94 Simple Things To Be Grateful For This Summer

For all my fans of summer, I’ll just get this out of the way – summer is not my favorite time of year. Thus the need to focus on finding simple things to be grateful for during summer.

I realize a lot of you live in climates where you’ve just spent endless months shoveling snow and are done with the freezing temperature. Finding things to be grateful for as the warm weather approaches is not much of a challenge for you.

However, being a So Cal girl summer means countless days of 100+ degree weather. More and more it feels like it’s a year round event.

I get far more excited about the cool crisp days of fall and I’m already dreaming of all things cozy. As you may have already gathered my attitude falls apart in summer and I truly need to look for things to be grateful for.

Why Gratitude Matters

Gratitude is one of those things that changes our entire outlook. This is because it requires you to see the positive things in your life. They don’t have to be big grandiose events. Taking the time to be grateful for the simple things will have a big impact.

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Finding things to be grateful for makes you happier

According to a Harvard study  “gratitude is strongly and consistently associated with greater happiness. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, relish good experiences, improve their health, deal with adversity, and build strong relationships.”

When you take the time to practice gratitude you’ll find yourself feeling lighter and happier about life. Yes, even during 100+ degree temperatures with 75% humidity.

Finding things to be grateful for increases contentment

It’s easy to become discontent in the summertime. Aside from the obviously uncomfortable weather, we look at social media and see friends or even influencers going off on these wonderful beach vacations. Meanwhile, we’re struggling to pay the increased electric bill due to running the air conditioning non-stop.

While there is technically a distinction between gratitude and contentment they are closely tied together. When we practice gratitude it allows us to be aware of the good in our life. When we are content, we are satisfied with what we have.

So acknowledging all the good things we have, helps us to be satisfied with all that we have instead of longing for something different.

Finding things to be grateful for improves our social skills

In another study conducted by UC Berkely, the researchers found that gratitude inspires people to be more generous, kind, and helpful. They also found that gratitude is important to forming and maintaining social relationships.

Summertime naturally creates more social opportunities. There are more activities to attend and people tend to be out and about much more.

Gratitude gives us the opportunity to shine in these situations. It makes it easier for us to build strong relationships, as we are kinder and more willing to help.

How to Practice Gratitude

There really are a lot of ways you can practice gratitude. It really is about finding simple things to be grateful for as you go about your daily life.

But, you do have to be intentional. Sometimes it’s easy. You get a giant promotion, or a positive result from a medical scare, or maybe achieve a big goal. When big things like this happen most of us naturally respond with thankfulness.

However, sometimes practicing gratitude means taking the time to look for the things to be grateful for when life becomes hard or even mundane. This is when you need to be purposeful and intentional in practicing gratitude. Here are some things that will help. 

Keeping a gratitude journal

A gratitude journal is probably one of the simplest and most effective ways to practice gratitude on a regular basis.

Essentially it is nothing more than keeping a written log of the things you’re grateful for each day. It does not need to be anything fancy or you can use it to express your artistic side.

What matters is having a place to capture at least one thing you are grateful for each day. You can use a special journal, a plain notebook, or even make a simple note in your daily planner. Just write it down!

Use a Gratitude Jar

Gratitude jars are another simple way to practice gratitude each day.

Find a large jar with a lid, a favorite pen, and a stack of post-it notes (or other slips of paper). Make sure to set it in a place where you will see it each day.

Every day write down something you are grateful for and put it in the jar. On the days you’re struggling to find something good in your life, pull out one of the papers and remind yourself you do have things to be grateful for.

A gratitude jar is also great for the whole family. Each evening at dinner time everyone writes down one good thing that happened that day and places it in the jar. Later, as a family, you can all look back on all the wonderful memories you’ve experienced.

Daily Prayer or Meditation

Practicing gratitude should be a habit, not an occasional afterthought when you find yourself in a negative frame of mind.

To build a habit of gratitude integrate it into your daily routine.

