Reclaim your summer and recapture that relaxed, abundant, summertime feeling you remember from years gone by.

Many people have told me that instead of summer days during the last few years having a holiday feel, they seem to be hurtling past. There used to be something about the season that made time slow down and feel more luxurious, even with work and a full to do list. Now, not so much.

Updated June 2026 with more inspiration to help you reclaim your summer.

Are you missing that holiday feeling summers once had too? There seems to be a real sense that those lazy, crazy days of summer Nat King Cole used to sing about only exist in the past.

So how can you reclaim your summer? Well, I am here to tell you that it is easier than you might think and it does not have to cost a lot of money either!

Here are some easy ways to reclaim your summer and recapture that relaxed, abundant, summertime feeling you remember from years gone by. 

10 Ways To Reclaim Your Summer

1. If you have a garden or a front step, drink your first hot drink of the day outside. I like to have a little walk around my garden, soaking it in with all my senses. Checking what flowers have bloomed overnight, watching the bees buzzing busily around and quite literally, smelling the flowers is somehow both grounding and energising.
   
   You could also make a hot drink ‘to go’ and take a short walk in the morning light or simply sit by an open window.
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2. Make your favourite sandwich or summer salad and take it to the park for an alfresco lunch. Or spread a blanket under a tree in your garden and enjoy your lunch there. 
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3. Take a walk somewhere beautiful, not too far from where you live. Even 20 minutes can be incredibly restorative. If you can, meet up with a friend and have a bit of a catch up as you walk. Or have a ‘walk and talk’ on the phone with a faraway friend.
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4. Looking into local summer events is an excellent way to reclaim your summer and feel a part of your community too. My husband and I always enjoy a day at the Henley Regatta and summer nights at The Henley Festival. Local fairs, fêtes and open gardens can be a wonderful way to spend an afternoon.
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5. Read a book for half an hour, under a tree in the sunshine or in the cosiest corner you can find on a rainy day.
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6. Invite a friend round for a cup of tea or coffee and some friendly conversation. Or host an impromptu afternoon tea – which can be as simple as tea and some cookies or scones.
   
7. Go somewhere nearby that you have always meant to visit. Most of us have places not far from us that we just never “get round to” visiting. Now is the time! For example, Jane Austen’s house is less than an hour from mine but I cannot tell you how many years it took me to ‘get round to’ visiting!
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8. Get lost in a friendly bookstore for an hour or so on a rainy day. 
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9. Treat yourself to a drink in a local café or deli. Pause and take a few minutes just to enjoy a cup of coffee or tea or a cold drink. This is particularly effective when you are rushing around or running errands. Pausing and spending some time in the moment is such a wonderful way to reclaim your summer.
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10. Try a new recipe, just for fun. Whether it is a light and fresh summer salad, a slow cooker sensation (perfect for busy days and keeping the kitchen cool), or a beautiful summer dessert, there are some great recipes available here on the website.

How will you reclaim your summer? Please share more ideas and inspiration in the comments!

Photos by Terry Joshi Images
Styling by Sarah van Dort
Hair and Makeup Ali Oswald