How to reclaim the magic of summer, according to Gretchen Rubin

Summary

Life Kit — How to Reclaim the Magic of Summer, According to Gretchen Rubin
NPR • Host: Marielle Segarra • Guest: Gretchen Rubin • June 16, 2026

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Marielle Segarra sits down with author and happiness expert Gretchen Rubin to explore how adults can recapture the “magic of summer.” Drawing inspiration from childhood memories and movie-fueled expectations, the conversation offers practical, creative strategies to help listeners make the most of the season—including setting intentional goals, establishing playful rituals, and using sensory experiences to anchor summer memories. Rubin and Segarra share tips on how to keep summer special, satisfying, and meaningful, even within the constraints of busy adult lives.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

The Myth and Magic of Summer (00:21–02:43)

• Summer Fantasies vs. Reality:
  Segarra recalls romanticized images of summers inspired by pop culture—transformative trips, adventures, and personal reinvention (00:27). Rubin relates with her longing for empty, unstructured time as in childhood (00:54).
• Roots in the School Calendar:
  The idea of the specialness of summer is rooted in childhood and the structure of the school year (01:15).
• Why Adults Lose the Magic:
  Summer “flies by,” warns Rubin—if we’re not intentional, plans like picnics and day trips simply don’t happen (02:04).
• The Importance of Intentionality:
  “Things that can be done at any time are often done at no time. ... By saying, ‘I want to get it done this summer,’ [it] can be useful.” — Gretchen Rubin (02:37)
• Container Principle:
  Setting summer as a container (a limited window) creates urgency and motivation (02:42).

Takeaway 1: Give Your Summer a Theme (03:06–05:55)

• Choose a Guiding Word or Phrase:
  Rubin suggests picking a word that captures the feeling or intention you want to embrace (03:07).
  • Examples: adventure, relaxation, slow, explore, juice.
• The Power of Creative Themes:
  Quirky or personal choices are powerful:
  “Mine is ketchup... it’s really just, like, look for the whimsy. ... Look for [what] is gonna make something elevated and more fun.” — Gretchen Rubin (03:27)
• Dual Meaning and Wordplay:
  Segarra quips about “catch up” as a play on ketchup and how summer is a good time to revisit goals and resolutions (04:10).
  Rubin suggests using July 2nd—“halfway day”—to reflect on progress toward yearly aims and possibly to “mindfully abandon” dropped goals (04:16).
• Theme Brainstorming Tips:
  Pick words with personal resonance and energy. Find fun alternatives to tired words:
  “Instead [of ‘resilience’] she picked ‘bounce’... it really captured the idea.” — Gretchen Rubin (05:32)

Takeaway 2: Make a Summer Bucket List (09:39–11:15)

• Turn Ideas into Action:
  Draft a specific list of things you want to experience—kayaking, seeing a sunrise, riding a Ferris wheel, or tackling lingering tasks (09:39).
• Include Satisfying Challenges:
  Rubin shares her fearful driver bucket list item—“Anytime I have a chance to drive, I’m going to drive. ... It makes it feel very satisfying because I’m working on something that I really want to tackle.” (10:02)
• Customize the List:
  Some people prefer long, easy-to-complete lists; others like ambitious but fewer items. The key is balancing excitement and realism to avoid discouragement (10:50).

Takeaway 3: Gamify with a Summer Challenge (11:15–13:57)

• Create Playful Goals:
  Invent novelty rituals, like “Friday Freaky Flavor”—try a new ice cream every Friday (11:30).
  • “If you had Friday freaky flavor all summer long, that would really stand out in your mind for that summer, right?” — Gretchen Rubin (11:30)
• Tackling New Experiences or Skills:
  Summer is a good time for personal challenges—new hikes, classes, learning to swim, or finally scheduling medical appointments (12:16).
  • “Maybe this is your summer of dentistry or doctor’s appointments... in the end, it’s going to make me feel better.” — Gretchen Rubin (12:30)
• Balance Indoor and Outdoor Pursuits:
  Segarra notes that extreme heat can make indoor hobbies especially relevant—try new recipes, crafts, or board games (13:08).

