Summer Survival Mode: July Intentions

Summer intentions July by Kendra Wesley

Welcome to July, sweet friends! I can’t quite wrap my head around the fact that we are officially stepping into the second half of 2026. June flew by in a chaotic blur of closing out the school year, resetting our home, and embracing the very first weeks of summer break. But as we stand on the edge of July,the true heart of the summer season upon us, I want to make sure these days don’t just slip through my fingers. I want to live this month on purpose. Instead of a rigid list of rules or an overwhelming schedule of summer "to-dos," I am setting four gentle, intentional focuses for the month ahead. My hope is to cultivate a season of deep rest, spiritual growth, and a return to the simple things that fill my cup. 

Grab a drink, and let’s look ahead at what I’m prioritizing this July!

Growing Closer to God
Above everything else, my deepest longing for this month is to grow closer to the Lord. After a wonderful but incredibly busy school year, my soul is craving quiet space to just be with Him. This July, I am dedicating my morning hours to spending intentional time in His Word, deepening my prayer life, and truly building my relationship with Jesus Christ. My grab-and-go Bible study tote is officially refreshed, and I can’t wait to let Scripture anchor my summer mornings.

A Fresh (re)Start for my Sparkling 75 Challenge
If you’ve been following along, you know I launched my customized wellness challenge, the 75 Sparkling challenge, back in mid-June. Well, life happens, routines shift, but now I am finally over that blasted head cold! Instead of viewing a bumpy start as a failure, I am giving myself total grace and using July 1st as a beautiful, fresh opportunity to (re)start. I’m ready to get back to my daily hydration, gentle movement, and tracking my progress on my printable sheet.

A Social Media Fast
It is so easy to fall into the habit of mindless scrolling during the lazy days of summer. Before you know it, an hour has disappeared down a digital rabbit hole. To protect my peace and keep my mind present, I am doing a social media fast for the remainder of the summer. Aside from jumping on here to share my Monday, Wednesday, and Friday blog posts and pinning a few cozy lifestyle inspirations on Pinterest, my phone will be put away. I want to look at the faces of my family this month, not a screen.

Returning to the Hobbies That Bring Me Joy
When life gets busy, creative hobbies are usually the first things we sacrifice. This month, with the extra time gained from my social media fast, I want to dust off the things that used to bring me pure, simple joy. Whether that’s spending an afternoon setting up a creative layout in my bullet journal, or diving into a book just for the fun of it, I’m making room for little pockets of whimsy and creativity.

Embracing the July Rhythm
Summer isn't about rushing to maximize every single hour; it's about slowing down enough to notice the magic that's already there. By focusing on my faith, my wellness, my real-life community, and my creative joy, I know July is going to be a beautiful sanctuary of a month.

In the comments below, let’s chat: What is one intention you are setting for the month of July? Are you prioritizing rest, routine, or a little bit of both?