How You Can Enjoy Summer When Working Full-Time

Let's be honest, summer does not feel like summer when you're working full time. This is especially true when you're in your early twenties, and you're new in your career. And trying to enjoy summer when working full-time will sometimes feel simply impossible.

You're used to having the summers off from college and university. Sure, you may have interned or worked part-time, but chances are you weren't doing 40+ hour work weeks, every week of the summer. That's all changed, and it really can take away the magic of the summer season.

The days of summer meaning three months of freedom - the no alarms, no meetings, and endless afternoons by the pool or beach are gone. Adulthood took it places. This can make summer feel disappointing, especially when you sign into social media and see everyone's vacation and beach pics while you're sitting in an air-conditioned office answering emails and phone calls.

6 Ways to Work Full-Time but Still Enjoy Summer

We do have good news for you - you can still enjoy the summer season, even when you're working full time. We aren't going to lie to you, though; it's not going to look the same as it did.

But, once you realize that you don't need an entire summer off to actually enjoy the season, you will find some of the magic back. All it takes is a few mindset shift and some intentional habits, and summer will start feeling like summer again.

How can you do this? Here's how.

1) Stop Waiting for Vacation

Summer and vacation were once synonymous. Now it's time to realize that the two aren't. A week long vacation shouldn't be the only thing you're looking forward to this summer to make summer feel like summer. Summer goes by so fast, and it just gets faster as you are working for some odd reason.

Instead of putting your happiness and summer fun into one trip, try and spread some moments throughout the season. Don't fall into the "I'll enjoy summer when my PTO starts" trap.

How can you do this? By sprinkling in "smaller" just still fun moments throughout the summer. This can look like trying a new ice cream shop after working, going to an outdoor concert, watching the sunset from the park, going to an outdoor happy hour or walking through your local farmers market.

2) Romanticize Weeknights to Still Enjoy Summer When You Work Full-Time

The sun is out longer during the day during the summer. Instead of saving all of your plans for the weekends, start taking advantage of your weeknights, too. Chances are that your work day ends at 5 PM. Try to actually leave work or log off at 5 PM and you'll still have several hours of daylight left if you do so.

Treat your summer weeknights different than you treat them during other seasons. Instead of heading straight home and staying instead for the rest of the night, take advantage of the daylight.

Eat dinner outside, read at the beach or park, go for an evening walk, play pickleball, tennis or volleyball, ride a bike, visit a rooftop bar - there are so may things you can still enjoy after a full day's work. Not everything has happen on a Saturday or a Sunday!

3) Actually Use Your PTO

Summer is the perfect time to check in and see how much PTO you have left. If you have some, use it! Especially use it if you're going to lose it by the end of the year.

We get it - many early careers professionals in their 20s don't take their days because they feel guilty, feel like they have to "prove themselves" or feel like they're "too new" to take it. But, PTO is part of your compensation.

Taking time off can actually improve your productivity. Even if you don't have enough days or don't want to take a full week, even a long weekend can feel refreshing and give you that summer feeling you've been chasing.

4) Create a Summer Bucket List

Chances are you used to write down a summer bucket list when you were younger. Why did you stop? You should very much still do so even as an adult. Why? Because by writing it down, instead of hoping summer is fun, you're planning for it.

Make a realistic bucket list with 10-20 activities. What do we mean by realistic? Fill it with smaller experiences - we promise that by doing a bunch, if not all of them, will make the summer season feel fuller.

Some examples of summer fun to put on your bucket list include seeing fireworks, hosting a BBQ, visiting a botanical garden, eating lobster rolls and heading to a baseball game.

5) Spend Less Time Inside to Enjoy Summer When You're Working Full-Time

We hinted about this in some of the example above, but now we are going to say it straight out—spend less time inside during the summer season. We know—that's a huge downside to office jobs. You leave home before the sun feels warm enough to enjoy the day, and by the time you get out, all you want to do is head to your couch.

But if you really want to make the most of the summer season, you have to get outside and enjoy the sunny and warm weather. Try and eat your lunch outside. If you can take a meeting via phone while outside walking, do so.

Walk instead of driving short distances. If you work remotely work from your patio, balcony or backyard. Have your morning coffee outside. These may seem small, but spending even just an extra 20-30 days outside can make your summer feel more like summer.

6) Don't Compare Your Summer to Social Media

Let us stress this again - don't compare your summer to social media. We know, Instagram and TikTok can make it feel like everyone you know is constantly traveling, except for you. But that's not true - most people are still working, just like you.

Yet, where's the fun in highlighting that... which is why most people don't. Social media only highlights the exciting moments, you need to remember that. Instead of chasing the summer you may think someone else is having because of social media, focus on making one that fits your life and makes you happy. That's the most important thing!

Final Thoughts on How to Enjoy Summer When You're Working Full-Time

As kids, summer meant three carefree months with no alarms, no meetings, and endless days spent by the pool or at the beach. Adulthood changes that reality, making it easy to feel like the season has lost its magic—especially when social media is filled with vacation photos while you're spending your days in an air-conditioned office plugging away at work.

The good news is that you don't need an entire summer off to truly enjoy everything the season has to offer. With a few simple mindset shifts and intentional habits, you can bring back the joy and make summer feel like summer again.

About the Author

---