Takeaway 4: Experience Summer Through All Five Senses (15:15–17:09)

• Cultivate Sensory Awareness:
  Build vivid memories by noticing and recording what summer smells, tastes, sounds, looks, and feels like (15:27).
  • “You can do a five senses portrait ... [it] really puts you back into that experience.” — Gretchen Rubin (15:27)
• Make it a Family or Group Activity:
  Sensory portraits can be shared with children or loved ones, deepening collective memories (16:38).

Designing a Family Summer (16:38–18:21)

• Family Planning for Summer:
  Solicit input from everyone, considering each person’s preferred pace. Some thrive on active days, others need broad margins for rest (17:09).
  • “There’s a quotation from Thoreau: ‘I like a broad margin to my life.’ And I’m like, I need a broad margin. I don’t like to rush.” — Gretchen Rubin (17:27)

Recovering from Lost Resolutions (18:21–19:59)

• How to Re-Engage if You Stall:
  Rubin recommends visual reminders (index card, jewelry, T-shirt) and the mindset:
  “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now.” (19:44)
  There’s always time to restart your intentions; it’s never too late.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “Things that can be done at any time are often done at no time.”
  — Gretchen Rubin (02:37)

• “For me, it’s the symbolic idea of adding ketchup.”
  — Gretchen Rubin, on her unique summer theme (04:06)

• “If you haven’t thought about the fact that it’s something meaningful to you, it just might slip by... Whereas if you design it into your summer, then you can really make sure that it happens.”
  — Gretchen Rubin (08:58)

• “If you had Friday freaky flavor all summer long, that would really stand out in your mind for that summer, right?”
  — Gretchen Rubin (11:30)

• “I like a broad margin to my life.”
  — Quoting Thoreau, Gretchen Rubin (17:27)

• “The best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now. ... You’re never behind. You can always just start where you are and jump in.”
  — Gretchen Rubin (19:44)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:21 — Introduction: Why we crave magical summers
• 02:04 — The need to intentionally design your summer
• 03:06 — Takeaway 1: Give your summer a theme
• 04:16 — Midyear reflection: “Catch up” on goals around July 2nd
• 09:39 — Takeaway 2: Make a summer bucket list
• 11:15 — Takeaway 3: Gamify summer with a personal challenge
• 15:15 — Takeaway 4: Savor summer through your five senses
• 17:09 — Planning summer as a family (balancing energy levels)
• 18:21 — What to do if you stall on your summer goals

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Episode Summary Recap

Four Takeaways for Reclaiming Your Summer Magic:

1. Theme — Pick a guiding word or phrase for your summer (e.g., “juice,” “adventure,” “bounce”).
2. Bucket List — List out small and big experiences you want to have this season.
3. Challenge — Make at least one playful or growth challenge to gamify your summer (e.g., Friday Freaky Flavor).
4. Five Senses — Anchor summer memories by engaging all your senses, and reflect on what makes the season vivid for you.

Rubin emphasizes the importance of making conscious choices, creating structure (without overloading), and savoring every bright sensory moment. Whether your summer is about novelty, slowing down, or simply eating more peaches, the magic comes when you plan for delight.

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Memorable closer:
“I love the juicy summer. I think that’s a great thing.” — Gretchen Rubin (20:02)
“Summer of juice.” — Marielle Segarra (20:08)

Transcript

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[Mariel Segarra]

I tend to romanticize summer, or at least I have in the past.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah.

[Mariel Segarra]

And I think that's in part because of movies and TV shows that were on when I was growing up and in high school. Is this idea that, like, you were supposed to go somewhere maybe far flung for a couple of months and completely transform, probably have a whirlwind romance?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes.

[Mariel Segarra]

And, yeah, just come back renewed like a totally different person. And honestly, I have never had a summer like that. It's hard to live up to that.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes, for me, my fantasy is more modest, but it's just the idea that somehow the summer is gonna stretch out empty and full of just time to fill. As I like the way it was when I was in fourth or fifth grade.

[Mariel Segarra]

Yeah, I guess it does go back to childhood. Cause I was wondering, like, where does this really stem from, this idea of summer, as if it stands apart?

