Which shade of summer are you?

The sun beats down on your skin, and the ocean sparkles the most it ever has this year. Depending on where you are, the humidity could feel like a sauna (or your personal hell). Summer means something different to everyone; to some, it’s the era of relaxation, while others are bustling to pick up extra shifts while they’re home. It’s different for each age group, too, with high schoolers preparing to take the SAT and college students catching up on sleep or scavenging for work experience. Summer has so many shades, and all of them are equally beautiful. Today at Gen Z State of Mind, we’ve named four overall shades that we think you may fall under. For more summer/seasonal (depending on when you’re reading this) reads and carousels, make sure to check out our Instagram and TikTok @genzstateofmind! Okay, now that this self-promotion is over (be patient with me, this is my summer project as well), 

Who are you this summer? 

1. Sun-kissed waters and freckles

In the mornings when she wakes up, the first thing she does is check her tan lines in the mirror. Of course, they’re perfect, because it’s summer and the UV is 9 today. The first few days she was scared she would get burnt (and she did, but thank you aloe vera for your service), and so she slathers on sunscreen. Breakfast is usually consumed with friends or family (brunch if the function last night ran long) but can also be picked up along the way. Today, she has plans with people to tan by the beach or the pool!

Before she runs out the door, though, she must pack her bag for the day. A bright bikini is already on, under jean shorts and a white tee, the colorful strings peaking through. Today, she grabs a knitted tote bag and packs sunscreen, tanning oil, sunglasses, a towel, and her eReader. Maybe she’ll use it, maybe she won’t (and instead spend time with her friends in the water, tanning be forgotten). 

When she arrives at the beach or the pool (preferred body of water), smoothies are ordered, and they spend the first hour in silence, soaking in the sun and the sound of water splashing. She’ll accidentally fall asleep at some point before her friend wakes her up as a reminder to reapply sunscreen. They’ll laugh because her freckles are more prominent when it’s bright outside, and her eyelashes look even darker. That’s when they’ll decide that the water looks nice today, particularly blue and sparkling because of the sun that has been their longtime companion today. And so they’ll take a dip, careful of getting their hair wet before her friend splashes water all around them, laughing as war is declared. They’ll make a slight ruckus before deciding to settle down and play kiss, marry, kill regarding their old friends and lovers (and perchance enemies). They’ll be trying not to get drawn away by the tide as they reminisce and make hard, contemplative decisions. 

Afterward, they’ll both make their separate ways home, deciding to meet up later for dinner and pictures, with the sun setting as their backdrop. Her camera is fully charged, and she’s already ready to do minimal makeup after a day outside. 

2. Air-conditioned business casual 

Today she can wake up any time (as long as it’s before 12 PM) because it’s a hybrid day at work. And that means time to scroll on her phone, do some stretching, and look out the window to see how the sunny weather is doing. Maybe she’ll even walk to work today in order to soak up some of the sunshine that rarely makes an appearance. After all, it rains a lot where she’s from, and summer is no exception. 

She’ll tie her hair up and change out of her silk pajamas into something business casual. Slow mornings are her favorite; she has time to try out a new espresso recipe (she just made tiramisu paste the night before) and do her hair. Look good, feel good, and today she’ll be sitting in on meetings or working on a PowerPoint in advance before it’s due. She has to be wary of her posture, though (seriously, those working hours are no joke for the spine. She can feel her slouch getting progressively worse already). 

Working at the office always means minimal makeup, so some mascara and concealer will have to do for today. Her work bag usually consists of important files that she wanted physical copies of so she could highlight, glasses, her laptop, and an emergency kit (Tylenol, gum, 5-hour Energy). Anything more pressing can wait until she gets home. 

The office contains some of her best work friends (fellow interns!) They grab lunch together, gossip about some of their co-workers, and of course, work extra hard because they invested their summer into this. She always clocks in when it’s time to and stays in the zone until she leaves, simultaneously shadowing her mentor while making note of what kind of gift card to give when the term ends. 

Her nails are painted a pale pink while cut short to make sure they don’t interfere with her typing (it’s true that she’s used to typing with acrylics on, but her mom kept fussing over the length so she had to placate her). And when she’s going home at the end of the day, catching a ride with her co-worker, they put the windows down and feel the breeze on their face. Maybe they’ll even catch the sunset, purple and pink to make way for the summer night sky. And she’ll pocket these small moments of beauty in her pocket among the bustling, busy days. 

3. Teal workout sets  

Free time means fulfilling your hobbies, and in this case, she loves to try new forms of working out. If you’re going to sweat in the summer anyway, why not do it productively? 

