This Summer, Don’t Just Survive—Feel Good in Your Life Again
Summer often arrives with a strange mix of excitement and dread for working parents. There’s the hope of slower mornings, warmer weather, and maybe a vacation or two—but also the reality of shifting schedules, childcare gaps, and the ever-present pull of trying to “make it all work.”
In a recent coaching session, I worked with a client who came to me feeling exactly this: hopeful but overwhelmed. She wanted her summer to feel intentional and joyful—not just another season she had to “get through.” Together, we mapped out a vision rooted in both her values and her very real responsibilities.
Here are four key takeaways from our session—practical ways you can prioritize your family and yourself this summer, without feeling like you’re constantly dropping the ball.
1. Create a Daily Anchor Time
Whether you’re a planner or a go-with-the-flow type, summer tends to throw routines out the window. That’s not a bad thing—but it helps to build in a small, consistent time slot each day that’s just for you.
For my client, mornings or lunchtime made the most sense. We talked about what it would look like to block that time on her calendar the same way she would for a work meeting. A short walk. A quiet coffee. A journal session. The activity itself matters less than the intention: “This is time to come back to myself.”
If mornings are too hectic, try mid-day. Even 20 minutes can shift your energy and help you feel more centered—especially when days start to blend together.
Try This:
Look ahead at your week. Block off one 30-minute time slot each weekday where you do not multitask. This is your anchor time. Protect it like it matters—because it does.
2. Plan Something That’s Just for Joy
We often think about summer in terms of obligations: vacations to plan, camps to register for, cookouts to host. But what if you also built in something that exists purely to make you feel good?
With this client, we came up with a simple but powerful idea: Thursday nights for joy. She’s identifying a few Thursdays this summer to have dinner with friends—no work talk, no logistics, just laughter and good company.
Joy doesn’t have to be spontaneous to be real. In fact, planning it makes it more likely to happen.
Try This:
Think of one thing that makes you feel light, connected, or creatively fulfilled. Now, schedule it. Text a friend. Book a class. Put it on the calendar.
3. Reconnect with Your Partner—Beyond Logistics
During the school year, many couples fall into what I call transactional mode—coordinating drop-offs, lunches, pickups, and bedtime like a business team. My client voiced that she craved more emotional connection with her partner this summer. A reset.
We started small: a date night to kick off summer. Not because date night is a magic fix—but because it can be a symbolic shift. A reminder that you’re not just co-parents; you’re also two people who once chose each other.
These moments don’t need to be elaborate. A simple dinner out or a shared morning walk can create the space to ask: “How are you really doing?” and “What do we want this season to look like together?”
Try This:
Choose one moment in the next two weeks to intentionally connect. No phones, no household tasks—just conversation and presence. If possible, make it recurring.
4. Carve Out a Weekend Recharge (Even in Chaos)
This client spends summer weekends going back and forth between NH and MA—a reality that could easily swallow her whole calendar. Instead of fighting it, we explored how she might carve out a tiny piece of each weekend just for her.
We talked about solo walks, quiet mornings with a book, even a nap in the sun. These moments don’t need to be long to be restorative—they just need to exist. She’s also encouraging her partner to take space for himself, too, creating a shared rhythm of recharge.
You don’t need a full “me day” to feel grounded. Sometimes, what helps most is a 20-minute pause that signals: “I matter, too.”
Try This:
Look at your next weekend. Can you claim 1-2 hours just for yourself? Can your partner or support system help make that happen? Make it regular, even if it’s small.
A Few More Tips to Keep Summer Smooth
As we wrapped our session, a few other ideas emerged that may resonate with you:
Map out your calendar now. Especially if you’re splitting time between places or juggling travel, get your NH/MA (or wherever!) weeks on the calendar. Seeing it visually helps reduce mental clutter.
Handle your lingering to-dos. Camp forms. School registrations. Travel details. These things weigh more heavily on your mind than you think. Finishing them early frees up mental energy for connection and rest.
Stay flexible—but intentional. My client’s vision wasn’t to control every detail—it was to move through summer with intention, staying open to what her community and environment might offer.
Your Summer, Your Terms
There’s no “right” way to do summer. But there is a way to do it that feels more aligned, less reactive, and more fulfilling.
Maybe you’re craving deeper connection with your partner. Or a return to your own interests. Or just a break from the constant sense of urgency. Whatever it is, you’re allowed to prioritize it.
What would it look like to treat your needs with the same importance as your family's calendar?
You don’t need to overhaul your life. You just need a few intentional guideposts. A little planning. A lot of self-compassion. And maybe—just maybe—a Thursday night that’s just for you.
Let’s Keep the Conversation Going
If this resonates, I’d love to hear from you. What does your version of a meaningful, intentional summer look like? What’s one thing you’re claiming for yourself?
And if you’d like support creating a summer plan that feels good and doable, I’m here to help. Coaching can be a powerful space to pause, reflect, and design a season that works for you.
Here’s to a summer of less hustle, more heart.
You don’t have to do it all. You’re allowed to want more ease. More connection. More moments that feel like yours.
Summer doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to feel a little more like you.
Here for your journey, always,
Your Coach,
Christine