[Gretchen Rubin]

You know, it's the school calendar. Yeah.

[Mariel Segarra]

Yeah. Hey, it's Marielle Segarra. You're listening to Life Kit from npr. Do you remember when summer meant something, when it felt special? The long days stretching into weeks, the feeling that there was more time and more possibility than at any other point in the year. Our guest today, Gretchen Rubin, has a plan to help you reclaim that feeling. Gretchen is a writer. You might know a few of her books like the Happiness Project or her podcast Happier. She's also been on Oprah, and she's a pro at helping people create meaning from their life experiences. She says now is the time to think intentionally about how to make the most of your summer before it slips away.

[Gretchen Rubin]

So often the summer just flies by and we haven't taken the picnics or gone for the day trip or whatever it was that we thought we were going to do because it passes so quickly. I think we do have this romantic idea of what summer can be, but if we don't design our summer to hold that, it's not going to happen on its own. That's something that if we really want it to happen, we have to plan for it. And, like, there's something about the fact that it's just this one season. I think that little bit of time pressure is actually useful for us because it gives you that feeling of like, well, I better do it now and I need to make a Plan now, because otherwise this time is just going to slide by. Things that can be done at any time are often done at no time. And so by saying, I want to get it done this summer can be useful.

[Mariel Segarra]

Gives it a container.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Gives it a container. Exactly.

[Mariel Segarra]

On this episode of Life Kit, Gretchen and I talk about how to plan the summer you want. Whatever that looks like. We talk about picking a word as your guide, creating a bucket list, sticking to a challenge, and more. We're going to start, though, with the word. Gretchen says one way to design the summer you want is to give it a theme. This is takeaway.

[Gretchen Rubin]

1.

[Mariel Segarra]

Pick a single word or phrase that you want to embrace this season, something that captures the feeling you want to have or whatever you're seeking over the next few months.

[Gretchen Rubin]

So it could be adventure, it could be relaxation. When you look at people's one word themes, they're often opposite. Like, some people will pick more and then some people will pick less, and some people will pick now, and some people will pick weight, and some people pick bigger and some people pick smaller. It's all what you want. And part of the fun of it is coming up with, well, what is the theme that is going to really please you? Like mine is ketchup, because I think ketchup is like a superfood. It has all five of the basic tastes. Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami, which is extremely unusual. And it has a kind of a summer feeling because you think of putting ketchup on your burger and there's something kind of whimsical about it. Ketchup, it's really just like, look for the whimsy. Look for, like, whatever I could add that's gonna make something elevated and more fun.

[Mariel Segarra]

Oh, ketchup is a metaphor.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes, it's a metaphor. For me, it's the symbolic idea of adding ketchup.

[Mariel Segarra]

Question. Are you also trying to catch up on things this summer?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, very well played. I didn't even think of that. And that is so good because that is one thing I try to do in the summer. Because one of the things that is true of the summer is it includes July 2, which. Which is halfway day and halfway day. We're halfway through the year. So if there have been resolutions that you've made or goals that you've wanted to achieve, it's good to stop July 2nd and think, okay, am I on track? How am I doing? Do I need to find a different approach? Do I need to re engage with this? Do I want to give it up? Have I decided that Actually, this isn't something that I want to pursue. Do I want to mindfully abandon it? That's a good strategy if something isn't working out. So catching up on July 2, perfect.

[Mariel Segarra]

I do love wordplay.

[Gretchen Rubin]

So, yes, I love a wordplay.

[Mariel Segarra]

I was an English major.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay.

[Mariel Segarra]

Were you also an English major?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yes, I was.

[Mariel Segarra]

As people are trying to come up with their theme, I mean, what advice do you have for them in brainstorming?

[Gretchen Rubin]

That think about what is the atmosphere you want to create or what is it that you want to point yourself to. And then think of, like, what is a word? Like a creative, interesting word that has a lot of energy and you want to think of a word that really does have, like, resonance. Like, my sister basically, basically one time wanted to have resilience, but oh my gosh, right? Like, we've all heard that word so many times.

[Mariel Segarra]

It's a heavy word.

