21 Summer Activities for Micropreneurs and Homepreneurs to Unplug and Recharge

Micropreneurs and homepreneurs often hear comments like “how nice it must be to work for yourself at your own pace and take holidays whenever you want.”

Although this may be true, some don’t recognize that “you are the business, and the business is you” and that you and your business work for your clients; that you plan your schedule to satisfy their needs. When you do decide to vacation, you inform your customers when you’ll be taking time off.

In one of my previous blogs, Life-Work Balance Secrets for Entrepreneurs, I comment on the importance of health and well-being in micropreneurial life and how that includes unplugging to recharge and sharing valuable moments and experiences with family and friends. In it, I also quote a wise old man on his meaning of life-work balance.

For me, that means understanding the importance of managing time, prioritizing responsibilities, and planning activities. I decisively book my holidays into my calendar and then make my clients aware of my time off. Since my family holiday time is an essential part of that calendar, I schedule future client meetings and activities around my time away.

I post an automated out of office message affirming my disconnection so that clients don’t expect a response. For the most part I stay disconnected, however, I share pictures of my holiday time as proof, for family friends and clients that follow me on social media.

It’s important to turn it off, to take a digital detox by temporarily disconnecting from emails, social media, and work-related technology. While at a family event, a retreat or vacation, leave work out of the equation. Shut off all devices. Summer is a great time to spend quality time with loved ones at picnics, barbecues, and other social occasions, thereby, strengthening relationships. Connect with the people who matter most to you and enjoy. It’s so hard to do but if you’re good at your craft, your clients will find you.

For many micropreneurs and homepreneurs, the last few years have been strange. First, dealing with Covid-19, and now having to get through a domestic economic crisis, with high inflation, increases in the cost of living, the housing situation, high interest rates, the ups and downs of the markets and the ongoing uncertainty with the global economy. It has been a physical and mental grind for many including Canada’s micropreneurs and “Ma & Pa shops” and one can only hope that we are reaching the end of this difficult path.

We’ve become more adaptable to “unplugging” especially as the days grow longer and the weather becomes more agreeable to being outdoors.

Disconnecting to recharge doesn’t need to translate to weeks and months away at an exotic island. It can be for 1/2 a day, a day or two or three. Be spontaneous. It doesn’t have to burn a hole in your pocket either. The key is to be open to simple fun activities, to relationships, to being in the moment and enjoying time away from your business.

Summer is a great time for entrepreneurs to take a break, recharge, and have fun. Below I’ve highlighted a list of 21 summer activities for micropreneurs and homepreneurs to unplug and recharge, that my family and I partake in and find to be relaxing and reenergizing, restoring a feeling of quality within.

Break away from the daily routine and enjoy some summer fun. Ready to unplug and recharge?

Park Picnics

Find a park in your area that is ideal for picnicking that you and your family would enjoy. We have a park nearby that is next to a river with acres of wooded land, trails, wildlife, and picnic tables throughout. There’s something to be said about lunching a la fresco.

Outdoor Movies or Concerts

Again, seek out the parks and venues that provide free outdoor movie nights and concerts that you and your family would enjoy. You will be pleasantly surprised.

Host a Back Yard BBQ

Invite your family and friends and share in food, drink, and merriment. If you play an instrument and are fortunate to have musically talented friends, gather by a fire at night for a sing-along. It’s so much fun!

Local Food & Culture

Discover local culture and attractions in your area. Visit museums, art galleries, historical sites, or attend and celebrate the many food and cultural festivals and events in your city during the summer months. It's an opportunity to immerse yourself in your community and gain inspiration from the local surroundings.

Craft Breweries

Visit a craft brewery nearby. Enjoy lunch or dinner, indulge in a flight or two and take the tour.

Cocktail Night

Invite your friends over for a drink and surprise them by serving outstanding cocktails and munchies in your back yard or patio or balcony.

Rooftop Happy Hour

Spend "happy hour" with people you care about on the best rooftop in your city.

Go for A walk, a Run, or a Hike etc.

Enjoy the outdoors during the summer months with activities like walking, running, hiking, or biking, in your favourite city parks or downtown areas. Stop to reward yourselves with a treat along the way .

