How to Prioritize Personal Growth This Summer

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Summer is more than beach days and barbecues — it’s also the perfect time to reset, reflect, and pour into yourself. With longer days and a slower pace, there’s space to grow in ways that truly matter. Whether you’re balancing kids, work, or simply trying to find yourself again, this season is a chance to prioritize you. From refreshing rituals to simple mindset shifts, here are 10 practical ways to lean into your personal growth this summer. 

Tips for Prioritizing Personal Growth During Summer

1. Create a Summer Self-Care Ritual 

Summer is ideal for slowing down and turning inward. Why not create a weekly self-care ritual that’s just for you? It doesn’t have to be fancy — light a candle, sip iced herbal tea, journal by moonlight, or take a barefoot walk in the grass. The key is consistency. 

Choose one small act that signals “this is my time.” Bonus points if it involves nature, quiet, or intentional movement. When self-care becomes a ritual, it stops feeling like a chore and starts feeling like a return to yourself. 

2. Set a Fun Personal Goal

Personal growth doesn’t always need a five-year plan. Sometimes, it’s as simple as setting one joyful, bite-sized goal. Think about finishing a book, trying a new gluten-free recipe each week, or doing a daily five-minute stretch challenge. 

The secret is making it attainable and fun, so it motivates rather than pressures you. Keep it light, seasonal, and soul-nourishing. You’re not proving anything to anyone. You’re just showing up for yourself in a way that feels good. Write it down to make it come true faster, track your progress, and celebrate each mini milestone along the way. 

3. Reconnect With Friends Who Fuel You

Let’s be honest — adulthood can make friendships feel like a luxury. However, the truth is that meaningful connections are essential for personal growth. Surrounding yourself with people who support, uplift, and inspire you can reignite your sense of self. Whether it’s a catch-up coffee, a voice memo, or a full-blown girls’ night, prioritizing the right friendships matters. 

Studies show that strong social ties improve self-esteem, reduce stress, and even increase longevity. Translation: good friends = food for the soul. 

If you’re a parent, you might find it more challenging to connect because you’re so focused on your children. However, you can use your children’s playdates to connect with other parents and make friends for yourself! 

4. Declutter a Space to Declutter Your Mind 

There’s something magic about clearing your physical space — it somehow clears mental space, too. If your energy has felt stuck lately, look around: is there a drawer, shelf or inbox that needs clearing? Set aside one weekend this summer to declutter a small area. It could be your wardrobe, your bathroom, or even your calendar. You’ll be surprised how energized you feel afterward. 

This simple act sends a powerful message to your subconscious: I’m making room for something better. 

5. Revamp Your Morning Routine

Mornings set the tone for the whole day, and summer mornings offer the gift of light and stillness. Swap mindless scrolling for something intentional: gentle stretching, sipping lemon water, journaling your dreams, or simply sitting in silence. 

Even if you only have 10 minutes before the chaos begins, make those 10 minutes sacred. A peaceful morning means a more grounded you. Pro tip: prepare the night before so your new habit sticks. Lay out your clothes, queue your playlist, or prep your breakfast. Small tweaks can spark big transformations. 

6. Learn Something New 

When was the last time you learned something just because you wanted to, not because you had to? This summer, give your brain a treat by exploring something that sparks curiosity. Think pottery, herbal remedies, a new language, or watercolor painting — whatever makes you feel lit up inside. 

There’s no pressure to be good at it. The joy is in the discovery. Learning for fun boosts confidence and stimulates your creativity, both key ingredients for personal growth. Sign up for a class, download an app, or just spend a lazy Sunday getting lost in a new subject. Let it be playful and let it be yours. 

7. Unplug to Reconnect 

We all know screens are draining, but we rarely pause to ask: What is constant scrolling stealing from me? This summer, experiment with screen-free evenings or weekends. Swap Netflix for stargazing. Leave your phone behind on a nature walk. Be fully present with the people in front of you — even if it’s just yourself. 

Unplugging gives your nervous system space to breathe. It creates room for real conversations, spontaneous inspiration, and genuine rest. You might be surprised by what clarity surfaces when you’re not refreshing your feed. 

8. Try a “Soul Cleanse” 

Sometimes growth isn’t about doing more. It’s about letting go. A soul cleanse is your personal reset button. It’s like spring cleaning for your spirit. 

Start by noticing what’s weighing you down. Is it negative self-talk? Energy-draining habits? A grudge you’ve been holding? Gently acknowledge it, then release it. 

You can journal, meditate, do a smoke cleanse with sage or simply say out loud: “I release what no longer serves me.” Lighten the emotional load and you’ll feel more open to inspiration, love and progress. Your energy deserves to feel light. Let this summer be a soft return to wholeness. 

9. Give Back or Volunteer 

One of the most underrated ways to grow as a person is to help someone else. Giving back expands your perspective, boosts gratitude and connects you to something bigger. Look for ways to volunteer. It doesn’t have to be formal. All that counts is kindness. 

Personal growth isn’t always inward. Sometimes, the biggest breakthroughs happen when we step outside ourselves and into service. Bonus: Helping others has been scientifically linked to greater happiness and lower stress. 

10. Track Your Growth

Last but definitely not least, track your wins, no matter how small. Growth often happens quietly, in moments we forget to notice, so make it visible! Use a bullet journal, a notes app or even a “summer glow-up” photo diary. Write down the good days, log the breakthroughs and reflect weekly on what you’re proud of. 

And don’t wait for huge milestones to celebrate. Each mindful choice you make is a win. Every time you show up counts. Acknowledge it, toast to it and remember that you’re always doing better than you think!

Sunkissed and Soul-Fed

You don’t need to overhaul your life to experience real growth. You just need a season of small, intentional shifts. Whether it’s sipping tea at sunrise, clearing out old energy or belly-laughing with friends, every mindful choice adds up. Summer is your invitation to slow down, tune in and bloom in your own beautiful way. So here’s to your glow-up, whatever that looks like. Less pressure, more presence. Less hustle, more healing.