Summer is a special time of year. The kids are home from school, the outdoors are constantly calling my name, and a sense of relaxation seems to take hold. While I love summer as much as the next person, it’s undeniable that these new schedules and routines can be challenging to get the swing of and balance with other aspects of life.
For me, it can be challenging to go from all planned out and structured, to no plans at all. That’s why I try to find a more relaxed summer rhythm that I can rely on, have general expectations about how I want to spend my time, and also adjust where needed.
No matter what the season, I naturally find myself focusing on 5 main areas of my life that matter most to me: mealtime and nutrition, sleep, movement and physical activity, schedules and priorities, and fulfillment and happiness. As the spring turns to summer, I reflect on what changes and adjustments feel necessary to match the needs and desires of me and my family.
How do we balance them all while also making the most of summertime? These are my go-to tips for each!
Mealtime and Nutrition
In the summer, I naturally lean towards light, fresh and seasonal foods. I stop at road stands whenever possible and increase my visits to the farmer’s market. My family loves to grill and we try to prioritize outdoor dining as often as we can.
While our schedules may be all over the place throughout the school year, the summer season seems to be a time when we can all make time for family dinners together. We are intentional about the foods that we eat and the time that we spend together. This doesn’t mean our mealtimes are structured - because we do embrace a more flexible schedule - but rather we come together and slow down a bit as a family.
Tip: Focus on seasonal foods and find a time for the whole family to establish a standing mealtime together. This mealtime together doesn’t have to be daily, even once or twice a week can be a great place to start if this is something that hasn’t happened in a while.
Sleep
When it comes to the summer, my family welcomes the longer days with open arms. We are all excited to change up our routines a bit and that includes our sleep schedule. We embrace the natural shift we feel with the days getting longer and us all staying up a bit later. This also translates into sleeping in a little later in the mornings.
I find it important to give my girls the space they need to set their own routines but also don’t want them sleeping the days away. I try to find the balance between having some structure but give the kids a reset and letting them listen to their bodies.
Tip: Listen to your body and enjoy the flexibility of summer, but don’t completely toss structure out the window.
Movement and Physical Activity
Physical activity in the summer months can become less structured than normal training sessions. My kids’ sports end and we all naturally gravitate more towards play activities like swimming, hiking, biking, jumping in the waves, and other outdoor activities.
When you have the opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and nature, embrace it if you can! Just being active in whatever ways feel best for you can not only help you get in your daily movement but they can also include family-friendly activities for everyone.
Tip: Get moving outdoors as the weather allows and shift your thinking from structured workouts to more free-flowing movements.
Schedules and Priorities
Oftentimes we try to stick with the same routine and expectations year-round, but schedules are meant to change with the season. For the kids, it’s important to have some downtime and relax. I also don’t want their relaxation or boredom to go to the extreme like excessive screen time or too much lounging around and snacking on junk food.
It’s important to help your kids (and yourself!) figure out a balanced schedule. I love to start with identifying expectations like chores, help needed around the house, and summer jobs. Once kids know where their responsibilities lie, they can better plan around those times - both for fun and for time to just relax and sit back.
Tip: Use a family calendar to mark down important dates or responsibilities. In the free time and down days, plan time for both fun family activities that will make memories and also days to relax and chill out.
Fulfillment and Happiness
Having a bucket list full of ideas for the summer can be really fun, but you have to be mindful of planning and scheduling these things. It can be so easy to say we’re going to do all of these fun things, and then before you know it, the summer has come and gone.
To keep activities and wish list items realistic, have the whole family write down things that they want to participate in or accomplish this summer. When you can visualize these items, they help stay top of mind. A little planning can also go a long way, so find a balance with priorities and simply make time to enjoy the things you love.
Think about your childhood and the memories you love the most. Especially for our children, the things we do day in and day out may be simple, but they help shape each summer. When they look back on these times in years down the road, what will you want them to remember? Whatever your answer, make time to make that happen.
Tip: All of the planning and activities in the world don’t necessarily lead to fulfillment. Ask yourself what you/your family want to get out of this summer and make an effort to follow through with those things.
A Summer to Remember
As another summer season approaches, I hope this is one you will truly enjoy. Little things make a big impact: how do you want your summers to be remembered? Evaluate the different areas of your life that naturally shift with the season and reflect on what tweaks you can make to maximize your time.
How are you hoping to spend your summer season? Whatever you have in mind, let’s make it happen!
Holly Mann
Personal Success Coach
Founder of Fresh Habits: freshhabits.net
I am on a mission to facilitate meaningful conversations that encourage individuals to upgrade and expand their habits and routines which will ultimately allow them to live life at their fullest potential!