Each morning or evening, set aside some quiet time to reflect on things that happened that you are grateful for. Give thanks to the Lord for those things or spend some time meditating on the good.

I do recommend doing this in the morning, as it impacts your entire day. But, if mornings are hard, the evening is great as well. Heck even if you just spend some time reflecting on things you are grateful for while brushing your teeth it will still make a difference.

Pay attention

Practicing gratitude can be as simple as paying attention to the little things in life. Tell the people in your life that you’re grateful for them. Smile and say thank you to the grocery store clerk in recognition of the vast variety of foods readily available to you.

Do something kind for someone else. Helping others inspires us to pay attention to our own circumstances and see all the good that we have.

Simple Things To Be Grateful For

Did you know summer is the longest season of the year, lasting an average of 94 days? 

So to help you find things to be grateful for this summer I came up with one thing for each day of the summer season. Use this list as everyday things to be reminded of or as a bucket list of summer fun activities.

1. Air conditioning

3. The smell of fresh-cut grass

4. Strolling through a Farmers Markets

5. Hiking at your favorite local trail

6. Planning a vacation

7. Ice cream on a really hot day

8. Ice-cold watermelon

9. Reading a good book

10. The sound of birds singing in the morning

11. Extra time off work

12. Fresh cut summer flowers

13. Watching a sunset

14. An afternoon nap

15. The sound of the waves

16. A summer thunderstorm

17. The summer sounds of crickets and frogs chirping

18. A cool breeze blowing through the house

19. Family Bike Rides

20. Outdoor grilling

21. Laying on the grass looking for shapes in big puffy white clouds

22. Coming home to a clean house

23. The feel of your bare feet in the ocean

24. Beautiful music waffling through the house

25. The taste of fresh summer fruit

26. Fresh strawberry shortcake with whip cream

27. Stargazing on a warm summer evening

28. A slow summer morning breakfast

29. Listening to a seashell

30. Swimming in a lake

31. Outdoor dining

32. Cooking with fresh herbs from your garden

33. Sitting under a large shade tree

34. Watching fireworks

35. Sipping a cold drink on a warm day

36. Farm freshly laid eggs

37. Supporting a neighborhood lemonade stand

38. People watching

39. Reading a quote you relate to 

40. Charcuterie boards are acceptable for dinner

41. An evening swim

42. A cool shower after a long day in the sun

43. Tiki torches

44. Driving with the windows down

45. Getting caught in a summer rain shower

46. Citronella Candles

47. Roadside fruit stands

48. Skywriting

49. Cafe lights on the back porch

50. Watching an outdoor movie

51. Sitting around an outdoor fire pit

52. Staying up late talking with your favorite people

53. The sounds of wind chimes blowing in the wind

54. Sandals and flip-flops

55. Watching butterflies

56. Laying in a hammock

55. Roadtrips

56. Eating fresh corn on the cob

57. Starting a garden

58. Exploring a small town

59. Visiting the county fair

60. Running through a sprinkler

61. A freshly washed car

62. Picnics

63. Outdoor concerts

64. Building a sandcastle

65. Ice Cream trucks

66. Sidewalk chalk murals

67. Turning off the lights and watching a good movie

68. Hanging out at the library

69. Evening neighborhood walks

70. Baseball games

71. Sun-dried laundry

72. A chalk-drawn hopscotch board on the sidewalk

73. Sun-kissed skin

74. Sunglasses

75. Sleeping in

76. Wildflowers

77. Yardsale hunting

78. Fresh summer salads

79. Wearing your favorite vintage t-shirt and shorts

80. Sunless tanning lotion

81. Chewing on crushed ice

82. Lazy days with nothing scheduled

83. Natural intake of vitamin D

84. Making sun tea

85. Walking barefoot in the grass

86. Less screen time

87. Longer daylight hours

88. Sun-bleached hair highlights

89. Get-togethers with family and friends

90. Iced Coffee

91. Random acts of kindness

92. Extra time to declutter

93. Memories that will last a lifetime

94. The first sign of fall

What would you add to this list, I’d love to hear.