“Lazy Days” Summer Shortcuts to More Joy and Less Grind

Episode Summary: What if the most productive thing you could do this summer… is less?

In this gentle-yet-grounded episode of the Advancing Women Podcast, we challenge the pressure to “make the most” of summer by doing more—and instead embrace the science and soul of slowing down. Host, Dr. Kimberly DeSimone offers five simple, evidence-based shortcuts to reclaim moments of real joy, presence, and restoration—without guilt or hustle.

Grounded in psychology and full of permission to pause, this is your gentle invitation to swap striving for savoring, even just for a few minutes a day.

In This Episode, We Explore:

• Why summer sometimes feels like a grind (and how to resist it)
• The science behind savoring: Attention Restoration Theory + Positive Psychology
• The power of micro-rest and ritual for combating burnout
• The Broaden-and-Build Theory and how joy makes us stronger
• 5 liberating shortcuts to lighten the mental load

Here’s a sneak peak! 5 Tiny Summer Shortcuts for More Joy & Less Grind:

1. Do chores in the sunshine – Boost mood & vitamin D while still getting things done.
2. Reclaim waiting time – Turn “wasted” minutes into mini-retreats.
3. Make a ritual, not a routine – Infuse meaning into daily habits.
4. Go outside for no reason – Unplug, un-goal, and let nature reset your brain.
5. Say yes to low-stakes joy – Let go of perfection and embrace play.

Manifestatement: You don’t need to escape your life to enjoy your summer. You just need to insert small moments of pause, presence, and play into the life you already have.

Listener Invitation: What does your micro-moment of joy look like? Tag @AdvancingWomenPodcast on IG or Facebook, or send a message to share how you’re reclaiming rest this summer!

References:

• Attention Restoration Theory (Kaplan, 1995)
• Broaden-and-Build Theory (Barbara Fredrickson, 1998)
• Positive Psychology + the science of savoring
• Norton & Gino (2014) on the power of ritual

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DM or tag to share your summer shortcut joy!

More on Dr. DeSimone here! https://www.linkedin.com/in/kimberly-desimone-phd-mba-ba00b88/