Her vanity desk is covered in colorful hair ties to match her clothing set (workout, running, yoga) of the day. Sometimes there’s an empty can of her favorite energy drink there for the extra boost in the morning; she loves to ride her bike or go on a jog in the early hours to feel the cool summer air on her skin. 

And maybe she’ll pursue yoga, Pilates, or the gym. Structured exercise with her friends (or solo) helps her test out her limits and grow stronger (it’s also really fun!) Tennis courts, bike rides to get coffee, dance studios to try out new genres- the list goes on and on. 

Stretching is always a must; she believes that taking care of your muscles is the only way to grow them. Regardless of whether it’s in front of the mirror at the gym before hitting a grueling leg day or at the studio before trying out a new hip hop combo, it’s a non-negotiable. 

The best part of spending your summer outdoors with exercise as your companion is the showers that follow. Cold showers feel refreshing, and she gets to try out a new body scrub every day (fresh coconut for the summer). Her ideal routine consists of frolicking on the tennis courts with her friends (playing doubles), with a side of competitiveness, followed by a relaxing shower. Maybe she’ll even treat herself to a massage and sauna session. 

Depending on how available she is this summer, she might even train for a marathon! Nothing quite like runner's high on a bright day with no clouds in the sky, so clear it feels fake. 

But rest days are equally important, and she makes sure that she sleeps an ideal 8 hours a day. Maybe she’ll meal prep the food for this week or just go with the flow, ensuring to mainly eat a carb-heavy meal before pushing herself at whatever workout of choice she’ll pursue that day. Hydration is also key, and it’s her favorite ritual in the mornings to choose a water bottle that matches today’s color scheme. 

It might get hard sometimes, especially with the heat beating down, but that’s what makes it rewarding. The small things like how the sky glimmers on morning runs and conversations with friends on bikes are just additional benefits; the real love and beauty come from promising yourself to try harder things and actually following through. 

4. Sleeping in on soft, light sheets 

Summer has never been meant as a time solely dedicated to the hustle. Sometimes it’s just as important to recharge and embrace relaxation, fueling yourself for busier seasons at school or work that wait ahead. This one might just be our favorite because of how essential but easily brushed over it is. 

She spends the mornings in bed, sometimes on her phone, sometimes reading a book, but always making sure that she’s getting proper rest, both mentally and physically. If she’s been away at college all year and has been doomed to terrible dining halls and mold in dorms, then this is a period of time that becomes even more vital. Eating three meals a day in your comfortable home while sleeping more than you have all year, the sun beating away outside while you’re protected with air conditioning, is the true essence of summer. 

Sometimes she’ll switch locations, maybe in her backyard or at a local park, by herself or with friends, just sprawling on the ground, reading her favorite comfort book. Or maybe a new addition to her favorite series was released while she was hard at work throughout the previous seasons. She might even be branching out to new genres, reading about an enticing murder mystery at an elite private school instead of her usual fantasies with dragons and swords. 

Maybe if she’s feeling like she needs a bit more sunlight in these warmer seasons, she’ll go to a nearby pool. Drifting around on inflatable floaties, gossiping with friends or staring at the blue sky that waits just above her, summer surrounds the air and is inhaled into her lungs. It fills her bloodstream and makes her whole body lighter. This could be her last possible breath of fresh air before diving into the chaos that is her life when September rolls around. And she plans to take advantage of every second of it. 

She’ll go shopping and buy that top she’s been eyeing the whole school year, even replacing her eyebrow pencil when she sees the store in her vision field. She might read for the rest of the day, call her friends, scroll on her phone (a little doomscrolling never hurt anybody), or just lie and breathe in the smell of home.  

What shade of summer we are

Summer is hot, and depending on who you are, that means either delving in the warmth or seeking shelter in air conditioning. Regardless of what hobby or activity you choose to pursue in these sunny (or rainy if that’s where you’re from) months, the most important thing is recharging yourself mentally and physically. Because after this season is over, the real drama at school starts (high school, college, grad school, work, depending on your job). 

At Gen Z State of Mind, we’ve been spending the last few months developing our digital archive and branching out. Before these sunny months crept up on us all, we were just a podcast and a little microphone. But since then, we’ve been able to connect with so many more of you through expanding our website and blog. We also discovered our brand identity. You! 

So relax, write poetry, watch movies, rage about book adaptations (or all of the above), submit to Gen Z State of Mind, do anything! As long as it fuels your body, mind, and soul, we are all for it. 

Stay cool, 

Gen Z State of Mind