{"id":3112,"date":"2026-07-02T09:59:41","date_gmt":"2026-07-02T09:59:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/silvybrand.com\/?p=3112"},"modified":"2026-07-02T09:59:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-02T09:59:41","slug":"why-a-monthly-10-list-is-the-key-to-unlocking-your-summer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/silvybrand.com\/?p=3112","title":{"rendered":"Why a \u201cMonthly 10\u201d List Is the Key to Unlocking Your Summer"},"content":{"rendered":"


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\"monthly<\/p>\n

The most memorable summer I ever had was the summer before high school. My middle school best friend and I, knowing we would soon be split up, made a summer bucket list<\/a>. It was 2012, so it contained silly, nostalgic activities<\/a> like \u201cwear a fake moustache in public\u201d and \u201cmake melted crayon art.\u201d Despite the cringey, Tumblr-inspired clich\u00e9s, I still remember that summer in vivid detail. Not because we were doing anything particularly inventive, but because everything was new to us.<\/p>\n

Psychology tells us that, thanks to the \u201cnovelty effect,<\/a>\u201d new experiences give our brains a dose of dopamine, boosting mood and memory. This is where it gets interesting: the more new experiences you have, the slower time feels. That\u2019s why childhood felt so long. And now, a new month comes, and we say, \u201cI can\u2019t believe it\u2019s already June\u2026 July\u2026\u201d on repeat. As our lives get more and more routine, we encounter fewer new experiences, and time passes by without us noticing it.<\/p>\n

That\u2019s why I\u2019m building in ways to shake myself back into the present and give myself gentle opportunities for newness. I know my life is busy, and any huge attempt to change it would probably go ignored. So, instead, I\u2019m introducing a \u201cmonthly 10\u201d list\u2014a low-stakes ritual to make my summer feel more dynamic<\/a> and, most of all, memorable.<\/p>\n

What is a \u201cmonthly 10\u201d list?<\/h2>\n

Imagine a bucket list with even lower stakes. A monthly 10 list is simply a list of 10 things you want to do before the end of the month. The idea comes from writer Julianna Salguero, who originated the concept in a Substack titled \u201cyou need to be making monthly 10 lists<\/a>.\u201d \u201cI\u2019ve been writing little intention lists for a few years now, and the 10 list is the latest iteration of it,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

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Instead of setting goals for the whole summer (or the entire year), you just have to think ahead to the next four weeks. It\u2019s a to-do list<\/a> you don\u2019t have to dread, one that feels grounded but still whimsical<\/a>. \u201cI think there\u2019s so much pressure around goals and to-do lists, and I don\u2019t respond well to that kind of motivation,\u201d Salguero said.<\/p>\n

Ten is a manageable number, but it\u2019s also a challenge. However, the idea isn\u2019t to fill your list with lofty goals that you\u2019ll struggle to achieve in a month. Your list can consist of small things like cooking a new recipe, finishing a book<\/a>, or trying a certain restaurant. It\u2019s simply a tool to feel more present and invite unexpected moments of joy into your daily life.<\/p>\n

How a monthly 10 list works<\/h2>\n

A summer bucket list worked for me when I was thirteen because I had nothing to do except what was on it. Now, as an adult, I don\u2019t need another lengthy goals list languishing in my Notes app, never to be looked at again. I have figured out that segmenting my personal goals into bite-sized chunks makes me more likely to stick to them. For example, I recently made a creative bucket list<\/a> to make sure I stick to my creative hobbies this summer. And now I\u2019m introducing the monthly 10 list to address my desire for novelty in a manageable way.<\/p>\n

Unlike a vague intention like \u201cbe more spontaneous,\u201d the monthly 10 list gamifies your goals and makes them feel more achievable. Thanks to the time-bound nature of a month, you can\u2019t just forget about the list until another summer has slipped by. And the limited number means you can\u2019t overreach. This list is the perfect blend of structure and play\u2014and the best part is, there\u2019s no pressure. Salguero specifies that your monthly 10 list shouldn\u2019t come with consequences if you don\u2019t check everything off.<\/p>\n

