I always think summer will be slower… and I’m always proven wrong. But it’s a different kind of busy. If you have kids, they’re home or off at camp. People are traveling, spending time outdoors (or escaping the heat altogether). No matter what your summer looks like, it’s a season that shifts our routines. It feels lighter, less structured, and honestly... a little magical. That’s exactly what makes it the perfect time to build creative rituals before the fall hustle sneaks back in.

Summer gives us longer days and looser schedules. That doesn't mean more pressure to do, but more room to be. It’s a beautiful season to explore what creativity looks like when it’s led by joy, not deadlines. 

The trick is to find a rhythm that works for you, and protect it. Whether that’s ten quiet minutes before the house wakes up or a solo sketch session on the patio, this is your permission to carve out space. Turn off your phone. Close your inbox. It’ll all still be there when you return. And if you can’t find consistent time this summer because of work, travel, or family chaos—embrace the mess. Let it inspire you. Come back to your creativity in the fall with fresh insight and stories to tell. 

Set Yourself Up for Success

When you find your golden time to create, set the scene. As James Clear says in Atomic Habits, 

“Environment is the invisible hand that shapes human behavior.” 

If your ritual starts at the kitchen table, set it the night before. Lay out your notebook. Leave your favorite pen visible. I do this every day (and I’m sure my husband wishes I didn’t leave my tools everywhere!), but that small cue reminds me to show up. 

You won’t always feel like creating. And yes, creative blocks will happen. That’s okay. On those days, switch it up: take your journal to a park, sit in a coffee shop, or draw while people-watching. The point is to make it yours, and to make it doable. 

Show Up with Intention

Give in to the ritual, not the mood. When you sit down, come with purpose, even if that purpose is to play. The more you allow your creativity to feel fun, the more naturally it will flow. 

I write this blog not because I have to, but because I want to sharpen my writing muscles. And truthfully, I don’t always want to start. So I follow the two-minute rule: I sit down with my coffee and sunlight pouring in, and I just begin, for two minutes.

The reason this works? I’m intentional with my time. I know what I want from the session, even if it's just a little progress or a creative release. 

Whether you're returning to an old project, learning a new creative skill, or simply journaling your day, having a loose goal helps you stay present and get lost in the process. And if you need a little extra inspiration? Be sure to join my weekly newsletter. You’ll receive new writing prompts, art ideas, and gentle nudges to keep the creativity flowing.  

✨ Creative Ritual Starter Checklist

Here’s a simple checklist to help you build your own creative practice this summer: 

 ✅ Choose a time of day that feels easiest or most inspiring ✅ Set up your creative space (even just a corner!) ✅ Leave your tools visible as a cue to start ✅ Try the two-minute rule: just begin ✅ Take it outside or to a new location once a week ✅ Set a small intention (e.g., “free write,” “sketch one idea,” “collage what I feel”) ✅ Let it be imperfect, playful, or even messy ✅ Celebrate the ritual—not just the results 

 So this summer, let your creativity stretch out with the sun. Build rituals that feel light, joyful and, completely yours. And if the days get messy or busy? That’s okay too. Creativity doesn’t need perfect conditions—it just needs an open door and a few minutes of your attention.

This July, we’ll dive deeper into self-expression and how to create with intention. But for now, give yourself the gift of space, time, and a fresh creative rhythm. You don’t have to do more. You just have to come back to what lights you up.