Attend A Dance Party

Say yes to the next dance party you get invited to. Dancing is great exercise and dance parties are incredibly social, attributing to a balanced lifestyle.

Engage in Creative Pursuits

Pursue creative activities that allow you to express yourself, such as writing, painting, playing a musical instrument, or photography. Engaging in these creative outlets can be both relaxing and fulfilling.

Visit a Nearby Port Town

Take a drive to a nearby port town. Sit on a bench by the water and observe the various boats and yachts coming in and going out while enjoying an ice cream cone.

Visit Nearby Beaches

Take a leisurely walk at the nearby beach and if the weather is

permitting go for a swim. While you’re there treat yourselves to a cocktail, or even dinner by the waterside.

Water Activities

Say yes to the next invitation you receive to a friend’s boat or yacht. Being out in open air and in open waters is great therapy. Try water sports such as surfing, paddle boarding, kayaking, or sailing. These activities not only provide a refreshing break but also offer physical exercise and a sense of adventure.

Small Towns and Villages

Drive to nearby towns and villages. Walk through their downtown business areas where you won’t find any national or international brands and support local entrepreneurs.

Wine Estate Tour and Stay

Visit your wine region. Take a wine tour, do some wine tasting and where possible, spend the night at the winery estate.

Pick Up a New Activity

Learn something new. It could be cooking, photography, painting, or even a dance class. Learn a new outdoor activity like pickleball or paddle tennis. Learn to scuba dive or to mountain climb.

A Romantic Getaway

Book a hotel, Airbnb it, or go glamping at a nature resort. Attend a wellness retreat or spa getaway. These retreats often offer activities like yoga, meditation, spa treatments, and healthy meals. They provide a holistic approach to relaxation, rejuvenation, and self-care. Add the romantic dinners and a few good nights’ sleep.

Take a River Cruise

Visit a city by a river or lake and do a boat cruise. Some cruises come with brunch or a romantic evening dinner. Toronto, Kingston, Montreal, and Vancouver are great for this. Chicago offers a very interesting historical river cruise and if you are traveling through Europe, any city will do.

Try Cottage Life

Rent a cottage with your family or your closest friends for a week. Go fishing or just enjoy the isolation.

Just Drive

Drive across the country with your favourite co-pilot(s). Be sure to plan carefully for your trip and depending on the length of it, consider scheduling oil changes, tire rotation, a climate control check and battery life check.

Travel

Plan a vacation to a destination you've always wanted to visit. You may even want to exchange your wedding vows or plan a milestone birthday trip. It could be a tropical beach, a scenic mountain retreat, a bustling yet historical European city or a long luxurious trip hopping across the Greek islands.

Volunteer or Give Back

Dedicate some of your time to a cause or organization you care about. Volunteer at a local charity, participate in community service projects, or organize a fundraising event. Giving back can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment.

CONCLUSION

Create balance in your life. Disconnect from work as often as possible. Explore new surroundings, and immerse yourself in different cultures and experiences. Build relationships and generate memories. Spend more time in nature, where the swirl of the wind, the flow of downstream water, and a birds’ symphony, are the only sounds above silence, helping you to relax, clear your mind, and gain new perspectives.

Give yourself permission to unplug and recharge. Find activities that bring you joy and be sure to prioritize self-care during your summer break.

When you return, your clients and your business will be there. Enjoy your summer!

QUICK TIPS:

1. With technology today, you may want to hold your own outdoor movie night. This became an annual event for us and our circle of friends. We provided fresh popped popcorn from a popping machine on wheels, a beverage station, and a confectionary stand.

2. Enroll in a summer class or workshop to learn a new skill or hobby that has always interested you. Learning something new like ballroom dancing can be fun and stimulating, taking your mind off work-related thoughts.

3. Integrating your personal life (your precious family and friends) with business is easier to achieve as part of a well-thought-out plan generating value for you, your family and your customers.

About The Author

Ioannis John Anagnostou is the owner of businessMD.

businessMD is an expert small business solutions firm offering high-spec and bespoke business plans, targeted marketing strategies and other life-changing business documents, helping Canada’s homepreneurs, micropreneurs and small business operators find business success. Let’s Talk!