we can take the boring and make it intriguing, why shouldn’t we? So welcome to a season series I’d like to call: Bringing Back Whimsy—an exploration of what it means to focus on the art of noticing, trying something new, and turning the mundane into little moments of magic.

Let’s kick off the first installation of this series with some suggestions for little ways you can inject some whimsy into your day this summer.

• Have fun with color, whether it’s a bright at-home mani with stickers and jewels, colorful scrunchies, fun hairclips, and wide headbands, or otherwise.

• Make your weekly farmer’s market trip an event! You don’t have to wait to use your cute outfits just for special occasions. Dress up and head out for a shop, coffee, and bagel. Don’t forget to buy flowers while you’re there! A weekly tabletop treat you can admire for days.

• Make your morning coffee at home fun by drinking it out of a fun cup, adding colorful sprinkles or dried flowers to lattes, etc. You can also add fruit to your water to make it more spa-like and enjoy the fresh flavors of the season. 

• Make your walks an event: take a picture of some beautiful flowers, set up a timer and take a selfie just because you feel like it, tally up all the fun nature highlights you see, pick out your favorite trees and say “hello!” to them. You can even tell them your secrets.

• Challenge yourself to make art in some form. It could be collecting something in nature, taking themed photos all season for a collage, painting your pet’s portrait, taking a pottery class, start journaling using creative writing prompts … your options are endless!

• Get to the beach or a pool whenever you can! Whether it’s a beach sunset picnic with carryout pizza, paddleboarding after a long day of work, having a campfire on the shoreline, solo car camping, having a dedicated “float” appointment with your friends, or otherwise.

• Seek out music in all forms! It could be live or it could be a specific playlist you’ve curated for the summer season only. Both new and classic tunes welcomed, of course.

• Create a tradition of spending the longest day of the year outside! Though that day has already passed this year, it’s never too early to start planning for next summer. Grab a blanket, your best friends, or just yourself and set up with some snacks and a good book until the last light is gone.

• Make a list of new summer recipes to try! Bonus points if you incorporate some ingredients you’ve never had or don’t normally use. And remember that summer-specific playlist? Yeah, turn that on too.

• Have a sleepover with your friends! Make it especially nostalgic with sleeping bags, popcorn, truth or dare, and the top movies from your coming-of-age years.

• Create a summer movie roster and make your way through it as the season goes on. Better yet if you can own or rent it in physical media form! And don’t wait for the weekend to watch—an easy way to make a week night feel more magical.

• Mark your calendar for neighboring outdoor art markets! It’s here you can browse handmade goods but also pick up fun trinkets for your home, garden, and even some early holiday shopping—if the feeling so strikes.

• Have a good declutter session! Donate or consider having a clothing/goods swap with your friends to give your items new life. You could also simply freshen up your space by rearranging a room (a classic childhood pastime).

• Make exploring someplace new a tradition. Coordinate with your friends to take a day off work each month to scope out a beach town you’ve always wanted to explore. Start the day off with coffee and breakfast before window shopping and spending the rest of the day on the sand.

• In the evenings, ensure you’ve got a place to unwind. String up warm patio lights, turn on the fire table, grab a throw blanket, book, and a glass of wine, and simply enjoy the fresh evening air.

Written by Sarah Suydam, Managing Editor for West Michigan Woman.

Photos courtesy of Sarah Suydam.