Summer Survival Guide: Beating Burnout in the Heat of the Season
At this point in our boundary series, you might just be a boundary expert. This is good news because we’re well into summer, and you may be experiencing summer burnout. Yes – believe it or not, we can burn out even in the “lazy days” of summer, and the tips you’ve learned will come in handy. In recent editions of the Seven Mile Times, you’ve read about how to recognize signs of stress; notice what might be draining your energy; pay attention to what makes you happy; and put boundaries in place to keep those joy-makers close to you. We’ve also tackled the often anxiety-provoking task of saying “no” when necessary to maintain our peace. In doing all of these, you’ve practiced building your self-confidence, taking care of yourself, and recognizing your own needs and priorities. Look at all you’ve accomplished in just a few short months!
In this edition, we’ll wrap up our series on boundaries and put this information to good use as we look specifically at summer burnout. Historically, burnout was only applied to the corporate world. Today, however, we see the term used more broadly as burnout appears in all domains of life, not just related to employment. Burnout can happen in our social world, our home life, as students, or as parents or grandparents. And yes, burnout can happen even (and especially!) in the summer.
No matter your role or responsibilities, summer burnout can affect you. Parents, for example, start planning for summer childcare in the early days of winter, and I know many families that need to use a spreadsheet to keep track of where they’re dropping off their children each day or week. It can be a lot of work to keep our kids involved in their favorite activities when school is out, and the planning and organizing alone can be exhausting.
Grandparents aren’t immune to summer burnout, either. These beloved family members may be on duty to help out with summer childcare, and while this can be enjoyable for both grandparents and grandchildren, it can still result in exhaustion and burnout.
Childcare and keeping kids active and engaged in the summer is only one small part of the mountain of culprits that contribute to burnout in the summer months. The excitement of summer often comes with overcommitment to activities and events, which can leave you feeling overwhelmed. You might head into summer thinking you have loads of free time and there are lots of fun things to do: beach trips with friends, summer vacations, concerts, family reunions, baseball games, backyard barbecues galore, and the list goes on. Before you know it, your schedule is completely booked, with little to no time for rest or self-care. This is a common experience for many in the summer.
What can you do when summer burnout comes for you? Here are a few suggestions that will have you applying what you’ve been learning about boundaries:
Prioritize your events: Fear of missing out (FOMO) can leave us feeling like we have to say yes to every invitation or activity we come across. Rest assured, you’ll be happier if you choose to miss out once in a while and commit to only the activities that really excite and interest you. This will leave you time for more rest and self-care, keeping you more energized in the long run.
Block your calendar: Some of my colleagues block their work calendars for lunch, and this is a great way to prioritize self-care. Similarly, block your calendar for rest and downtime in the summer. If you notice your month of August is really filling up, schedule some “days off” so that you don’t book anything those days and can spend them doing whatever you need for yourself.
Maintain a routine as best you can: Summer schedules (or lack thereof) can throw us off our routine, which can leave us feeling out of sorts both mentally and physically. Try to keep up with your regular sleep schedule, exercise routine, and eating habits as much as possible. This will allow you to continue feeling your best as you tackle all the summertime festivities.
Check in with yourself as often as possible: Notice how you’re feeling before those feelings become too overwhelming to cope with. Have you been a little more stressed lately? A little more anxious? Maybe depressed? If so, consider what might be causing you to feel this way to try to nip it in the bud. If you’ve been running ragged, as we sometimes do in the summer, it’s time for a much-needed break. And I assure you – everything can wait.
Summer can be overwhelming, but you’re well-equipped to handle it and create healthy balances for yourself. With proper boundaries, you can soak up the sun, enjoy all that summer has to offer, and care for yourself in the process. Enjoy!