By Robyn Clanton

One of my favorite lines in the much-loved novel The Great Gatsby always floats to my mind during this time of year. In the first chapter, Nick muses, “I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” It’s this idea that inspires me to try something new or simply to start over every summer. For example, a few years ago, I wanted to incorporate more meditative and calming practices into my life to help reduce stress and screen time. This is a pretty broad and lofty objective, so I chose a specific and simple practice to start with: meditative coloring. I bought a coloring book and a box of crayons and, in the evenings, instead of scrolling online, I listened to a podcast and spent time coloring, anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour. I was instantly hooked and looked forward to this calming activity.

The summer is a perfect time to pick one small practice to work on. Maybe you’d like to incorporate more enjoyable fiction into your life, or start the daily practice of a gratitude journal. It could even be as simple as making your bed each day. The trick is choosing something manageable. If the goal sounds like “become a completely different, hyper-organized person,” it’s probably too big (or unrealistic!). Instead, think bite-sized: “write three things I’m grateful for before bed” or “put my phone away while I eat breakfast.” The easier it is to start, the more likely we are to actually keep going.

One thing I’ve realized during my meditative journey is that once you’ve picked a habit to start to improve, it’s important to keep it light and flexible. Tie it to something you already do (like brushing your teeth or having a snack), and don’t panic if you miss a day. Otherwise, you might feel defeated and want to give up. Whenever I’ve felt that way, I take a deep breath and remind myself that I can just restart the next day. After all, the goal is consistency, not perfection. Over time, those small, almost effortless actions start to add up, and suddenly you’re someone who colors every day or journals regularly or keeps a tidy space without even thinking about it. It may not feel dramatic, but that’s the point; real change is less about grand gestures and more about the little things you can actually stick with.

Summer gives us all the space to experiment, adjust, and reset, regardless of age or stage of life. What new thing do you want to try this summer?