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\u201cA 10 list isn\u2019t supposed to be punishing,\u201d Salguero said. \u201cIt\u2019s a reminder of, hey, here\u2019s what\u2019s important to me, here are little moments I can find in my day, here\u2019s what makes me feel good.\u201d Her \u201czero consequences\u201d caveat keeps the challenge fun and takes the pressure off. \u201cIt reminds me that trying is the real goal, and baby steps get you where you\u2019re going in your own time,\u201d she added.<\/p>\n

If you don\u2019t achieve something in one month, add it to the next month or reevaluate what it says about your priorities or your goals. \u201cLife is not homework\u2014nobody should be grading you on it (including you),\u201d she said. \u201cIf making a 10 list reminds you of that, then my job is done.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Source: Langa Chinyoka<\/a><\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

How to make a monthly 10 list<\/h2>\n

Your monthly 10 list should motivate you, not stress you out. Salguero jots hers down in her Notes app. I\u2019ve been doing the same, then pinning the note to my homescreen so I always see it. That way, I can look through my list every day and find ways to make those ideas happen. If you want something more tangible, you could also write your monthly 10 list in your journal or on a notepad on your fridge. You could even print out a laminated version if you want to be fancy. Whatever you choose, make sure you can revisit your list often to check in and remember what your goals are.<\/p>\n

As for what to put on your 10 list, I like to choose a mix of high- and low-effort activities. My lists often consist of things I\u2019ve been putting off, side quests<\/a> I\u2019ve been talking about but not doing, hobbies I want to try, or places I want to go.<\/p>\n

Salguero also mixes it up by using the monthly 10 list as an invitation to the universe. \u201cI put things I can\u2019t quite control in there,\u201d she said\u2014like seeing a ladybug or waving at a baby. When it happens, \u201cIt feels like a wink from the beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

The best part is that it trains your mind to seek new experiences instead of just ruminating on familiar routines or worries. \u201cI had \u2018run through a field\u2019 on my list for April. I went out of my way to complete it,\u201d Salguero said. \u201cOften, the tasks that queue up my brain are things like \u2018I have to do laundry later,\u2019 so it\u2019s nice to replace a few of those with: I really need to find a nice field to run in soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

For me, monthly 10 lists are also a chance to further document my summer. At the end of the month, I\u2019m using my list as a prompt to journal on: How did the list change my month? Did it surprise me? I\u2019ve even started to make scrapbook pages<\/a> using little trophies from the things I\u2019ve done: a ticket stub, an event wristband, a museum brochure. All of it is proof that I did something I said I would. Something worth remembering.<\/p>\n

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Source: Cora Pursley | Dupe<\/a><\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Ideas for your monthly 10 list<\/h2>\n
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  • Start a new hobby<\/li>\n
  • Try a new restaurant or coffee shop<\/li>\n
  • Have a picnic<\/li>\n
  • Go to a museum or art gallery<\/li>\n
  • Take a class<\/li>\n
  • Buy something from the farmers market<\/li>\n
  • Write a letter<\/li>\n
  • Open all the windows<\/li>\n
  • See a movie in theaters<\/li>\n
  • Wake up early and watch the sunrise<\/li>\n
  • Host a girls\u2019 night<\/a><\/li>\n
  • Read a new book you\u2019re excited about<\/li>\n
  • Make something with your hands<\/li>\n
  • Go on a walk without headphones<\/li>\n
  • Make a fun coffee or matcha drink at home<\/li>\n
  • Go out dancing<\/li>\n
  • Try a new recipe<\/a><\/li>\n
  • Meet a friend for breakfast instead of drinks<\/li>\n
  • Touch grass<\/li>\n
  • Go to a concert<\/li>\n
  • Donate some clothes<\/li>\n
  • Call a loved one you haven\u2019t talked to in a while<\/li>\n
  • Buy yourself flowers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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    \n \"langa\n <\/div>\n
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    ABOUT THE AUTHOR<\/div>\n
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    Langa Chinyoka, Contributing Writer<\/h3>\n

    Langa is a Los Angeles-based writer and strategist. She is currently an editor and content strategist at a marketing agency. Her work has appeared in The Paris Review, British Vogue, Highsnobiety, Eyeswoon, Camille Styles, The Good Trade, and more.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

    READ LANGA’S FULL BIO<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    The post Why a \u201cMonthly 10\u201d List Is the Key to Unlocking Your Summer<\/a> appeared first on The Everygirl<\/a>.<\/p>\n