[Gretchen Rubin]

It's tired. So instead she picked bounce. And the idea of like, bounce back, bounce into the future, have energy. And like, it's a quirky, whimsical, memorable word, but it really captured the idea of what she wanted, which was resilience. So sometimes it is fun playing with what are the words that attract you, that stand for the idea, what you're trying to capture from the season?

[Mariel Segarra]

We'll have more Life Kit after the break.

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[Mariel Segarra]

It's easy to feel overwhelmed by skincare advice. Somewhere along the way, skincare got complicated and started to feel like a job. But what products and treatments will actually lead to healthier skin life? Kit made a Special newsletter series. To answer that question, sign [e-mail] skincare or find the link in the description for this episode. I also have been trying to think about, in terms of this, what summer truly lends itself to. Because I think we do. We want it to do a lot. And maybe we're unrealistic about what we can get done, but also what are the opportunities, the realistic opportunities? For me, I think it's like looking at the pleasures of the season. Like a juicy, ripe peach. You know, like eating a peach often over the sink so it doesn't drip all down my face and my clothes. Or wandering in nature or watching the sunrise or sunset. You know, the longer days, allowing yourself leisure rather than rushing around from one thing to the next. To me, summer is about slowing down.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, and that's a really good thing. Maybe that would be your one word. Your phrase would be slow down or take your time. Something that would capture the idea of settling into an experience. There is something about the longer days that just feels like you do have more time.

[Mariel Segarra]

Yeah. Maybe it also lends itself to exploration. And then also maybe it's abundance. Maybe juice is my word.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Ooh, I like that word. That's a juicy word. Yeah.

[Mariel Segarra]

Because like, even just the fruit that are available in the summer are so very summery. Yes. And just like squeezing the juice out of it.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Yeah. You're squeezing the juice out of the summer, but then you're also enjoying the juicy tomato, the juicy peach. Yeah. See, that's a perfect example. It's a very summer word. But this is why I think it's so helpful to think about it in advance. Because if you don't think about it, the whole summer could go by and you haven't had a single peach as much as you love them. It just there was never the opportunity. When you're like, now's the time. And if you haven't thought about the fact that it's something that is meaningful to you, it just might slip by and then they're not in season and then you've missed your opportunity. Whereas if you design it into your summer, then you can really make sure that it happens and that you really have that enjoyment.

[Mariel Segarra]

That's another takeaway from Gretchen. Takeaway 2. Come up with a bucket list of things you want to do this summer. Maybe you want to try kayaking or see the sunset at least once. Ride the Ferris wheel at a summer fair, or make a tomato tart. You might even put something on there that you don't necessarily want to do, but You've been trying to cross off your list for a long time, like cleaning out the garage or like, I'm

[Gretchen Rubin]

a very fearful driver, and the more I drive, the more comfortable I am. But because I'm fearful, I often don't want to drive. So this summer I really saying, and I live in New York City, so I don't have a lot of opportunities to drive up. But I vowed anytime I have a chance to drive, I'm going to drive. This doesn't make my summer more fun because I'm a fearful driver, but it makes it feel very satisfying because I'm working on something that I really want to tackle. But it could be something like 50 summer walks or 10 new roast chicken recipes. Having a bucket list of things that you want to try really can make sure that those things get tackled, even if it's as simple as, like, a backyard picnic.

[Mariel Segarra]

How many things do you think one can reasonably put on a summer bucket list?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Some people love a long list with a lot of easy things to cross off. I'm kind of a big fan of that approach myself. Some people like fewer things that are more ambitious. It's really whatever works for you. But I think you want to be realistic with yourself because sometimes it's easy to get discouraged if you set the bar too high and then you feel like you've let yourself down. So pick the things that are really important to you and really try to follow through with those.

[Mariel Segarra]

Another idea takeaway three is to come up with some sort of challenge. Gamify your to do list a little bit. You know, I'm going to try 10 new taco joints or eat at every diner in the neighborhood or read five romance novels this summer.

