9 Ways Working People Enjoy Summer That You Can Try Too ...

Yes, happy hour is one of the ways to enjoy summer, but it is also the way to enjoy work-life period. The best thing about happy hours in the summer is that many restaurants and bars offer outdoor seating. Instead of sitting inside of a stuffy lounge, I love to take my food and drinks outdoors during summer time evenings. Bars and restaurants may also offer special food and drink menus including summer favorites. Fruity cocktails and fresh fruit and vegetable appetizers are almost always on summer menus, which is a perk if you’re all about your fruit and veggies.

If you have the means to do so, definitely take advantage of vacation time during the summer months. With all the beautiful places in the world that you can visit, your options for a fun-filled summer vacation are endless. Even if you don’t have a lot of money to spend vacationing on an island, you can still have fun taking time off and relaxing.

Stressed out at work? Tired of looking at the walls that make up your office or cubicle? Grab a quick lunch and take a stroll outside on your next lunch break. A little sunshine and fresh air can do wonders for your mood and leave you feeling refreshed and ready to finish out the rest of the day. If you live in a cold weather state, going outside for a stroll sounds like a terrible idea most of the year, so take advantage of the nice weather while you can.

So, you have a lot of work to do and the idea of staying inside while everyone else is out enjoying the beautiful day is disheartening. If you want to get some work done while catching the breeze, take your working talents to the nearest coffee house with an outdoor set up and continue your work. This is also a great tactic for students who are studying, as you won’t be distracted about missing the nice weather and instead, will have the chance to enjoy the weather and get some work done.

Summer time work attire is my absolute favorite. Bright colors, dresses (with no itchy stockings), and sling-back or open toe pumps. Although this certainly isn’t a consolation for those three months of summer you used to enjoy as a child, adding some color to your wardrobe during the summer is a way to feel good while handling your adult responsibilities. Yellows, blues, greens, and pinks, when done properly, look excellent in the office. If you’re nervous about doing drastic colors, take baby steps: a nice blouse with a little color or a scarf will add a little summer time fun to your look.

Cue Will Smith & DJ Jazzy Jeff singing "Summertime"! Grab a grill, some summer cocktail recipes, and your friends and family and throw a weekend cookout. As a rule of thumb, I make sure to have a cookout at least annually to remind my friends that we can still make time for fun, even in our busy lives. The key to a good cookout is great food, friends, and spirits, as well as music and games (Taboo for $200 please, Alex). Search the internet for cool dessert or cocktail ideas specifically tailored to the summer. You also could try throwing a themed cookout, which would add more fun to the gathering.

No matter what anyone tells you, you’re NEVER too old to enjoy a theme park or water park. If one is close to your city, take a weekend trip and get a couple thrills courtesy of some crazy roller coasters. Or if you'd rather relax, lounge around in a water park's lazy river. Regardless of what you choose to do, you’re bound to have some child-like fun at one of these parks. Sure-fire way to cure those “I wish I was a kid again" blues.

Whether you change your wardrobe, hair, or just the way you travel to work, changing up your routine is a way to add a little (emphasis on LITTLE) fun to your daily work regimen. Because summer is a new season, you should make an effort to do some things differently for sake of keeping life interesting. Pick up a new hobby. Date someone new. Add some flowers to your office. There are so many small things you could do to change up the way you usually do things. If you don’t have too much time for fun, this tip is a small step in helping you enjoy your summer.

Doing all the summer activities is definitely one of the ways to enjoy the summer. In many cities, the summer ushers in a wide variety of concerts, festivals, and other attractions that may float your boat. Go bike riding in the park, take a mini-boat cruise, or try some different delectable treats at a festival this summer. My cold-weather-state readers will understand me when I say the warm weather is only here to stay for a short time. Instead of hopelessly longing to be a kid again, make the most of your summer on the weekends or after work by getting involved with these activities. If you make time to enjoy some summer fun at least once a week, your mood is sure to improve over time.

Being in the working world may seem like a drag sometimes, but it’s the way of the world. When you were a kid, you likely couldn’t wait to grow up. Now that you’re an adult, take advantage of all the adult perks and have some fun! Working does not mean you cannot have a social life or enjoy the summer, so remember to make time for balance. What are some ways you’re able to balance working and summer time fun? I would love to read them in the comments section!