🌳 Don't let summer slip away

Friday 7/24: Sponsored by Angelino's Coffee and Smartasset - Savoring summer, getting ready, and introverted leaders

July 24, 2026

Sponsored by

Friday

"I give myself credit for showing up, even in small ways."

In today’s issue, we’ll take a look at:

  • A guide to savoring summer

  • Why getting ready can keep you from living

  • Your coffee isn’t as fresh as you think

  • How introverts can make great leaders

  • Get matched to a financial advisor

True or False?

Extroverts and introverts process rewarding experiences differently in the brain.

Scroll to the bottom for the answer.

How to Stop Summer From Slipping Past You

Summer always feels shorter than it should. Part of that is just how memory works. When days follow the same routine, the brain doesn't bother recording them. Weeks pass and there's nothing to show for them, not because nothing happened, but because nothing stood out.

Novelty is one of the most effective ways to change that. Research shows that new experiences help your brain remember not just the new thing, but everything else that happened that day too. It doesn't have to be a big trip. A different lunch spot, a new walking route, or one slightly out-of-the-ordinary experience a month gives your memory something to hold onto. By September, you'll have actual moments to look back on instead of a blur.

Mindfulness works the same way. Simply deciding to pay attention, to notice what's around you and be present in what you're doing, helps your brain record more of what's happening in real time. The more you notice, the more you remember, and the more expansive the season feels.

It also helps to write things down. Journaling is a form of memory reactivation, which means putting an experience into words actually strengthens the memory and makes it easier to recall later. Even a few sentences at the end of the day is enough. The goal isn't a perfect record. It's giving your brain a little help holding onto a season worth remembering.

How to Make Getting Ready Feel Easy

A lot of us want to be spontaneous in summer but end up quietly talking ourselves out of plans before we even respond to the text. Survey data backs this up: 74 percent of women say they would go out more if getting ready took less time, and one in three have actually canceled plans because they didn't feel beauty-ready.

The solution isn't about doing less for the sake of it. It's about being smarter with what you're doing. Multi-use products like a tinted SPF that handles skincare, sun protection, and light coverage in one step, or a cream blush that works on both cheeks and lips, shorten your routine without sacrificing the result. Letting your hair air-dry and adding a few polished pieces afterward takes a fraction of the time a full blowout does and still looks intentional.

The bigger shift, though, is a mindset one. The beach doesn't care if your legs are freshly shaved. Your friends aren't inspecting your roots at brunch. Spontaneity isn't about being perfectly prepared. It's about trusting that you're allowed to show up as you are and let the summer actually happen around you.

Your K-Cup Has Been Sitting in a Warehouse for Months

That grocery store pod? It was roasted long before it hit the shelf. Coffee starts losing flavor within weeks of roasting — which is why your morning cup tastes flat, no matter how nice your machine is.

Angelino's does it differently. A third-generation roaster in Los Angeles, they roast, grind, and seal every pod in-house for peak freshness, then ship it to your door within days of roasting. The difference is the first thing you'll notice: real aroma, real flavor, no bitterness.

Mix and match from 50+ specialty coffees, teas, and flavored blends — all Keurig®-compatible — and save more with every box you add, up to 34% off at 12+. Order once whenever you're running low, or subscribe for an extra 5% if that's easier. Entirely up to you.

New customers get 15% off their first order — applied automatically, no code needed.

Thank you to Angelino’s Coffee for sponsoring The Canopy.

The Introvert's Guide to Strong Leadership

There's a common assumption that good leaders are loud, assertive, and naturally at ease in a crowd. But some of the most effective leaders are none of those things. Introverts bring a quietly powerful set of qualities to leadership, and the research backs it up.

Active listening is one of the biggest. While others are talking, introverts are absorbing. They notice subtleties, ask better follow-up questions, and tend to make people feel genuinely heard. That kind of presence builds trust in ways that a room-commanding personality doesn't always manage.

The areas that feel harder, like public speaking, networking, and thinking out loud in meetings, are worth working on, but they don't require becoming someone else. Preparation helps more than most people realize. Practicing in smaller settings, planning conversation topics before a networking event, and making a habit of sharing your thinking with your team can all make the more extroverted demands of leadership feel more manageable over time.

The most sustainable version of introverted leadership also requires protecting your energy. The social demands of leading a team are real, and without time to decompress, burnout follows. Rest isn't a weakness. For introverts especially, it's what makes everything else possible.

Ask a Pro: “How Long Does $2.5M Last in Retirement?”

This quiz matches nearly 50,000 people each month with vetted financial advisors.

Thank you to Smartasset for sponsoring The Canopy.

The Pause:

Before you go, take a small pause from your day with this tip brought to you by The Canopy editors.

30 Second Reset: Look up at the sky for 30 quiet seconds.

Reflections:

🌎 True or False: True. Differences in dopamine sensitivity mean extroverts often seek out more external stimulation to feel the same sense of reward that introverts get from smaller amounts.

🌅 Sunset Of The Day: The sun can provide the most beautiful photography. That's why we're eager to see your favorite sunrise or sunset photos. Reply to this email with your best sun-based pictures for a chance to be featured!