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I am currently feeling simultaneously burnt out by summer and guilty that I'm not enjoying every second of it. Here are some ways I'm working to combat both of those feelings!
We’re about to start our 10th week of summer break and I am starting to feel a bit burnt out… My kids are 4, 8, and 10 and this summer has been busy and filled with a lot of fun and new experiences, but at this stage of the summer break I’m feeling worn out! It’s a combination of the heat, the changing camp/no camp schedule each week, the random sicknesses (both theirs and mine), the sporadic travel and the packing and unpacking required, the extra laundry because the kids are usually outside doing different activities all day which can mean changing clothes a few times a day, and now having to think about back-to-school prep and after school activities planning – it’s a lot! Plus, it’s been tough to see my friends to recharge my batteries because most of them are also dealing with this busyness that comes with summer.
One of the toughest things for me is that when I start to feel burnt out during all these busy times there is a mom guilt voice in my head telling me to stop feeling worn out and soak it all in while my kids are young and want to hang with me and my husband, and that summer is fleeting and we need to take advantage of the freedom that no school days and no set plans offers, and that I am blessed to be able to be flexible and be home with my kids. It’s an exhausting loop of both wanting the routine of school again and then feeling badly that I’m wishing summer vacation to end…
Because of conversations with friends, I know some of you are feeling this way too! So, in an effort to help us get through these last summer days and weeks with as Zen and cheerful of an attitude as possible, and not wish away the summer days we may soon be longing for, I’ve put together a list for how I’m going to focus my energy. I hope that some of these ideas can be helpful to you too!
IDEAS TO SURVIVE & THRIVE IN THE FINAL STRETCH OF SUMMER VACATION
Walks: Take yourself on a walk outside or on a treadmill to get some movement into your day which will bring up your mood. If you can figure out taking a walk without the kids, that can be even more restorative. You can listen to fun/uplifting podcasts or set a phone date with a friend (this is one of my favorite ways to stay connected with friends during summer!).
Books: Books are a great escape. Try reading a paperback or hardcover book so you can give yourself a break from looking at screens! I’ve found it helpful to get invested in a series so that when you finish one book you don’t have to think about what to read next.
Be Proactive About Making Plans with Other Families: Seeing other families is a great way to mix things up and have fun in the chaos all together! An evening picnic, meeting at a pool to swim, going to an arcade together to escape the heat, visiting a museum together, or a nature walk are all fun ways to gather!
Dinner Help: To ease dinner planning fatigue, consider doing extra take-out nights during the week or something easy to grab like rotisserie chicken from the market (this also will help with too much heat in the kitchen) or let each kid plan one dinner that week and help you cook it so it’s something fun to do together.
Relaxing Moments: Taking time for your self-care after kid bedtime can be super helpful. A face mask, deep conditioner, baths etc. - I got hooked on flewd bath salts from an Instagram ad and am so happy with them!
Change of Scenery: Shaking up your routine in a manageable way can help shake up any late summertime blues. One of our favorite nights this summer was when we had an early dinner and then went to the park afterwards - something we never do during the school year!
Plan for YOUR Fall Fun: Looking forward to your own fun times ahead can really boost your mood right now! Seeing friends can be difficult during summer, so make plans now to get together once school starts. And consider making your self-care appointments now for then too - haircut, mani pedi, etc. - since it’s wonderful to have a bit of “you time” to look forward to!
Bring Joy into the Last Few Weeks of Summer: You may be feeling burnt out by summer but your kids may be still loving every minute of it. So, to help you feel that same joy about summer that your kids do and bring it to these final weeks (and hopefully not feel the guilt I sometimes feel about not loving every single moment during summer break) think about having fun with your kids by doing things you wouldn’t normally do in the school year. Some ideas to take advantage of the flexibility and slower days of summer are below!
- Sit and watch their movie on “movie night” with them instead of cleaning up while they’re watching
- Make surprise s’mores one night
- Set up a friendship bracelet station and have them teach you how to make them or if you made them, show your kids how you did it
- Create a scavenger hunt for a hike and all get exercise together
- Offer to go see a movie in the theater a second time (this was always so decadent to me as a kid)
Personally, if I focus on doing some of the things on the above list to improve my outlook on these last days of summer, then I don’t feel as worn out and I don’t feel like I’m wasting the days that I will be wanting back once school starts!
Additionally, focusing on the joys of the last days of summer will help me keep up my strength and patience, which will in turn help me be better prepared to start the new school year. In my experience a new school year always requires a huge amount of physical and emotional strength - helping kids adjust to a new routine and new feels about their new classroom requires being super present. I am going to work on doing a lot of the above so I can be ready for those first few intense weeks with my kids!
Hope you have a wonderful last few weeks of summer!
❤️, Amanda, your Type A Mom friend
