Summer is an interesting season! You are either going to throw all of your routines out of the window and allow the days to unfold, or you are going to schedule each moment of the day and live very very intentionally. However I want to jump in here (both hands on hips like a super hero LOL) and say that neither of these two approaches are going to set you up for success or leave you feeling rejuvenated and refreshed and ready for fall to begin. Before I share the HOW we are going to have a successful summer, I want to explain why the two approaches above will not work. 

Approach ①: Living in the moment

This may seem fun and liberating at first (especially if you live a very rigid calendar-controlled life throughout the year) however, your over-achieving self will begin to feel guilt and shame for not being productive. You will backslide on progress you made, and those looming thoughts will soon steal your joy and keep you from being fully present. You will end up irritable and frustrated and probably begin to carry loads of resentment for the beautiful life you have created. 

Approach ②: Overplanning

This, initially, will feel like you have got all the things covered a little bit of goals, a little bit of fun, a little bit of all the things you didn’t get to during the year. Its going to feel good and like you are set for the most successful and productive summer of your life. However, that feeling will be fleeting when the over-scheduled family calendar starts to take its toll. You are going here and doing this because it’s on the schedule not because you necessarily want to. You are getting tired because you forgot to schedule rest, play, and downtime. Yet you fear abandoning the schedule because you don’t want to feel like a quitter. Your family will soon loathe the next activity, and you will get burned out real quick, because it will start to feel a lot like a lack of appreciation because all you wanted to do was make sure everyone had the best summer…EVER!!

So what is the solution? I think it’s quite obvious. It’s going to be somewhere in the middle of the two. A little bit of planning, a little bit of chaos and a whole lot of staying on track without losing focus of what really matters. Is it possible? Yes!! But it is going to take some effort and mindful planning.

Don’t let summer happen without knowing exactly what you want it to be about. Don’t let summer happen without having a focus, and a plan for what matters most to you. If you are a SAHM, or WFHM your days are going to look different than if you work outside of the home full or part-time. However, it is all still possible it just looks a little different. 

So let’s get into the details of designing a summer full of fun, and progress!

Before you start thinking about WHEN… let’s start with what. What health goals, family goals, project goals, financial goals, and work goals do you have for the summer? We have to think about what we want, before we can look at when and how to do it. What is the focus for your health and health goals— is it movement and healthy eating? What is the focus and goal for your family? Quality time, and new experiences? What is the focus and goal for your relationship? More quality time and intimacy? What is the focus and goal for the home and projects, or any other projects? What is the goal and focus for yourself? More rest, more leisure reading, more time with friends? What is your focus and goal with your business?  You have to have a goal and a focus, otherwise, your summer comes and goes, and the next thing you know you are shopping for Halloween decor! 

So once you have figured out your goals and focus, then look at your day and break it into 2 hour time blocks. Step back and figure out where work fits into that, kids, family, YOU, all of it. For example, I schedule the most important tasks of my day (usually work-related) in the morning because my teenagers are still sleeping (so there are fewer distractions and less mom guilt) or they are in summer school and it allows me to get the most important tasks accomplished first.

You may not need 2 hours for working out– but maybe it entails walking to the park with the kids and playing with them, or maybe it entails going on a hike, or swimming in the backyard.

You may not need 2 hours for lunch, but it’s summer get the kids involved in preparing meals, sit down at the table together or in the yard picnic style together and eat and chat and laugh and allow time to do its thing, reveal precious moments, and little snapshots of faces you will carry in your heart forever.

I love the concept of time blocking because it allows you to stay on track, have some order to your day, but is very forgiving and also just enough to be productive.

Time blocking is not only good for you, but also good for them. Your kids, your family. Oftentimes our children feel like we are too busy for them. It’s true, we say “in a minute” all the time with no idea what they even asked for. We delay moments, for mundane tasks that can absolutely wait, and we “get through” the day in an almost zombie-like trance, exhausted and overwhelmed because we failed to create focus and tried to do and be everything. Time blocking creates pockets. Pockets of time for you to fill intentionally with things that matter. 

This also means making sure your kids have something to do during those blocks where you schedule work, or exercise, or projects. Tech time, quiet time, slime time, movie time. 

Not only will this leave you feeling productive this summer, it will also leave your heart feeling extra full because you were intentional about how you spent the time you had with your kids, family, and friends. 

I like when we can create the “best of both world” situations. Something about the idea of controlled chaos feels like home to me. 

Cheers to the best summer ever!

AG

Ps– if you want to elevate your summer, download this incredible summer family planner that I created and have used for several years.  Get your summer planner here: https://stan.store/angebhardt/p/ultimate-summer-planner