[Gretchen Rubin]

People are so creative with this, I mean, like, Friday freaky flavor, where it's like every Friday they went to the ice cream store and had a freaky flavor. And it's like, if you had Friday freaky flavor all summer long, that would really stand out in your mind for that summer, right? Years later, you'd be like, oh, that's the summer when I discovered, you know, creamed corn ice cream. Sometimes they're really meant to help us explore, like many people do, challenges related to, I'm going to do 10 new hikes or I'm going to try six new exercise classes to get out of my rut and see if there's a new kind of exercise that I would enjoy. Sometimes they're a challenge where it's really something that's difficult that you really are saying to yourself, okay, I'm really going to do this, and I know that it'll make me happier in the long run, even if it's a challenge that I don't enjoy. Many adults do not know how to swim. And this is something that, in my observation, kind of weighs on them. So maybe this is your summer when you're gonna take swimming lessons and really learn how to swim. Even if that's something that's scary to you. Maybe this is your summer of dentistry or doctor's appointments where you're like, okay, I've got a little bit more free time. Let me make some appointments that I've been putting off. Cause I know in the end it's gonna make me feel better to get these things done. But I need to get kind of work myself up to it. One of my challenges is to watch Girls. I've never seen the TV show Girls,

[Mariel Segarra]

and I wanna just prepare to be uncomfortable.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Okay, I know that's sort of what I've heard, but people say it's so good. So I'm thinking, okay, well, summer's passing. Maybe I just sit down and just watch a lot of girls.

[Mariel Segarra]

I think it's a good idea to have some summer pursuits that are indoors. Because sometimes it is unbearably hot outside in the summer. And I think there's a lot of pressure to be outside all summer because it's like, I've waited all year for this, but when it's 100 degrees, I don't want to be outside.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Right. So maybe you have hobby summer and you're like, I'm going to experiment with three new hobbies or I'm going to knit something or build something. Or maybe it's experimenting with, like, learning to make homemade ice cream or making homemade bread or something where you'd come out of the summer feeling like, oh, wow, I really like, I really learned something or did something. Playing Scrabble with your family every, you know, every night after dinner or something like that to give it a special flavor.

[Mariel Segarra]

Yeah. After the break, we soak in the summer through our senses.

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[Mariel Segarra]

All right. Takeaway four is to experience the summer through your five senses and then reflect. What does summer look like, smell like, taste like, sound like, and feel like?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Our five senses are so important. And I think this summertime is a time where we really think about our five senses a lot. There's something like just very vivid about summer. And you can do a five senses portrait either of your summer or of a specific adventure you had in your summer. Like, let's say you took a family trip and you could do this by yourself, or you can do this with a group of friends or with your family. And you just go seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, touching. So let's say you went on a July camping trip with your family. You'd say, okay, what were the five most notable sights that we saw? And then you would talk about, okay, well, what was like, oh, that was the time we saw the bear eating out of the trash can. And we almost, like, we almost got right up on him. That would be something that you saw. Hearing, smelling, tasting, touching. You know, it's one thing to look at photographs, but that's just very flat. But a five senses portrait really, like, puts you back into that experience. But maybe it's for your whole summer. Like, what, what, you know, is it. Is it the smell of sunscreen? Is it the smell of chlorine? Is it the smell of hot dogs? Is it the smell of cotton candy? Is it the smell of freshly cut grass? Like, for you, what is the smell of summer? So this can be a really creative, fun way to look back on summer and capture the memories that you've created.

[Mariel Segarra]

Yeah, I love that idea. And I'm sure people could get really creative with it in terms of I'm going to make it into an actual portrait. Like, I'm going to, you know, illustrate it or whatever it is. I want to ask a question for the parents out there, because especially if you have kids in the house. You're not just planning your summer for yourself, you're also planning for them and for your family as a whole. And so I wonder, how can you get their input about what they want their summer to be like, but also make it something where you're meeting your needs as well?

