This may seem a bit crazy to you, but I like to set summer goals. If I don’t set goals, I find myself getting to Labor Day feeling like I’ve wasted my summer and done nothing that I wanted to do.

On the other hand, if I set some summer goals, I can focus my efforts to make sure I achieve most of them.

Some of my goals are projects that I’m hoping to complete during the slower days of summer — perhaps books I want to read or craft projects I want to complete or files I want to organize. Other goals are fun things I want to make priorities — day trips, special events like fireworks or summer concerts, blockbuster movies I want to see. I actually write down everything I want to do and I post the list on the back of my bedroom door. It’s out of the way, but easily accessible. As I go through the summer, I check in with the list at least once a week. These weekly check-ins keep me focused and give me permission to make these things priorities.

By the time July ends, most of the list is complete, so I can make the things that are left my priorities in August. I don’t always get to cross everything off the list, but I do accomplish more than I would if I didn’t have the list. And I’m far less likely to feel that I’ve wasted my summer.