We’ve been summering so hard lately it’s hard to keep the days straight! Johan has been promoted (yay, hubby!) and training overtime for his new position. The kids have baseball, swim and soccer and our calendar is full of summer fun and celebrations. As much as I love the business and being with all the kids, all the time (and I really do love it!), I can feel the fatigue starting to set in.
So last night I sat down and wrote a list of ways to avoid summer burnout and thought I would share it below.
10 WAYS TO AVOID SUMMER BURNOUT
- Hire a babysitter or plan kid swaps with a friend and run an errand (or 5) all by my lonesome.
- Schedule workouts at least 2 days a week instead of hoping I can fit them in…
- Read my Bible, check my calendar and write down my to-dos in the morning. Something I do most days during the school year, but forget to do when our days are less structured and routine is out the window.
- Read with the kids during their quiet time.
- Go to bed by 10 on nights we are home that early :)
- Eat more salads… always feel better after a salad.
- Mani-pedis are always a good idea.
- Say “no” to something I’m not excited about.
- Plan a girls date (sans kids) and remember it doesn’t have to be at night.
- Remember what my goals are this summer — To spend quality time with the fam bam and friends, love on people and go on adventures. So far I think we’re doing a pretty good job and it’s encouraging to know!
Would love to know how you avoid burnout during the summer months or just in general. Add your suggestion in the comments!
Now for a few pics from Espen and Tilly’s swim lessons at the cutest backyard pool (there aren’t many of them in the PNW) and garden out in the country. There’s an outdoor fireplace to sit by on colder mornings, a picnic table to hangout at and blueberry bushes to pick from when the littles get restless….
//So proud of my not so natural swimmers. They have been working hard, having fun and improving everyday!//
//These two already fighting over technology (yay, me!)! Click here if you missed the roundup of our favorite kid apps + downloads.//
//Pokémon Go has sparked an new appreciation for Pokémon cards in our home (also yay, me! Ha!). I used to think those things were evil and still don’t love them, but have talked myself off the ledge of parental paranoia.//
//I could look down at a cute face and little arms wrapped around my legs forever. So grateful for this season of life.//
Happy whatever day it is, friends!
Don’t forget to share how you avoid summer or just mommy burnout in general, below. You know I need all the help I can get!
XO, Rae
Hi Rae! Your list is great. I am actually at the stage where my sons are old enough to stay home alone and I find myself craving home more than I do time to myself. Weird how that happens. When they were little I found outlets with MOPS, park dates, and outside activities just like swim lessons because it meant there would be another mom. Sometimes I would just walk around Target or go to the bookstore to fill that need to be “alone”. I love being with my kids and the older they get the more independent of me they get. They are both homebodies and love family time but also like the time they get alone with friends and interests of their own. I’m grateful for all the time I spent showing them I love them and am genuinely interested in them because now they still love talking to me and they miss me when I’m away too long. You’re doing a great job!
Love these ideas and encouragement! Target is useful for so many things, LOLs. Thanks Pam!!!
One more thing I meant to say. Reading my bible or doing a bible study is a life line to me. Sometimes I feel so depleted and wonder why I can’t focus. It all comes back to the Word.