I’m entering a new season—literally and figuratively and creating a soft girl summer and life for myself. The move to DC is no longer a maybe; it’s happening. And with it, I’m curating a version of myself and my life that feels intentional, grounded, and deeply me.
For me, a soft girl summer in DC doesn’t mean being busy 24/7, nor does it mean living in complete stillness. It’s this middle space—where ease meets effort, where joy is planned on purpose, and where glow-up energy doesn’t have to feel like a grind. I’m not building a life of constant hustle, I’m building a life of alignment. A life where I feel at ease and in control—not because I’m doing nothing, but because I’m doing the right things.
Here’s how I’m prepping for my soft girl summer in DC—and how you can start building your own version of one, too.
1. Resetting My Environment
The cat’s officially out of the bag—I’m moving to DC. And one of the first things I’ve been doing to prepare for this soft life chapter is resetting my space. I don’t see it as “starting from scratch,” but rather as being intentional about the energy I’m bringing into this next phase.
I created a Canva template for my new apartment that includes every piece of furniture I plan to buy, room by room. I’ve been deep in Pinterest boards, moodboarding my ideal aesthetic and saving images of furniture side by side to make sure everything flows.
My vibe? Minimalist boho, with calming neutrals—tans, creams—with pops of orange, yellow, and pink. Everything I’m selecting is based on the mood I want to create: cozy, peaceful, and vibrant.
If you’re not moving but still craving a reset this summer, I highly recommend a mini space refresh. Clean out a corner. Light a new candle. Reorganize your desk. Plan a small furniture upgrade or even just move things around. You don’t need a new address to create a new energy.
This season isn’t just about refreshing my space—it’s about refreshing me. From my routines to my online presence, I’ve been curating a softer version of how I show up in the world. If you’ve been craving a content reset too, check out my step-by-step guide to doing a soft rebrand this summer—it’s like a glow-up, but for your vibe and vision.
When my space is peaceful, I’m creative. When it’s clean and calm, I show up as my best self.
2. Rebuilding My Routines
Structure is how I bring balance to the softness. So while I’m excited about new beginnings in DC, I’m also thinking hard about my routines—morning, gym, night, and even my reading and content flow.
Since I’m off work for the summer (teacher life!), my daily rhythm will look like this:
- Morning gym sessions
- Afternoon blog content planning
- Evenings with a book or anime
This is my ideal summer structure. It gives me time to grow my brand, maintain my body, and nurture my soul.
If you’re looking to build your own soft girl summer in DC—or wherever life finds you—start small. You don’t need a major life overhaul to shift into softness. You just need intention. And one routine is all it takes to begin.
Pick one rhythm in your day to simplify. Just one. It could be your morning start, your night wind-down, or even your midday reset. Choose something that feels a little messy or chaotic right now—and ask yourself, “How could I make this feel more peaceful?”
Then break it down into just three gentle, consistent steps. That’s it.
Possibly make your routine for your morning start:
- Light a candle
- Do five minutes of stretching or journaling
- Make your favorite iced coffee or matcha and sit with it
Or maybe your routine is your skincare wind-down:
- Turn on soft music or a cozy YouTube vlog in the background
- Do your skincare slowly—like a ritual, not a task
- End with your favorite lip balm or a spritz of body mist and deep breath
Maybe your routine is your solo gym time:
- Put your phone on “Do Not Disturb”
- Play your go-to confidence playlist
- Do just three exercises and leave before you’re exhausted
What matters is that it supports your peace. That it’s simple enough to stick to, and soft enough to feel like a gift—not a punishment.
Consistency doesn’t have to come from pressure. It can come from joy. From rhythm. From choosing you over and over again in the little things.
So no, you don’t need to perfect your whole life this summer. You just need to choose one routine, and let that one act of softness ripple into everything else.
And if you want more detail on how to actually build systems that stick (without burning out), this post breaks it all down.
Softness isn’t laziness. It’s power, redefined.
The goal isn’t perfection. The goal is peace.
3. Curating My Circle & Social Energy
As I plan my move to DC, I’m being so intentional about the energy I allow into my life. I’ve already started following DC-based creators who share local happenings—everything from art shows and networking mixers to rooftop yoga and wine tastings. I’ve saved posts, made lists, and even added dates to my calendar. I want to show up. I want to say yes.