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, I think that is a great idea, which is to sit down and think, like, as a family, how do we want to design our summer? What does everybody want from it? And I think sometimes for ourselves and for our children, we tend to over schedule. And there's sort of a feeling of like we're rushing from one thing to another and we don't give ourselves a big margin. And. But that is another thing I think, to think about as you design your summer is like, what is your pace? What is your energy level? How crowded do you like your days to be? Because some people really do love running from one thing to another. And like, let's jump in the car and go here and go here. And they like that feeling and they like that pace. And then other people like this. There's a quotation from Thoreau where he said, I like a broad margin to my life. And I'm like, I need a broad margin. I don't like to rush. I like to have a lot of time in between things. I could spend a whole day puttering. And my family is kind of the same. So we take it pretty slow. We don't need a lot of activities to feel like we've had enough. But for other people, like, that pace might be different. And also you can get into the complication of, like, some people like to do a lot, some people want to do less. But the more you can talk about that, the more you can figure out, well, how do we make this work for all of us?

[Mariel Segarra]

So this comes up a lot with New Year's resolutions where you get three weeks into January and you realize you're not doing the thing, and maybe you don't even wanna do the thing. So what if that happens in the summer? You know, you set your theme or your intentions, you make your bucket list, and then you get to, you know, end of July, early August, and you're not doing it.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Well, that's very common. We've all done it. I'm a big fan of helping yourself remember what you've set. So, like, I have an index card that's on the bulletin board right by my desk. So I see my them every time I look to my right to keep it uppermost in my Mind. And then the same thing with a list so that I remember what's on my list. Because sometimes you make. Even though something's really important to us and we vow that we're going to do it, we just sort of forget about it. This is often why it can be fun to have a visual representation that's maybe a T shirt or a piece of jewelry or like a little thing on your desk that would help remind you of what you have set your theme to be just so that you remember to do it. Now, if you get to a point and you realize, okay, I haven't been living up to this, you know, it's never too late. You know, there's an adage that I love, which is the best time to plant a tree is 20 years ago. The second best time is now. And the best time to have a terrific summer is when at the beginning of summer. But the second best time is whenever you think of it. So you're never behind. You can always just start where you are and jump in. I think that as much as you can remind yourself along the way is good, but if you, you know, you've lost some, that's okay. Just re engage.

[Mariel Segarra]

All right, Gretchen, thank you so much for this. Always love chatting with you.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Oh, I always love talking to you. I was looking forward to it. I love the juicy summer. I think that's a great thing. I love that.

[Mariel Segarra]

Summer of juice.

[Gretchen Rubin]

Summer of juice.

[Mariel Segarra]

All right, time for a recap. Takeaway. One is to give your summer a theme. Pick a single word or a phrase that you want to embrace this season. Something that captures the feeling you want to have over the next few months. Some other ideas that folks shared with Gretchen. Appalachian Granny Summer, which means a season filled with gardening, handicrafts, canning, and learning to make sourdough. Summer of America's 250th. The US turns 250 years old in July. So this person will be reading books about US History, incorporating red, white, and blue into their wardrobe, and taking a trip to Washington, D.C. there's backyard summer or the summer of open water. And of course, there are lots of single words that you could choose too remember. Mine is going to be juice takeaway. Two, Come up with a summer bucket list. Maybe you want to try kayaking or see the sunset or sunrise at least once. Ride the Ferris wheel at a summer fair. Eat corn on the cob, make a tomato tart. Takeaway three is to come up with some sort of challenge, really gamify your bucket list. Like, I'm going to try five new types of juice or read five romance novels. Experience the summer through your five senses and then reflect. What does summer look like, smell like, taste like, sound like and feel like? I'll tell you what comes to mind for me the smell of smoke from a crackling outdoor fire and the taste of toasted marshmallows on a stick. All right, that's our show. By the way, your phone is full of distractions. Why not make sure it's also full of smart tips and good advice? The NPR app gives you access to world class reporting, including what's on Life Kit without a paywall. Download the NPR app today. This episode of Life Kit was produced by Claire Marie Schneider. It was edited by Brent Baughman. Our digital editor is Malika Garib and our visuals editor is CJ Ricolan. Meghan Cain is our senior supervising editor and Lauren Gonzalez is our executive producer. Our production team also includes Andy Tagle, Margaret Serino and Sylvie Douglas. Engineering support comes from Damien Herring and Becky Brown. I'm Mariel Segarra. Thanks for listening and have an amazing summer. Freaky Flavor Friday. Say that three times fast.

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