Making the Most of Summer!
Sun, Sand, and Summer Burnout…
For those of us in the Midwest, summer is a cherished time of longer, sunnier days and time at one of our favorite lakes! But the transition to summer can feel intense and stressful. There are a lot of commitments, events, activities, and new routines that come with the months of June, July, and August. Sometimes, it can be harder to manage than the non-summer months.
Here are some ways to make the most of your summer 2024!
Before summer hits – Celebrate good things! Whether it was kindergarten or graduate school graduation, a promotion at work, using a new communication skill with your partner, finishing a book you started reading last fall, or finally seeing a friend you’d been trying to connect with for months – research shows that we need to celebrate our achievements – big and small! And while celebrating together in the community is good, celebrating by yourself, and for yourself, also matters — so treat yo’ self!
Set intentions/goals! It can be easy to slip ‘n slide into summer without mindfully setting intentions/goals. We get it, it’s exciting to jump in with both feet. But we may notice a lull as the summer progresses – we get to the 4th of July and realize we haven’t gone on as many walks, trips to the park, meet-ups with friends, or checked out that new restaurant we meant to try. It can add pressure and stress. So, take time before June to sit down and write out intentions – intentions are thoughtful goals, things we want to focus on – it could be an actual task or a mindset. It may also be the absence of doing “a lot” and a focus on slowing down and doing less! Check out this article for some additional ideas on intentions.
For families and couples:
Celebrate the school year! Talk about highlights from the school year, acknowledge what was hard or didn’t go well, and help your kiddo gear up for a good summer. Check out Mai’s list of books to end the school year well and kick-off a great summer!
Have a planning party! Sit down as a family, with your spouse/partner, and kids and have each person write out places/things they want to do this summer – parks, bike rides, movies, camping, fishing, library, ice cream shops, vacations, a baseball game – the list is endless and doesn’t have to be expensive! Local parks and trails are great resources and offer rentals on things like paddle boards and canoes! Come up with fun ways to display the list in a central location – giant poster board, calendars, a jar with folded slips of paper (with activities written on each piece of paper), etc. and set aside specific dates/times each week to pick one activity from the list/jar!
Maintain routines – bedtime, wake time, meals, chores, etc. Check in with your kids, partner, and family on their day/week. Use ideas from our blog post on conversation games to foster connection each day!
For older kids, including college kids home for summer, set expectations about time with friends (and time with family) and talk to your kids about activities they want to do with friends. Include friends on family game nights or trips!
Wherever your summer takes you, remember to take care of yourself!
Summer days are busy, and just like any other time of the year, burnout (and sunburn! Don’t forget the SPF!) is real! Check in with yourself and talk to your therapist about new or re-emerging symptoms. You may notice increases in depressive-like symptoms, if that’s you, check out this article on seasonal affective disorder (summer edition, it’s not just for winter blues).
Happy Summer!
Ready to start collaborating? Reach out today to set up a complimentary phone consultation with one of our providers! We are so grateful to start this journey together.
About the Author
Megan Nyberg, MA, LPCC has worked in the mental health field since 2021 in outpatient clinics serving adolescents and adults. Previously, she co-led an anxiety, depression, and trauma intensive outpatient program (IOP) for adolescents.