Set Your Intentions for the Perfect Summer

Written by Giselle, founder of Giselle Avenue

Summer is more than a season—it’s a state of being. It’s the warmth that lingers long after sunset, the soft breeze that reminds you to exhale, the perfect time to realign with what matters most.

But here’s the truth: summer doesn’t automatically feel good. In a world where we’re constantly plugged in and always chasing the next big thing, we must be intentional about the life we’re living—even in the summertime.

Here’s how to craft your summer with clarity, care, and soul.

1. Reflect Before You Reset
Before you fill your calendar with travel plans and outdoor brunches, pause. Ask yourself:

What do I want to feel this summer?
What have I been craving—but ignoring?
Where does my energy feel most alive?

This inner check-in is your invitation to be honest—with yourself, about yourself. There’s no wrong answer. Just the truth you’ve been too busy to hear.

2. Choose a Word or Theme for Your Summer
One of my favorite practices is choosing a theme to guide my energy. A single word can anchor your entire summer.
Think:

Release
Ground
Ease
Restoration
Pleasure
Discipline
Freedom
Stillness

Write it down. Speak it aloud. Let it shape your choices.

3. Set Intentions, Not Just Goals
We live in a goal-obsessed world, but summer is softer than that. This is the time to set intentions—not just achievements.

Intentions are rooted in how you want to feel.
Here are a few examples:

I intend to nourish my body with joy.
I intend to take up space without apology.
I intend to laugh more and overthink less.
I intend to move at the pace of peace.

Intentions meet you where you are—and guide you where you’re going.

4. Create Your “Perfect Summer” List
Not a bucket list. Not a checklist. But a vision list—crafted by you, for you.
What does your ideal summer feel like?
What experiences are calling your name?

Here are a few prompts to spark your imagination:

Visit a local farmers market and make a meal from scratch.
Wake up early just to watch the sunrise in silence.
Take a weekend road trip, phone on airplane mode.
Start reading again—just for pleasure.

Make the list dreamy, but doable.

5. Clear Out What No Longer Serves
As nature blooms, let your spirit do the same. That means pruning what’s been draining you.
You might need to:

Say no to people-pleasing (A HUGE GAME-CHANGER!)
Clean out your digital spaces
Reclaim your time from distractions
Let go of guilt for resting

Your summer glow starts within.

6. Move in Rhythm With the Sun
Summer teaches us something beautiful: we don’t have to rush. We’re allowed to rise with the light, move slowly, and rest deeply.

Start your mornings with presence—tea, a stretch, a walk in stillness.
Let the golden hour be a moment to unplug, not post.
Honor your body’s needs—move when you have energy, rest when you don’t.

This season is about rhythm, not routine.

7. Celebrate Along the Way
Don’t wait until August to look back and realize how beautiful this season has been.

Celebrate the small shifts:

The boundaries you kept
The moments of peace you created
The new habits you honored
The joy you allowed yourself to feel

You don’t need permission to be proud of how far you’ve come.

Make This Summer Your Canvas
There’s no blueprint for the perfect summer. But with intention, you’ll create a season that reflects your heart, your pace, and your power.

May this summer be a sanctuary. A time to return to yourself.
Let it be light, on purpose.