There is a collective sigh that arrives with summer. The days lengthen, the light lingers, and the world seems to loosen its grip on urgency. Many take this as a cue to unwind. But those who live with intention know: ease must be earned, not indulged in blindly.

This summer, I chose a different path.
I began with a three-day fast, not out of vanity or punishment, but as a deliberate act of discipline. It was a reclamation of control over impulse. In the silence between meals, I remembered how often we eat to fill a gap that food cannot satisfy. We scroll for the same reason. We shop for the same reason. We rest for the same reason—not because we’re tired, but because we’re untethered.

And that is why I believe in staying busy; not chaotically, but intentionally.

The Case for Intentional Busyness

Researchers at the University of Chicago conducted a fascinating study in 2010 titled Idleness Aversion and the Need for Justifiable Busyness. They found that people who were kept busy, even with meaningless tasks, reported significantly higher levels of happiness than those who were left idle.

Their conclusion? We are wired to prefer purposeful movement over passive stillness. Left idle, the human mind tends to spiral into rumination, rehashing the past, fearing the future, and becoming anxious about the present. But activity, even if simple, anchors us. It reminds us that time is passing, and we are choosing to direct it.

This is why summer is not a break. It is a test. When no one is watching, and the schedule loosens, who do you become?

This Week’s Reflection: The Summer Discipline Inventory

Take 10–15 minutes this week to sit with these questions. Journal them. Revisit them. Build your week from them.

1. What am I committed to preserving this summer—no matter what the season tempts me with?

2. Where do I risk drifting most easily without structure?

3. What activities give me peace through movement and meaning, not just escape?

4. How can I make rest a reward instead of a default?

5. What will I be most proud of myself for doing by the end of this season?

Additionally, I have created a downloadable habit tracker that you can utilize during the upcoming months to keep yourself accountable. Let’s start with June!

Closing Thought:

To stay disciplined in the face of collective softness is radical. It’s not just regarding productivity. It’s about stewardship of your time, your body, and your vision. Let others lose themselves in leisure. You, my friend, are building a life.

Until next Sunday,
Disciplanned

p.s

If this resonates with you, reply and let me know how discipline has (or hasn't) shown up in your life. I read every message. And if you know someone who would love Disciplanned, feel free to forward this - we’re just getting started.