Planting seeds for a quiet summer routine.
Walking, writing, and quality time as a grounding practice.
Last week, I returned from a work trip in Indianapolis to find my home city of Pittsburgh in full spring mode (verging on summer because, climate change). I’d been aware of the 80-degree weather in Indy, but not able to fully appreciate it within the confines of a hotel. Upon returning home, I went about re-settling myself with unpacking and laundry chores, and I felt invigorated by the warmer weather to rethink my daily routine so as to fully enjoy the upcoming months.
There are three facets to this new routine of mine, calling upon improvements to my well-being, writing practice, and quality time spent with loved ones. I’m excited to implement these, and as you’ll see, they feed into one another quite holistically.
Well-being
Summer and winter Marissa are two very different people. Warm weather pulls me from my hibernation state every year, and when I finally wake up, it’s because my months-long lack of routine is too much to bear. Winter Marissa goes to bed at odd hours, wakes up whenever she wants, eats a late breakfast, skips lunch, then follows dinner with a big, sweet treat. And I wonder why my hunger cues and day-to-day well-being feel so out of whack.
Here are several simple steps I’m taking to implement a consistent, sustainable daily routine:
Consistent sleep schedule: I enjoy an early morning start, but it’s difficult to do in the dead of winter. Regular sleep patterns are so beneficial to improving overall health, energy, and mood levels. I’m leaving my phone out of the bedroom at night and relying on an old fashioned alarm clock. So far, this is helping me wake up and go to sleep earlier with more mental peace and clarity.
Eat regular meals: I’m doing my best to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner at appropriate times and be done eating by 7 p.m. to aid in digestion and sleep. I feel better when I keep to this schedule, knowing I’m getting enough calories and healthy protein/carbs/fat to fuel my workouts.
Nightly walks: I’ve started joining my husband on walks after dinner. These walks help with digestion and sleep, and we enjoy quality time together exploring our neighborhood instead of wasting all evening in front of the TV.
Writing practice
I’ve come a long way this year in finding a writing routine. It can be hard to maintain a daily writing practice among social obligations and the pull to be outdoors, but I’m committed to my writing efforts and will also be focused on submitting to literary magazines. I have a goal to get at least three stories accepted this year, which is not a high number, but more than I’ve had in previous years. With no stories accepted thus far in 2026, I’ve got my work cut out for me for the remainder of the year.
I’m also looking forward to outdoor writing activities! I attended an open mic earlier this month, hosted by the local writing group of which I take part, and had a blast reading and hearing fellow friends share their work. This group also workshops outside at a brewery in the warmer months, and it’s fun to socialize and enjoy nice weather.
I will certainly take breaks to enjoy vacation and social events, but writing has always grounded me and been the place where I find peace amid the unpredictability of life.
Quality time with loved ones
As mentioned above, my husband and I are walking nightly, which is such a simple way of spending quality time together. Sometimes we chat, other times we walk in silence (and I brew up story ideas), but being with him and actively moving our bodies feels really refreshing in a society that desperately grabs for your attention at every waking moment.
We’re also being more intentional about eating at the dinner table prior to our walks, and this makes for a natural, quiet wind-down to our day. We have both worked from home for the past six years, and so carving out the time to actually be together versus co-existing in the same space is vital to a healthy marriage.
Warmer months make it easier to see family and friends, and I want to cherish this time being with loved ones, while also enjoying new friendships I’ve made across my writing groups. A couple of weeks ago, I visited my parents for my mom’s birthday in the middle of the week (WFH perk), and it’s that type of intentionality I want to bring to my relationships: Not taking for granted moments to celebrate and be together. Because at the end of it all, it’s fellow humans who make life worth living, who make it exciting, interesting, and tolerable.
Do you have any summer plans or changes to your daily routine that you implement once warm weather finally peaks its head into your corner of the world? I’d love to hear from you and hope you’re enjoying the sunshine.
What I’m Reading
I am still knee-deep in Virginia Woolf’s To the Lighthouse due to work travel last week, but next up will be Patricia Lockwood’s No One is Talking About This, which feels Woolf-esque in its synopsis (and Lockwood wrote the foreword to the version of To the Lighthouse I’m reading, so it makes sense).