Refresh Yourself this Summer

It’s summer! After a busy school year, we often look forward to a school vacation as a time to rest and refresh ourselves. But sometimes families fill up their “off time” with so many activities that they end up feeling just as exhausted as they did during the school year! My advice? Be intentional with your time.

Journalist and financial guru Paula Pant has a motto: “You can afford anything, but not everything.” The same can be said about our time and energy levels. The beginning of summer can feel like a blank slate with endless possibilities. The truth is that you can’t do it all, nor should you. Time is just as finite during the summer as it was during the school year. Cultivate relationship with your family by not overwhelming your schedule. Otherwise, as the summer winds to a close, you may find that your family is tired, frustrated and grumpy.

Before you rush off into your summer schedules, give yourself time to think about the most meaningful things you and your family would like to do. After your list has been made, prioritize the things that matter most, and allow the rest to fall away for another time. This is hard! There are good things that you may have to release! However, if your goal is to enjoy the summer and each other, you may find that this is exactly what you need to do.

Slow down, be intentional, and enjoy your summer!