On a gorgeous summer day, is there anything less appealing than having to do a load of laundry, sort through a stack of bills, or stay late at the office? Of course not. So when the good weather hits, it's important to have clever exit strategies. And your letters make it clear: Real Simple readers know summer is all about seizing the day, whether it takes waking up early or even planning months in advance.

This Month's Winner

Playtime
My fellow middle-aged friends and I enjoy our self-imposed deadline of 8 p.m., when we stop whatever we're doing and go outside to play with the neighborhood children. The younger kids enjoy chasing lightning bugs, while the older ones like to play hide-and-seek with us in the dark. It takes me back to my own childhood in the tiny rural town where I grew up, and it keeps us all young at heart.
Laura Cole Parker
Austin, Texas
Laura will receive a copy of the book Real Simple: The Organized Home.

Be Prepared

We have started a dinner co-op with four other families in the neighborhood. Each chooses one night between Sunday and Thursday to cook. When it is your family's turn, everyone comes to your house at a prearranged time to pick up dinner. We love this system because we save money on groceries, we have to cook only one night a week, and Fridays and Saturdays are left free for date nights or light meals.
Julie Mudrick
Charlottesville, Virginia

For spontaneous fun in the sun, I keep summer items in my trunk: a folding chair and a tote filled with flip-flops, tennis shoes, swimsuits, towels, and sunblock. That way, if I have some time to kill and find myself near the beach or a park, I'm all set.
Rosalina Hansen
San Diego, California

When I get home, I'm often too exhausted to think of anything to do but plop down on the couch, so I schedule fun into my day in advance. I look at the month ahead to see which weekends and weeknights are free. Then I plan activities, like camping trips and amusement-park outings. For weeknights I'll choose something as simple as a stroll to the park or a night swim at a local beach. If you wait until the last minute, the TV often wins out — and before you know it, summer is over.
Kristin Mulroy
Grafton, Massachusetts