It can be very overwhelming to tackle the day-to-day list of everything we want to accomplish, but if you can just try and do three simple tasks every day or every so often, you will accomplish so much more with ease and less frustration.  I call this “My Easy Three.”

If the summer sun is in your future (and really, even if we’re not beachbound, the sun is always there), there isn’t a better companion for your beach bag, backpack, glove compartment, or backyard hammock than Trader Joe’s Zinc Oxide Mineral Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30. Falling firmly into the category of “mineral” (aka “physical”) sunscreens, this is a zinc oxide-based formula that acts as a physical barrier between the sun’s potentially harmful UVA & UVB rays and your exposed skin. Unlike some zinc-based barriers that leave you looking ghostly, this one rubs in clear. It’s SPF 30, and it’s water-resistant for up to 80 minutes. It’s also fragrance-free and includes moisturizing, hydrating ingredients like aloe vera, grapefruit oil, and vitamin E in an easy-to-carry spray can. $9.99.

Here is a Good Housekeeping article on the 10 Best Sunscreens of 2021, how much and how to apply them, what strength dermatologists recommend, and more. The FDA is currently proposing big changes to sunscreen regulations, and only physical sunscreens with the active ingredients zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are recognized as generally safe right now.

Flashlight batteries.  Now is the time to replace all those flashlights with fresh batteries so you are prepared for summer storms when the power goes out and for late-night walks – the only time to take a walk with your dog it gets hot.  It’s good practice to change the batteries every six months so you can avoid corrosion and it will ensure you always have a ready-to-use flashlight. We try to keep a flashlight in each bedroom in the house, especially in the guest bedroom so your company doesn’t have to navigate around your house in the middle of the night. Here’s a helpful article on battery safety from Consumer Report. Wirecutter rated the ThruNight LED  flashlight number one in performance.

Picnic Coolers.  When was the last time you actually used soap and water to clean out your cooler?  Usually, we are so tired from a day at the beach or lake we just dump the ice out, let it air dry, and put it away until the next time.  Between seasons, take them outside hose them down, fill them with hot water and a little dish soap and give them a good scrub. You might even add a splash of bleach, let it sit for a bit, then give the coolers a good rinse.  Dry them out and let them dry out in the sun.

Travel and Leisure magazine rated the top insulated cooler bags for 2021 here.  I love this Igloo cooler called the Daytripper. This sommelier-inspired tote stows a mini foldable table, a bamboo cutting board, a corkscrew, and a set of cheese knives. Inside, the cooler has two separate compartments with an adjustable divider. And the front straps are flexible, too, so you can easily tote a picnic blanket or beach towel along, too. And, it’s only $65 – think Concerts in the Park or Father’s Day.

Now you are summer-ready! Wasn’t that easy?