The heart of the summer is upon you; trips to the beach, fireworks, and cookouts. Your metabolism is not going on vacation, so do not even think about lazing by the pool and sipping martinis all summer. Not that you cannot enjoy a cocktail with the summer sun (and sunscreen). This summer, time warp your fitness regimen back to when your mom had to yell at you to come in for dinner. When dirt on your face tickled. When you had sand in your hair and bugs in your hand. Here are a few ways to resurrect your childhood and embrace playtime as part of your exercise time.

You work hard; there is no denying that, so work hard during the week. Work as hard as you can. When the clock strikes five on Friday, cast off your shackles and have some fun. Put your hair in pigtails if it will help you feel more like a kid. Even when you have kids, most moms still act like the mom. Do not. Surrender to the joy of not knowing what you know about life and embrace the simplicity of the weekend.

Skip down the street. You cannot do this in your Jimmy Choos, and people might look at you like you are a bit silly, but others will smile the widest smile that you have ever seen. It is infectious, and once you do it, you will realize how stimulating a quick skip can be. Don’t remember how? Make sure that you keep your back straight, and as you lift your right knee, hop up a few inches, then alternate with the left leg. Your heart will race but it will bring back fond, colorful memories.

Another great way to feel like a kid? Jumping. Bunny hops, twist hops, frog jumps, lateral hops are all excellent ways to elevate your heart rate. Start out with a soft little bounce, light on the balls of your feet, with a bend in your knee for shock absorption. Just make sure that you get both feet off the floor at the same time, and then get a little crazy for 30-60 seconds at a time. Keep your back straight, breathe, and smile.

When was the last time that you twirled around until you were dizzy? Kids do it all of the time, and if you are a parent, you have probably found yourself dizzy as you twirl your child around at the playground. Spinning clockwise 21 times, in fact, is the first of the Five Tibetan Rites, which help the body restore energy and gain balance. You won’t get to 21 in the beginning but try it. Stand up tall with your arms extended out by your sides. Slowly turn to the right, keep your eyes open, and when you stop, keep your arms up and eyes open until the world stops spinning around. It is such a youthful activity, something adults need more of.

Get Dirty. Gardening is one of the single greatest pleasures life has to offer. Troweling, digging, racking, and pulling weeds are also some of the most effective ways to burn calories. Whether you choose gloves or forgo the perfect look of your manicure and get a little dirt under your nails, you cannot get much more youthful than when you don a gardener’s hat, kneel down into the Earth, and grow something. Plant veggie seeds or plants and you also benefit from the harvest.

As productive members of adult society, we women tend to do way too much, all year long. But summertime is when you should feel free to recapture youth so that you can embrace your health. Have fun!