It’s nearly June, and for me it always feels like a quiet in-between month. It’s the perfect time to think about the year so far and how I would like the rest of the year to go. 

Here in Sweden, the days are getting longer and everything around me is teeming with life. It’s a welcome change after a long Swedish winter where the shortest days were just under four hours. This change not only improves my mood, but it also revitalises and inspires me. 

One example of these inspiring sights is just outside my bedroom window. Watching the apple tree in front of my cottage slowly transform from completely bare branches to blossoms filled with clumsy bees reminds me that some of the best things come through patience and embracing the sometimes slow and tedious process of change.

So this month, instead of overwhelming myself with an enormous list of things to do, I want to keep things simple with low-pressure yet enriching goals.

In English, people often say “I want to get back on track.” It may sound a bit intimidating, like you have to restart everything, however in practice it’s usually much simpler than that.

It can look like:

- studying for 10 minutes

- replying to one message you’ve been putting off

- picking up an old hobby again

- stretching your body before bedtime 

Even small actions like this will make a world of difference. This is just one way that “getting back on track” looks like. 

You might also hear:

- “Ease into it” (start slowly)

- “Pick things up again” (restart something)

- “Build momentum” (slowly find your rhythm again)

For example:

“I’m just easing back into my routine this month.”
“I want to pick up reading again.”

Perhaps you’ve found yourself in a bit of rut or feel as if you’ve hit a plateau; however, the most important thing to do is simply take that first step and start with something small. After all, there’s really no need to make a mountain out of a molehill. 

One thing that really helps me is to keep a journal every month. It gives me a creative way to visualise my goals and serves as a reminder of what I’d like to achieve. Writing things down makes it easier to keep track of goals, notice progress, and reflect on how the month is actually going. Sometimes I feel like I’m not improving at all, but when I look back at older entries, I realise I’ve improved more than I thought.

Something else I’ve been thinking about recently is “work-life balance.” It basically means not letting work take over your entire life. This was something I became much more aware of while living in the Netherlands. The Dutch really seem to value living well outside of work, and coming from America, that honestly felt like a culture shock at first.

They also have the concept of gezelligheid, which is difficult to translate directly, but it’s that cosy, relaxed feeling of spending time with people you like, sharing food or drinks, and just enjoying the atmosphere without rushing or worrying.

I think that way of living has influenced me a lot! I like the idea of ending the day slowly instead of constantly feeling the need to be doing something productive all of the time. Rest is just as important to success as productivity is. 

As for me and my goals this month, I want to spend more time drawing again. I’m preparing for an illustration project later this year, so I want to slowly get back into the habit again and practice as much as I can. I usually like drawing flowers and wildlife, which works well with another goal I have: getting outside and exercising more.

I live next to a national park, so it feels like a good excuse to take walks, sketch, and spend more time outdoors. There are outdoor gyms nearby too, which makes it easier to combine exercise with being outside instead of treating it like a chore. I also want to spend less time staring at screens and more time doing analog hobbies like reading, embroidery, and crocheting. Those kinds of activities make life feel a little slower in a good way. Not every day is going to feel productive or balanced, though. There are days when I’ll feel motivated, and other days when I probably won’t want to do much at all.

In English, people sometimes say

“I’m not really feeling up to it today.”

It just means you don’t have the energy to do something.

On days like that, I try to do the smallest version of a task if I can. And sometimes I just rest and start again the next day, I think both are fine.

For June, I’m not really looking for a perfect routine or a perfect plan. I’m just focusing on habits that are both relaxing and enriching. Slow, calm evenings, and enough space in between everything to actually enjoy the month a little. What are your goals for June?