As anyone in tune with their own navigation system knows, you can’t keep leading yourself effectively if your own “internal GPS” is glitching because of burnout.
And if you are sensing your energy sputtering somewhat, the good news is that summertime presents some interesting opportunities to refuel and realign.
At our most recent Little Engines LIVE event, I asked the room a simple question: “Name a place, an activity, or an attraction that you recommend for summer self-care.”
What came back was not generic wellness advice. These were the actual recommendations shared in real time by Little Engines LIVE participants in the room on June 8th: specific places, specific rituals, and specific experiences that members of this community genuinely use to recharge.
Interestingly, these participant recommendations perfectly mirrored a poll we ran recently in our online support community, where we asked if leaders preferred Rest or Adventure for their downtime. The results were nearly a dead heat: 52% voted for Rest, while 48% chose Adventure.
The list below proves that we don’t just need one or the other. We need a strategic blend of both to stay unstuck and resilient.
Here is the summer self-care guide, built directly from what the Little Engines community shared
The Call of the Wild: Nature as a Reset Button
For many, self-care starts where the pavement ends. Nature wasn’t mentioned as a vague idea; it came up through actual places and practices.
One community member highlighted the Medway Valley Heritage Forest trails as a go-to for a quick mental reset, while others pointed to the expansive beauty of Springbank Park and the Fanshawe Conservation Area. Whether it’s cycling, fishing, or a simple picnic, getting outside was the #1 recommendation for lowering cortisol.
Specific nature “must-dos” from the room:
-
- Waterfalls: Visiting Rock Glen Falls or Whitefish Falls for the meditative sound of moving water.
- The “Slow Walk”: Mindful hiking at Cains Woods or along any waterfront.
- Simply Being: One participant suggested “allowing yourself to simply be in the water”: not swimming for exercise, but just floating and existing.
Sun, Sand, and Solitude
When the warm weather hits, the pull toward the Great Lakes is undeniable. And at our most recent event, participants got specific: the beach is less about the party and more about the perspective.
Grand Bend and Port Stanley were the top mentions, with specific nods to local staples like Mackie’s and Shaw’s Ice Cream. But the advice went deeper than just finding a beach towel spot. Several leaders recommended kayaking on Lake Ontario or tubing through the Elora Gorge to combine physical movement with the calming presence of water.
For those looking for a true escape, a day pass to a provincial park or a trip to Sauble Beach or Lake Rosseau provides that much-needed distance from the daily grind of the office.
The Thrill of Discovery: Road Trips & “Mystery” Adventures
Almost half of our community craves adventure to feel alive, and the road trip ideas shared were incredibly creative. This is where you get unstuck by changing your physical environment.
The “Guess Where” Phenomenon
One of the standout recommendations from the event was the “Guess Where?” Mystery Road Trips available at 100 Kellogg Lane.
The concept is brilliant for a busy leader: You pick up an envelope with no idea where you’re going. You embrace the mystery and get out of the adventure exactly what you put into it. It removes “decision fatigue”: something every small business owner struggles with: and replaces it with pure curiosity.
The Sudbury Meteor Shower
Another highly specific and enthusiastic recommendation was taking a road trip to Sudbury for the Perseid meteor shower in August. Seeking out dark skies and watching the cosmos is a powerful way to regain perspective. When you’re staring at a meteor shower, that “urgent” email from Tuesday suddenly feels a lot smaller.
Other top-tier road trip destinations included:
-
- Tobermory for the crystal-clear turquoise water.
- Stratford for the arts and culture.
- Bayfield and Kingsville for that “slow-town” charm.
- St. Jacobs Market for a grounding, community-focused morning.
The Art of Unwinding: Wellness & Simple Pleasures
While adventure fuels the spirit, rest repairs the body. And the “52% Rest” crowd at Little Engines LIVE didn’t stay abstract; they shared specific recommendations for high-quality downtime.
The Nordic Spa in Woodstock and the Scandinave Spa in Collingwood were cited as the ultimate venues for forced relaxation. If you can’t get away for a full spa day, the community suggested “micro-moments” of wellness:
- Reading in the garden: Sometimes the best self-care is a book and a quiet corner of your own backyard.
- Backyard at Dusk: One participant shared that their favorite ritual is simply sitting in the backyard at dusk with a cold beer or a margarita, watching the sky change.
- Solitude: Many leaders emphasized that solitude in nature is where their best strategic thinking happens.
Family, Food, and Connection
Leadership can be lonely, but summer offers a chance to reconnect with the “why” behind the “what.” Many community members at the June 8 event shared that they find their alignment through family adventures.
The Children’s Museum, Pioneer Village, and Clovermead (with a special mention for their honey!) were highlighted as great ways to engage with the next generation. For the foodies, the list was endless: Heeman’s, Trail’s End Market, and the Cottage Café in Grand Bend were all lauded for their atmosphere and quality.
Creating Community & Service as Self-Care
Another powerful perspective shared was that there is a different kind of fulfillment that comes from looking outward.
In other words, some participants suggestion that contributing to a caring community is a form of self-care that pays dividends long after the sun sets. For instance:
- Organizing a neighbourhood clean-up.
- Hosting a street yard sale.
- Starting a backyard concert series.
- Organizing a charity drive.
Helping to build something that brings people together and watching it grow provides a sense of purpose and connection that is hard to find elsewhere.
Which will you choose?
Whether you fall into the 52% seeking Rest or the 48% craving Adventure, the key is intention. Let’s not let the summer season slip by in a blur of spreadsheets and Zoom calls.
Take a page out of what Little Engines LIVE participants actually shared: Pick a mystery envelope, find a trail you’ve never walked, or simply sit in your backyard at dusk and let yourself be.
What about you? What is your go-to summer self-care activity? Drop a comment below or join us in the Little Engines REAL Success Support Community to share your favorites.
Recent Comments