I’m planning to explore new cafés, attend wellness events, hit up run club meetups (even if I just jog-walk and vibe), and of course—immerse myself in all the bookish things like signings, bookstore crawls, and maybe even an author panel or two.
I’m also leaning into spaces that already feel familiar—like checking out my sorority’s local chapter, Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc. I may not be chapter-affiliated in DC yet, but I want to see what they have going on and reconnect with sisterhood. And since I’ve been slowly getting back into writing, I’ve been eyeing a few creative writing workshops and conferences, especially ones geared toward tech and social media creatives.
Because yes—content creation is a solo sport sometimes, but it doesn’t have to be isolating. I’m craving rooms filled with passion, purpose, and possibility. This is part of my soft girl summer—choosing community and creativity on purpose.
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I want that too,” this is your sign. Go to the rooftop poetry night. Buy the ticket to that random creative brunch. Join the book club you’ve been stalking online.
It doesn’t have to be big or loud or scary. It can be as simple as walking into a café you’ve never been to before and smiling at someone across the room. Or signing up for a paint-and-sip and letting yourself relax.
The version of you you’re becoming? She needs people. She needs spaces that remind her who she is.
And if you’re nervous about making friends or starting fresh, check out my post How to Make Friends As An Adult Without the Awkwardness. I promise, there are ways to make it easier—and more fun.
Just don’t shrink away from your own expansion. The world you want is out there. You just have to start saying yes to it.
4. Soft Hustle & Content Goals
Just because it’s a soft life doesn’t mean I’m not working—it just means I’m working with intention. I’m not hustling to prove anything. I’m not chasing someone else’s version of success. Lastly I’m simply showing up for me, in a way that feels sustainable, joyful, and aligned with the life I’m building.
This summer, my soft hustle is all about consistency without burnout. I’ve been in seasons where I pushed too hard—where everything felt like a sprint, and rest felt like failure. But this time? I’m building at a steady pace. And I’m not trying to “go viral” overnight or run myself into the ground. I’m creating with care, strategy, and space to breathe.
Here’s what that looks like for me:
- Posting on my blog + socials 3x/week so I stay visible without being overwhelmed
- Batching content for fall, because let’s be honest—once September hits, it’s chaos and everyone’s booked and busy
- Staying on top of my Pinterest strategy, so my blog content keeps working for me even while I rest
- Maintaining my gym routine and strength training, not for aesthetics alone, but because movement makes me feel powerful and grounded
I’m letting this season be about maintenance and momentum—not pressure. I’m planting seeds and trusting that the results will come.
Because here’s the truth: winter is for the grind. Winter is when I turn up the intensity, lock in on my weight loss goals, and take bigger business leaps. But summer? Summer is for the soft, steady build. For nurturing my brand like a garden. And for creating systems that support me year-round. For remembering that slow progress is still progress.
This is what intentional hustle looks like. It’s focused, it’s flexible, and it honors both my goals and my well-being.
So if you’re someone who’s trying to grow a business, chase a dream, or build your glow-up during your soft girl summer, remember, you don’t have to sacrifice peace to succeed. You just have to move with purpose.
5. Building Joy Into the Everyday
Finally, I’m making sure I don’t just live—I delight.
If you want to understand how hobbies can genuinely shift your energy, check out my post, How Hobbies Boost Self-Esteem: Embracing Passions for Personal Growth.
I’m romanticizing my iced matcha lattes. Cleaning my space with a playlist on. Watching anime with a fuzzy blanket. I even made a Summer Joy List with 10 tiny things that bring me peace or pleasure—and I try to do one every week.
Some examples:
- Ordering a fun breakfast delivery
- Rewatching a comfort anime
- Taking a solo walk with music
- Buying myself flowers
- Getting dressed just to go to a café
Joy is in the details. And this soft girl summer in DC is all about choosing that joy, over and over again.
Final Thoughts On Creating a Soft Life Summer
You don’t need to be rich, idle, or have it all figured out to have a soft life. You just need intention, alignment, and joy.
So whether you’re moving, staying put, or just entering your own new season—ask yourself:
What would a soft life look like for me?
Then start with one room. One routine. One event. One moment of joy.
I’d love to hear: What’s one intention you’re setting for your own soft girl summer? Drop it in the comments or message me on Instagram.
And if you’re looking for more inspo, check out my Summer Reading List to romanticize your bookshelf next.
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